These illustrated library cards are by Elissa Martel – a local artist and librarian who grew up in Brookline! Elissa created these library cards as part of “The 100 Day Project,” an annual creativity challenge over 100 days. She used marker, pen, and colored pencil. The drawings in this exhibit are a selection of the complete set of library cards, each one based off the card of a different library. Many of these cards were submitted to Elissa by her friends.

These two art displays show the work of multi-disciplinary artist and educator, Matisse DuPont. During the lockdown, Matisse began weaving chainmaille as a way to keep their hands busy. All the pieces you see before you are made of solid brass. Later, Matisse returned to visual arts to play with the fluid dynamic properties of acrylic inks last summer while recovering from an injury. Art is one of the greatest comforters and can help the maker get through difficult times and overcome challenges. Please enjoy!

Matisse DuPont (they/she) is an artist, educator, and consultant with expertise and scholarship in the areas of gender, sexuality, and identity. Based in Boston, Massachusetts, Matisse holds a Master’s in Gender and Cultural Studies from Simmons University.

This exhibit displays 60 self-portraits by young learners between the ages of 3-5 years old who attend the Martin Trust Partnership in Education for Early Learners (Trust Early Learners). The process for the self-portraits began with exploration. Students observed themselves in a mirror and then created color swatches of their skin, hair, and eye color. Two books were read: Colors of Us by Karen Katz, about an artist painting many shades, and All the Colors We Are by Katie Kissinger, which explains the ancestral origin of our skin color. After reading both books, students began creating their self-portraits by using tempera paint sticks to draw the head shape, facial features, and hair. When the self-portrait drawings were complete, they collaged backgrounds until they were covered. The self-portraits are a visual display of learning and personal development our young artists have cultivated during the school year.

In May of 2019, the Brookline Select Board approved the first painting of a Pride Crosswalk outside of Town Hall, and Brookline joined local communities such as Arlington, Cambridge, Medfield, Northampton, Salem, Worcester, and others in declaring the month of June as Pride Month in the Town of Brookline. Since 2019 Pride Crosswalks have been painted in collaboration with the Department of Public Works and GSAs and Rainbow Clubs at Town Hall, Brookline High School, and all of the Brookline Elementary Schools.