Meet June's Artist-in-Residence: Laura Lewis Shindle

Born and raised in Hagerstown, Maryland, Laura Lewis Shindle was encouraged by her second grade teacher to take art lessons at the Washington County Museum of Fine Arts with the instruction of Clyde Roberts and Bruce Etchinson. She continued for eleven years. In her senior year of high school, she was voted “Most Artistic” by her classmates at North Hagerstown High and upon graduation, attended Ringling School of Art in Sarasota, Florida.

Laura married Edward Shindle and lived in Altus, Oklahoma during her husband’s Air Force tour of duty. There she became a cosmetologist, but still continued to paint. She joined an art association in Lawton, OK, where she won numerous awards. It wasn’t until she returned to Pennsylvania and joined three art associations locally that she became dedicated to her art. The inspiration and comradery she acquired from the other artists were all she needed to set forth on her career. She currently belongs to Waynesboro Studio Art Club, Valley Art Association, Chambersburg Art Alliance, Fulton County Arts Council, Dare County Art Association, and the Shape Gallery.

Laura continued her education by attending Hagerstown Community College and taking numerous workshops under the instruction of Al Brule, formerly an artist at Walt Disney Studios; Tom Nicolas, Rockport, MA; Martha Hudson, Eastern Shore, MD; Alice Webb, Ellicott City, MD; Mary Whyte, Charleston, SC; Fritz Briggs, David Buckley Good, and Hans Guerin, Schuler School of Fine Art, Baltimore, MD; Glenn Eure, Nagshead, NC; David Hunter, FL; Barbara Nuss, Woodbine, MD; Linda Benson, McClosky, PA; Colin Radcliff and Steve Hall, Dedham, UK.

Laura is usually a painter of realism; however, she likes to try her hand at everything. Her favorites are time worn structures and nature. She is a painter in oil and watercolor; however, she also enjoys pen and ink, printmaking, encaustics, and recently, old master scratchboards.

A participant in many solo and group exhibits, the artist has received numerous awards. She has been a participating artist on the Art Train from the Smithsonian Institute and received an Award of Merit from International Icarus in North Carolina.

Laura’s work hangs in galleries, doctor’s offices, private collections locally and abroad. She signs her work by her birth name, Lewis. She can be reached at her home studio email at leshindle@comcast.net or by phone at 717-597-8341.

30 works are located throughout the main floor of the library.

Summer Quest has started!

This year’s Summer Quest theme is “All Together Now” and we have planned some fun intergenerational events geared for elementary aged kids through adults. Join us on Mondays or Wednesdays at 10:15am each week at various locations through the end of July for activities including exercising together, piecing together, and creating together. Learn more about each event by taking a brochure from the library or checking our Facebook page.

On Tuesdays we will be having weekly Walking StoryTimes at 10:15 am at McConnellsburg Lions Club Park. Meet in the trail parking lot, off the road below the main parking lot, on Tuesday mornings, June 6, 13, 20, 27 and July 11, 18, 25, and August 1 for a stroll and a story.

We also have camps for coding and building and lots of other activities. Visit our website calendar to see everything that is scheduled for this busy summer. We hope to see you there.

Be sure to log your reading and activities on Beanstack. You'll earn tickets to put towards drawings for prizes from lots of local donors. Gift certificates for facials and cakes or great toys and more. Learn more about that in the video below.

Coming soon: July Show of Miniature Art at the Library

Bee all that you can bee

For the month of July, we will be having a Show of Miniature Art at the library. What is mini art? Pieces must be smaller than 5x7 inches although the frames can be larger. 3-D pieces must have a base of 5x7 or smaller and be shorter than 7 inches. So, get ready to drop off items the last week of June - our theme for the show is garden life because we’re doing it in conjunction with Fulton County in Bloom. So, start creating and we’ll have submission forms available at the library.

