The Malden Public Library. Photo by Jennica Ruan.
The Malden Public Library is featuring a rotating art exhibit that showcases a different artist every month.
Jen Browning is an information librarian who works at the Malden Public Library. She, however, also takes part in the rotating art exhibit as the chairperson of the committee. The committee consists of five to six people with Browning as the head. The exhibits started in January of 2018 and Browning aspires to have a different artist be featured every month.
The process requires a filled in application along with a few pieces of the artwork. Artists are chosen in six-month increments.
When choosing the artwork for the exhibit, the committee is looking for a piece that stands out. Artists can submit pieces in any form including two-dimensional and three-dimensional art that can hang from the display case or in the hallway. Browning also encouraged students from Malden High to submit work as well.
The September rotating artist featured is Ashley Wilichoski. She is well known for her unique style of art that uses different shapes and colors. Art has always been a passion for Wilichoski, “but [she] could not draw or anything, so when [she] came across this art form [she] became intrigued.” Wilichoski started doing these paintings “in April of this year and quickly fell in love.” She claims her first few pieces were “not very good” compared to her current art.
Wilichoski started this form of art recently and learned by watching YouTube videos. She says that “[she] was inspired by the vibrant colors and how you cannot totally control the outcome of the paintings, which is very freeing in a sense.” Her style of art is created “by just pouring different colors together and using different chemicals to get different reactions.”
Wilichoski says her experience working with the Malden Public Library “has been very exciting. [She loves] seeing how people react and hear the conversations they have when looking at [her] pieces. Knowing that people have [her] art in their homes to enjoy makes [her] beyond happy. [She feels] very blessed with the positive response [she has] received since [she] began displaying [her] art.”
Wilichoski has a strong passion for art and loves learning new techniques to improve her work. Besides the Malden Public Library, “[Wilichoski] also had a two-month display at the Night Shift Brewery in Everett. [She] currently [has] another display set up at Java Grind and Grill in Stoneham.” She also sells her artwork on various social networks for people to enjoy. She hopes “to have more displays in local businesses soon.”
Browning says that “the colors that [Wilichoski] uses” was what stood out with Wilichoski’s art. Browning liked that it was different from the way her artwork was made. The shapes and color were different from traditional paintings.
The month of October will feature Charles Fred Seager’s painting of fruit which uses an intricate style and technique.
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