Despite the rain, art shone brightly at the Bay Minette Public Library last week during the Spring Art Show and launch of the American Heart Association Art Trail. The huge art event sponsored by the Old Town Bay Minette Arts Council and North Baldwin Chamber of Commerce was the culmination of Art Week in Bay Minette. The event, a real success in spite of Mother Nature’s lack of cooperation, was also a product of cooperation and community spirit with area schools and local artists taking an active part.

Artwork featuring the theme “Backyard Bliss” was everywhere to be seen throughout the library with colorful and imaginative drawings, collages and watercolors done by students of local art teachers Jessica Merchant and Corrine McKinney being highlighted in the reference area and in the stacks. Kathryn Hart, a student in Mrs. Garrett’s fourth grade class at Bay Minette Intermediate School, won the People’s Choice Award for children’s art for her watercolor flowers. Still on display in our reference area is an art piece on tar paper done by Merchant’s students at Bay Minette Intermediate. It is a vivid depiction of sea life.

The People’s Choice winner in the adult division was local artist Susan Smith. Her brightly colored painting of pelicans garnered the prize. Smith; who has lived all over the world including England, South Africa and Germany; has been a member of our community for more than 10 years now. She is a self-taught artist and her work, including the award-winning pelican piece, is currently on display around the reception desk area, in case you didn’t have the opportunity to stop by the art show.

Another highlight of the evening was the travelling display “Delta Denim Does It Again” on loan from Nancy Raia, the Community Arts Director at the Eastern Shore Art Center. The display featured imaginatively painted jeans with an environmental theme and art work from students of Fairhope High School, Covenant Christian, St. Paul’s, Murphy High School and Fairhope Rotary Youth Club. There was also an independent entry by Baldwin County traveling art teacher Gabby James and her two year old son Nolan.

According to Raia, the director of the project, “The students are passionate about their concern for all things living, and their thoughts are put on the jeans for all to enjoy.” The denim project is a repeat of the hugely successful project Raia did six years ago called “Delta Denim/Traveling Pants” which literally traveled the country and won numerous awards.

This amazing project will remain on display through next week, so please make sure you stop by and take a look. It is not to be missed. My favorite pair of jeans was painted by a student at Fairhope High School and features beautifully rendered cherry blossoms and a blue bird.

Another contribution from Raia is the “100 Hearts” canvas that now hangs at the circulation desk. It features a hundred (or more) colorful hearts drawn and painted by the Fairhope Rotary Youth Club Artists With a Purpose. The canvas brightens the wall and I hope you find time to see it while it’s here. The “100 Hearts” canvas and the “Delta Denim” project are also a testament to the spirit of collaboration and the importance of art in a community. Nancy Raia is an amazingly talented person who brings out the best in her students and who wants to help spread the joy of art to the North Baldwin area.

Another beautiful piece on permanent display hangs above the circulation desk. It is a three dimensional work created by Baldwin County artist Max Reed, who incidentally is also the husband of Baldwin County Library Cooperative Director Liz Reed. The piece features a poem composed by Reed and driftwood that washed up near the Reeds’ home in Magnolia Springs. All of his three dimensional art features found objects that have washed ashore. His works are for sale and he can customize them to fit your particular space.

Other artists who had work on display for the art show included locals Nancy Dean, Jo Vickery, Lanie Buckner, Judy Pimperl, Ann Fisher, Dorothy Parker and my mother Molly Moseley who created a wind chime out of silverware, beads and buttons. It will be hung in our new chime tree which resides in the library’s courtyard. The public is also invited to add chimes to the chime tree, which was began by Nick Cheshire, husband of North Baldwin Chamber of Commerce Director Rebecca Cheshire, and features a variety of whimsical chimes that add a little something special to the walking trail that begins and ends at the library.

As you can see, you missed out on a lot if you missed the Spring Art Event. But don’t despair, you can still drop by the library to see several worthwhile pieces on display and don’t forget the Art Trail, which remains for our community enrichment. You can enjoy the fresh air, see Bay Minette from a new perspective and view art from our very talented local artists along the way. The artwork will be rotated on a regular basis, which means you should take that walk regularly not only for your health but for your spirit as well.

Joanna Bailey is the director of the Bay Minette Public Library. She can be reached at baileyvolumes@gmail.com