PORT COLBORNE LIBRARY INVITES VISITORS TO ART PROJECT

THEME IS 'WHAT MAKES YOU HAPPY'

In the window of the Port Colborne Public Library, visitors can now see a beautiful collaborative art piece drawn by kids.

"We've been collecting all of the creations each day, and we cut them out and put them on the window. So it looks sort of like a stained glass," explained librarian Rachel Tkachuk.

Together the stained glass pieces will make up a rainbow and sky, covering several windows in the front of the building.

"The concept for the community mosaic art project is you create a piece of art to be part of this bigger piece of art that we're going to make. The theme is what makes you happy," she said.

Tkachuk says it's been wonderful seeing children draw and describe the different things in their life that bring them joy.

"When you look at the individual pieces of what makes people happy, it will (often) say my family, or someone will draw a picture of their mom or dad, their pet," added Tkachuk. "It's just been sweet seeing those types of things."

As each of the individual pieces were placed into the window mosaic, children who had already finished their drawings were able to see if they could locate where their piece had ended up.

"Families who come back, we've seen them walk up and sort of go 'that's mine, that's the one that I did.' So it's been really exciting that way to see their excitement for the community art project," Tkachuk said.

The mosaic was just one

program held at the library during March break. Others included allowing families to try out a greenscreen, time to jam out with the library's collection of instruments, and first aid classes for teens.

"We're trying to promote more and more with the new services, different programs, the addition of the

greenscreen. People come and they love the books, but these are some bonus activities," she added.

The community mosaic art project will be on display until March 31.

Patrons are encouraged to stop by and take in the view or try to find their piece of the mosaic if they drew one.