separate committee of people to manage and care for it before 2012. After taking over the director’ s position at the library, Stori Snyder invited several art enthusiasts to form an official group to oversee the collection, and the Art Advisory Committee was born. Regulated by Library Board approved policies and procedures, the committee has taken over the collection’ s maintenance, care, and display.
The addition of quality recent paintings has brought fresh imagery to the library’ s walls, and no two artists could be more fitting to make these muchappreciated gifts. Newlund and Robinson are longtime painting partners who love to go out into the county and find inspiring subjects to paint on location.“ One of the things that determines where we paint is what’ s happening in the landscape at a particular time— the weather conditions, fullness of creeks, what’ s blooming, etc.,” Newlund commented.“ Usually one of us is in touch with what’ s happening out there.” The two experienced artists have been painting together for twenty years. Robinson said,“ I’ ve always enjoyed painting with Chris since the first time I met her. When we’ re painting outside we like the same subjects. We travel around Brown County, New Harmony, or Brookville looking for things to paint. And at the end of the day we’ re always good for a beer, something to eat.”
Newlund appreciates Robinson’ s easy companionship and outdoor savvy. They both like to paint early morning light and often paint in winter, eagerly awaiting first snow. Robinson wears rubber boots with toe warmers if it’ s really cold, and sometimes stands in the creek water while painting.“ The water’ s usually warmer than the air. I learned that trick [ while ] fishing, years ago,” he said.
Newlund gave much thought to her donation of“ Sweet Legacy.”“ I have a love of libraries and always have. Moving a lot [ while growing up ], libraries were a sanctuary— an escape, entertainment, and a safe place. As a young adult I didn’ t have much money so I looked for free information and guidance wherever I could— how to raise kids, how to grow food, etc. Now I’ m happy to say that my children and my grandchildren all love libraries.”
The Brown County Public Library art collection belongs to us all. Its care is in good hands with the Art Advisory Committee and conscientious Library Board. The generous donations of paintings by Chris Newlund and Thom Robinson are perhaps just the beginning of quality donations by today’ s Brown County artists. •
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May / June 2017 • Our Brown County 47