Join us on Tuesday, August 5th, from 6:00 – 7:30 pm for an opening reception for our Art Show of the Month- Elizabeth Lauri: Esperanza y Sueños de Mi Pueblo / Hope and Dreams of My People and Lisa D’Amico: Sonic Heroines.  The show will be on display throughout the month of August.

Elizabeth Lauri
Esperanza y Sueños de Mi Pueblo / Hope and Dreams of My People

Esperanza y Sueños de Mi Pueblo / Hope and Dreams of My People is a project I decided to create because of the difficulties immigrants face in their countries of origin. The majority of these countries have economies geared only to be profitable for the wealthy. Therefore leaving the majority of its residents barely making a living wage to support their families. Due to this, gangs have grown on such a scale that they have taken total control over areas, largely poor ones and demand extortion money and loyalty from the residents. For that reason and many others, immigrants will face any obstacle to try to reach the United States and realize their American Dream. These thirteen reliefs tell the story of one particular family and although it depicts the horrors and suffering they endured, the end for them is a happy one.

My intention is that I, as an artist and immigrant, am able to convey through this work, “La Esperanza y Sueños de Mi Pueblo / Hope and Dreams of My People, two essential themes. First, a better understanding between two different cultures and second, the realization that despite these differences we all want a better life for our children.

ARTIST STATEMENT
My work has no formula.  As my ideas and experiences change, so does my art.  As an artist I work in a variety of media including painting, drawing, ceramic, and sculpture.  My inspiration comes from my background and life experiences.

Lisa D’Amico: Sonic Heroines

ARTIST STATEMENT
Every woman has a unique story that deserves to be heard and honored, yet too many have been silenced for far too long. This series aims to challenge traditional portraiture and amplify the voices of remarkable women, both past and present on a local and global scale.
By combining my abstract backgrounds with my detailed drawings, these hybrid portraits explore their journeys. 

Join us on Wednesday, July 23rd, from 6:30 – 7:30 pm for Illustrating a Children’s Book… Digitally. Please register on our website events calendar at piermontlibrary.org or call us at 845-359-4595 🐹

This program is perfect for all ages! Join Betsy Franco-Feeney on a journey from character studies to finished picture book. Watch her painting on her iPad with Photoshop.

The program will begin with a reading of her latest illustrated book, The Squirrels of Stuytown, written by Kit Golden who lives in Stuyvesant Town in New York City.

Betsy has illustrated 14 children’s books over the years, three of which she is also the author. Her book Amoeba Hop, based on a song by celebrated singer/songwriter Christine Lavin, garnered a BEST BOOKS AWARD by the American Association for the Advancement of Science.

In 2024, Betsy was the recipient of the Arts Council of Rockland’s LITERARY ARTIST AWARD for her elementary school programming based on her books. As she inspires students to explore and respect nature, recently, the parent of one student attributed her daughter‘s career as a scientist to the seed that was planted many years ago when Betsy visited her classroom.

Our next Movie Night for Adults is coming up on Tuesday, July 15th, from 6:00 – 7:45 pm in our lovely and cool Hudson River Room!

Drop (2025)

Join us for a movie screening for adults.

When a normal drop goes horribly wrong, a young man finds himself on the run from a mysterious woman.

Directed by Christopher Landon

Universal Pictures

Meghann Fahy, Brandon Sklenar, Violett Beane, Jacob Robinson, Jeffery Self

Visit the library anytime we are open to view our Art Show of the Month: Laurie Peek Botanicals. The show will be on display throughout the month of July.

Rockland County resident Laurie Peek is an award-winning visual artist with over twenty-five years experience making images. She has an MFA in Photography from Visual Studies Workshop/Univ. Buffalo, NY, and she’s been a photo educator, photo-librarian, photojournalist and fine artist.

Peek’s photography and art have been exhibited widely across the US and internationally. In 2024 Peek was an “International Garden Photographer of the Year” Finalist, Cambridge Botanic Gardens, UK. She was a “Finalist” in Photolucida’s ”Critical Mass 2023” and in Klompching Gallery’s 2024 “Fresh” competition. For ten years she has been juried into the “Julia Margaret Cameron Awards for Women Photographers” in FotoNostrum Gallery in Barcelona, Spain.

Her work is in the collections of The Museum of Fine Art, Houston; Paterson Museum; Center for Photography at Woodstock; Center Santa Fe and Visual Studies Workshop, as well as the private collections of Mikhail Baryshnikov and Paula Tognarelli.

Peek’s work has been reviewed and published in, among others: Afterimage, Dek Unu Magazine, FotoNostrum, Artdoc Magazine, Fraction Magazine, A Photo Editor, Lenscratch, and The Photo Review.

www.lauriepeek.com

Laurie Peek

Thursday Family Bingo is coming up this week! Register on our website events calendar at piermontlibrary.org for bingo fun with snacks and prizes ⭐