Md. Library's Gallery Makes Art Accessible To Many

By KENDAL ENZ

The Frederick News-Post

FREDERICK, Md. (AP) -- The Urbana Regional Library Gallery by the Delaplaine isn't your typical art space.

"A gallery can be an intimidating place," said Elizabeth Cromwell, communications director of Frederick County Public
Libraries. "I think this space is fabulous for the uninitiated."

The library gallery, composed of a long, wide corridor on the lower level of the building beneath a skylight, has a busier
atmosphere than a typical gallery.

"About 1,000 people come through here a day, on any given day of the week. For an artist, this may present a completely new audience for people to appreciate (his/her) work," Cromwell said.

Frederick painter Douglas Moulden is currently exhibiting the show "Secret Spaces" at the library.

"(The library gallery) has two really nice long walls. ... I like to have a lot of space around my work," Moulden said. "It's
nice to show my work in a public space."

Although the gallery has existed since Urbana Regional Library opened five years ago, it's changed significantly since then.

During the first few years, FCPL coordinated with local art clubs and individuals to hang art on the walls and rotated the
content every few weeks. When managing the gallery became difficult after library staff cuts, Cromwell reached out to the Delaplaine Visual Arts Education Center. FCPL began a partnership with the downtown arts center in March 2010, enhancing the library exhibits.

"The Urbana gallery kind of just fell in our laps," said Virginia Rose Kane, manager of outreach programs at the Delaplaine. "Elizabeth called us one day ... and asked would the Delaplaine be interested in helping out."

At first, the Delaplaine selected artists from its gift gallery to hang work at the library, but Kane had a different vision.

"I thought the space lent itself to larger, installation pieces," said Kane, who coordinates at the library. "(Moulden's)
work is perfect for the space."

Recently, the Delaplaine transformed the hallway into more of a gallery space by installing work professionally -- which includes spackling and repainting the walls -- rather than relying on the hanging system already in the library, which "just really limits everything," Kane said.

These new shows will stay up for three months at a time.

"Originally, every time someone came in to get a new book, we wanted them to see brand new art," Cromwell said, "but that was not very effective. ... When you have professional art, people want to see it more."

Alexandra Zealand, who once exhibited at the Delaplaine, will be the next artist to install work at the Urbana Regional Library Gallery by the Delaplaine.

Moulden believes it was a smart move for the library to reach out to the Delaplaine.

"The Delaplaine is the center of the art community here in Frederick," he said. "It is a professional organization that
knows how to hang art."

The library gallery also provides the Delaplaine with the opportunity to reach new audiences.

"We are glad to have the (library) gallery. Urbana is a booming area, and people who live there often don't make it downtown (Frederick). This is an opportunity to reach out to them," Kane said.

"The art is for sale, but the true purpose of the gallery is to spark the public's interest and to raise awareness about art," she said.

Cromwell mentioned that Darrell Batson, director of Frederick County Public Libraries, believes that a public library should be more than a warehouse for books.

"Part of learning is seeing new things and having new experiences," she said.

Information from: The Frederick (Md.) News-Post, http://www.fredericknewspost.com

(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)