“Art in the Stacks” artist Judy Belasco

Judy Belasco grew up surrounded by artists and art. She is the granddaughter of Roy C. Nuse, a Pennsylvania impressionist and daughter of modernist, Oliver Nuse. She equates that lineage with forming her love of creating art and exploring Nature. She won a scholarship to Philadelphia College of Art where she studied painting and photography, and received a BFA in 1972. Later in Maine she studied digital photography with John Paul Caponigro and painting with Linden Frederick.

Judy taught art at Germantown Friends School for 32 years and then retired to focus full-time on painting. She maintains studios in Stockton Springs and Philadelphia. Her work is included in Art of Acadia by Carl and David Little (Down East Books, 2016). She is represented in Maine at the Courthouse Gallery, in Ellsworth and in Philadelphia at the F. A. N. Gallery. You can view her work at Courthousegallery.com.

“I love being out there in nature with the sky, the tides, the wind, the trees and the ever present, unfolding Beauty.”

Judy Belasco

Stockton Springs Community Library (SSCL) is please to be partnering with Judy Belasco in presenting her work at the upcoming “Art in the Stacks” event, which is to be held during SSCL’s open hours: Monday and Wednesday 3-5; Tuesday 4-7; Thursday 9-12 and 6:30-8:30; and Saturday 9-3 from September 3 through October 8. For more information contact the library at 207-567-4147.

Art in the Stacks: “The Tale of Peter Rabbit” Nursery Quilt

As part of the Stockton Springs Community Library’s “Art in the Stacks” this charming Peter Rabbit hand embroidered quilt will be on display in the Reading Room of the library from September 8 through October 3. The quilt is available to the highest bidder by silent auction. All proceeds benefit the Library Endowment Fund, which has been managed by Maine Community Foundation since 2013.

Inspired by the Beatrix Potter’s Peter Rabbit stories and hand made by one of our long-time library volunteers, Edna aka “E.J.” Pikulski, the “Tale of Peter Rabbit” is told through 6 embroidered vignettes sure to charm any child. The quilt is perfect for displaying on a crib or nursery wall and for reading aloud to a child.

The Silent Auction runs from September 8 through October 3. Open library hours are Monday and Wednesday 3-5; Tuesday 4-7; Thursday 9-12 and 6:30-8:30; and Saturday 9-3. If you are unable to visit the library in person you can still place a bid by calling the library at 207-567-4147 or sending an email to stocktonstaff@stocktonsprings.lib.me.us.

Stockton Springs Community Library is an independent 501(c)3 all volunteer library. Fundraisers, such as this silent auction, are one of our primary means of continuing to offer a free community library for years to come.

Stockton Springs Community Library to offer “Art in the Stacks” September 8 through October 31

REVISED: Date extended to October 31 due to popularity. As art is sold the artists are providing additional new works to take their place. Come visit often!

Stockton Springs Community Library (SSCL) is pleased to offer “Art in the Stacks” at the library from September 8 through October 31, 2020. The art show and sale will feature multiple works by local artists Judy Belasco, Sarah Faragher, Scott Moore, Betty Schopmeyer, Anne Spencer and Peter Walls.

All of the artwork, displayed among the book stacks, will be available for purchase from the artists. The library will earn a gallery commission for each piece sold, which will go into the SSCL Library Endowment Fund. The library would prefer checks only, payable to SSCL (Stockton Springs Community Library). The endowment fund, which is managed by the Maine Community Foundation since 2015, was established in 2013 to ensure that a free community library will remain open in Stockton Springs for future generations to enjoy.

Those who have attended the past six SSCL Pie and Art Festivals will already know these artists and their work. For those who don’t, or want a refresh, SSCL will feature one artist each day on its blog and Facebook page leading up to the opening.

“Art in the Stacks” will be available to the public during the library’s open hours: Monday and Wednesday 3-5; Tuesday 4-7; Thursday 9-12 and 6:30-8:30; and Saturday 9-3 from September 3 through October 31.

Stockton Springs Community Library is an all volunteer 501(c)3 library located in Stockton Springs, Maine. Membership is free to anyone from any community. Call us at 207-567-4147 if you have any questions.

Fall Book and Bake Sale at Stockton Springs Community Library September 12

Stockton Springs Community Library is holding a Fall Book and Bake Sale at the library on Saturday, September 12, from 8 am till 1 pm (unless we sell out earlier). So come and find that special book or two, the movies and shows you’ve always wanted. While you are here, we are sure you will not be able to leave without buying some scrumptious homemade baked goods! Our volunteers really know how to bake your favorites. So put this date on your calendar and don’t miss it!

Additional donations of baked goods (homemade only) are certainly welcome to help us make this event successful.

If you’ve been holding on to books to donate, we need to ask you to hang on to them until next year if you can. Our limited storage space is already bursting at the seams.

Thank you to all who help support SSCL in so many ways. We hope to see you on September 12 at the Fall Book and Bake Sale! Face masks and social distancing guidelines are strictly enforced.

Don’t forget if you don’t want to come into the library to check out a book or movie, you can call 207-567-4147 and leave a detailed message (or better yet, call during open hours). We will have your books and movies checked out and ready for you and available on the porch. Items that are returned to the library are put in quarantine as per State guidelines, so you may have a little wait, but we’ll let you know when they are available.

SSCL needs you!

Volunteers needed at the Circulation Desk

Due to Covid-19 health concerns Stockton Springs Community Library has experienced a decline in the number of volunteers currently able to work during open library hours. To maintain 501(c)3 status, and with it the ability to secure much needed grants, SSCL needs to stay open 18 hours a week. You can help by working as little as one shift a month (shifts are 2 to 3 hours depending on the day). Two volunteers are needed for each shift. Complete training is provided. So are masks and gloves. So here’s your chance to live your secret dream of being a librarian! 

The library also needs volunteers to work in its lovely flower gardens. Even an hour or so once in awhile will help keep the weeds at bay. 

Please contact SSCL at 207-567-4147 or just stop by during open hours and let us know how you are able to help.  Thank you! 

Open library hours are Monday and Wednesday 3-5; Tuesday 4-7; Thursday 9-12 and 6:30-8:30; and Saturday 9-3.  Stockton Springs Community Library is an all volunteer library and membership is free to anyone from any community.