Landscape Painting

Tuesdays at 10, various locations

Hello artists! Our library portrait drawing group was well received this past winter and participating artists enjoyed the opportunity to draw and interact with other artists. This summer the library will host an outdoor landscape painting group, free with no registration required. The activity will be 8-weeks for artists interested in learning or improving their outdoor landscape painting skills. We will paint locally (10–20-minute drive) outdoors on location, weather permitting. Any medium is acceptable, and participants are required to have their own equipment and art supplies. An outdoor easel is suggested.

Contact the library for a suggested list of basic oil painting materials or bring whatever medium you prefer. Bring suntan lotion, bug spray, drinking water and a hat. If you want to work seated, you will need a folding chair. You may also need to carry your easel and equipment a short distance from your parked car, so consider a simple, lightweight and portable painting kit.

The group will meet beginning June 13th on Tuesday morning at 10:00 AM at the agreed upon painting locations described below. If you want to paint with the group -just show up and have fun. Previous art experience will help you be successful. Generally, we will paint for two hours, or as long as you want, as these are mainly public locations. Instruction, painting tips and at easel critique will be given for the group and individually, if desired.

Weeks 1&2: Tuesday, June 13 and June 20 - Fulton County Medical Center Campus, east end near the greenhouse overlooking town. Parking and restrooms are available.

Weeks 3&4: Tuesday, June 27 and July 11 (no meeting fourth of July) - Meadow Grounds Lake at Dam Breast or boat launch. Parking and rest room (porta pot) are available.

Weeks 5&6: Tuesday, July 18 and July 25 - Cowans Gap State Park, South end of Lake, Parking and restrooms are available.

Weeks 7&8: Tuesday, August 1 and August 8 - Downtown McConnellsburg with specific locations to be announced. Restroom available at Tickle your Fancy Tea Shop.

Bad Weather? Group will meet at the library and work on finishing an uncompleted landscape. Other destinations are possible, and substitutions can occur.

Library Contact April Leese (717)485-5327

Group leader contact David Henry (717)903-6250 via cell phone or text or email david3218@aol.com

We're always here

We'll be closed on Juneteenth (June 19), but that doesn't mean you can't check out items. Libby and Hoopla (and our many other online resources) are always available. Be sure to see what's been added lately and enjoy! Find our many resources here.

This summer, you can browse a collection developed by Hoopla to go along with our summer theme. Enjoy!

The Bookstore is Open!

If you're going away this summer (or staying in) and you're looking for something cheap to enjoy while fishing, beaching, or whatever fun but messy thing you might be doing this summer, don't forget our bookstore. We have books, audiobooks, DVDs, puzzles and more to enjoy without breaking the bank all while supporting the library. Come browse (another good way to beat the heat when the temperature starts rising) and see what we have to offer.

Fiction to Film

We meet on third Wednesdays to discuss a book and a movie that came from it. Email Joanne to get added to the list and get more information. This month our selection is Paul Gallico's "Mrs. 'Arris Goes to Paris." Next month we'll read  "Black Like Me" by John Howard Griffin.

Book Club

The adult book club meets monthly on the last Wednesday of the month. You can call the library to get a copy of the book or Kindle to read. Join us for lively discussion on Zoom. Email Jamie to be put on the mailing list for Zoom invites and more information. This month's selection is Nicola Yoon's "The Sun Is Also a Star." Next month we'll read "Remarkably Bright Creatures" by Shelby Van Pelt.

More items in our Library of Things

Our Library of Things is always expanding. Now that summer is here we want to draw your attention to our yard games. We have ring toss, ladder toss, and bocce available. To get a quick peek, check out the video below.

Ongoing Groups

Don't forget that Adult Book Group, Fiction to Film, Preschool Story Hour, Play Grow Learn, Mindfulness and Meditation, Hum and Strum, and the Yarn Group all take place on a regular basis.

To learn more

You can always find out what's happening at the library on our calendar on our website and through our column in the Fulton County News. We look forward to seeing you soon!