What Do You See? (Joplin Public Library)
FAVORITE CHILDREN’S BOOKS REIMAGINED: WHAT DO YOU SEE? Remember your favorite books from childhood? Perhaps you even have one or two on your bookshelf today? Now, picture them reimagined as abstract paintings.
I’m the adult child of a librarian (positive that’s worth noting) and lovingly remember the books that shaped my childhood. I asked the librarians at Joplin Public and Post Art Libraries about their favorite children’s books, read them, and painted them in an abstract, mixed-media style.
The display was purposely hung at a child’s eye-view and with prompts to ask grown-up viewers “What do you see?”
One of my favorite experiences regarding this exhibit occurred shortly before opening, a young girl skipped into the exhibit area, raced around the room laughing, pointing at each painting and singing “Silly painting!”. She made this proclamation three or four times before “putting on the brakes” and with a mixture of surprise and satisfaction pointed and said “Oooh, look a flower!”, then it was back to skipping and singing “Silly painting! Silly painting!”…brakes on “Oooh look a tiger!”
This exhibit was presented by the Post Art Library in The Bramlage and Willcoxon Foundation Gallery inside Joplin Public Library, August 2022.
One half of all sales is given to the Joplin Public Library for the purchase of art books for children.
Questions: email info@lorimarble.com
WORK 1 of 18
This Book is Wordless!
Librarian: Jeana
“I’m laughing just thinking about reading this clever “wordless” book. It’s one of my son’s favorite books and I love hearing him laugh and ask me to read certain passages “just one more time!”
SOLD
WORK 2 of 18
Nobody Suspects a Thing!
Librarian: Alyssa
“Helen Yoon’s illustrations tell the story just as much her words do. Ultimately it’s about opening your heart to others, even if – at first – you thought you wanted to eat them.”
WORK 3 of 18
Click, Clack Moo quack!
Librarian: Linda
“All time favorite!”
Cows That Type by Doreen Cronin
WORK 4 0f 18
Ready?
Librarian: Jason
“More of a picture book, but it’s genuine magic for toddlers.”
WORK 5 of 18
Buttons all over his jacket
Librarian: Jason
“Not exactly a storybook, but it’s a nice introduction to what friendship should look like.”
Available for purchase at Keystone Gallery, Joplin, MO
WORK 6 of 18
Sit quietly and smell the flowers
Librarian: Jill
“I didn’t come across this book until well into adulthood. It’s a beautiful story and the artwork is fantastic.”
SOLD
WORK 7 of 18
Yummy, yummy words
Librarian: Derek
“I remember having this book read to me as a child and quickly resonating with Wally’s voracious, logophilic appetite. Wally’s verbosity is contagious–or at least it was in my case.”
Available for purchase at Keystone Gallery, Joplin, MO.
WORK 8 of 18
Knock! Knock! Knock!
Librarian: Christina
“I love the collage style art, the emphasis on community and gratitude, and the recurring ‘Thank you, Omu!’ that makes it fun to read out loud.”
WORK 9 of 18
And he thought and thought and thought
Librarian: Beth
“It’s beautiful! I want to play in the snow and to wear a red snowsuit every time I read it. It’s inspired me to make snow angels and to visit big cities. The snowball disappeared from my pocket, too.”
WORK 10 of 18
When something is just out of reach
Librarian: Christina
“It’s so affirming and the art is beautiful.”
WORK 11 of 18
Could you, would you, with a goat?
Librarian: Patty
“This could be any number of Dr. Seuss titles. I love reading them to my nieces and nephews and looking at the illustrations.”
WORK 12 of 18
Late bloomers are awesome!
Librarian: Derek
“I’m fairly certain that my name was “Leo” until my senior year of high school. This book always proved to be a powerful reminder of how everyone grows at their own pace, and of how the process of growth can be just as beautiful as the ‘end result.'”
SOLD
WORK 13 of 18
Thank you mom!
Artist: Lori
“One of the more significant books I remember asking my mom to read over and over. To this day I believe houses have personalities.”
Not For Sale/Collection of the Artist: this is the book I most remember my mom reading to me.
WORK 14 of 18
There once was a forest near nowhere
Librarian: Jill
“I picked this book off of a bargain rack because I thought that the art looked interesting. As it turns out, it’s a wonderfully magical book about making something beautiful out of things typically considered otherwise.”
WORK 15 of 18
A quiet old lady whispering hush
Librarian: Patty
“What better way to snuggle into bed for the night than saying goodnight to everything around you.”
WORK 16 of 18
We are friends
Librarian: Beth
“James Marshall is amazing! He does so much with so little–creating sophisticated, witty stories with simple sentences and only four colors. Who knew so much emotion could come from a pair of tiny eye dots?”
SOLD
WORK 17 of 18
Buttons, Lisa, Friend
Librarian: Alyssa
“When I was small, I had Corduroy memorized, and I would “read” it aloud on my own. His night spent scouring the department store always seemed like an exciting adventure.”
WORK 18 of 18
Ain’t a nut, gonna paint my…
Librarian: Jeana
“Very catchy rhyme/song, kids and adults alike love hearing it read aloud and David Catrow’s illustrations are expressive, colorful and all around fun!“
SOLD
Lori Marble 