Late in the Fall of 2013, the Forest Grove Public Arts Commission (PAC) began a collaborative effort to raise $5,700 for the “Mollie’s Garden” art project. After a community talent show (“Stars in the Grove”), a used car donation and a dinner with the artists, the Public Arts Commission has exceeded their fundraising goal.

54 library art enthusiasts attended the June 1 dinner at Stecchino’s Bistro. Ed Carpenter, Greg Kriebel, and Eric Canon – the three artists involved in the project – presented information about the endeavor as well as sketches and a miniature version.

Stecchino’s owner Randy Reeder donated more than half the proceeds from ticket sales ($60 each), and some of his employees donated their time. Ticket sales and donations garnered about $3,400 for the FG Public Arts Commission. “The dinner was a great success,” said Kathleen Leatham, chairperson of the PAC. “The food was wonderful, and there was a very eclectic mix of people there supporting public art in Forest Grove.”

The PAC also is directing $3,000 of their 2014-15 Community Enhancement Program funds from the city to the “Mollie’s Garden” project, $850 from the sale of a donated vehicle, along with $3,000 from the PAC’s CEP 2013-14 funds and $1,300 from “Stars in Grove.” The total PAC donation to the Library Foundation’s “Mollie’s Garden” project amounts to $11,550!

The cost of the entire “Mollie’s Garden” project is roughly $69,000; $45,000 for materials and installation of the Ed Carpenter glass sculpture; approximately $17,000 for the woodwork by Greg Kriebel and the metal work by Eric Canon; and about $7,000 for upgraded lighting. Installation is expected by Fall 2014.

Maggie’s Buns teams up with FG Library Foundation for annual lasagna dinner

Maggie’s Buns, a Forest Grove icon for 16 years, is coming to the aid of the Forest Grove Library again, catering the annual “Books ‘n Buns” event Thursday, Jan. 16, 5-8 p.m., at the United Church of Christ, 2032 College Way. All proceeds benefit the Forest Grove Library Foundation.

The Library Foundation (fglf-copy.dev.cc) is currently raising $80,000 for the Ed Carpenter Pubic Art Project, which will be a striking addition for the community. Internationally renowned artist Ed Carpenter’s mother was a longtime Forest Grove library patron. In his mother’s memory, Carpenter (www.edcarpenter.net) is designing and donating his work on a special piece for the skylight near the library’s main desk. The Library Foundation needs to raise $80,000 for materials, enhanced lighting and installation. The project also includes woodworking by Greg Kriebel and metalwork by Eric Canon, both Forest Grove artists.

Join the Library Foundation board members, patrons and supporters Thursday, Jan. 16, for good food, fun and fellowship benefiting a great community endeavor. The menu from Maggie’s Buns includes lasagna (vegetarian available also), salad, bread and dessert. Coffee is donated by BJ’s Coffee.

Tickets are $12 adults, $6 for children 12 and under, and available at the library, 2114 Pacific Avenue. Take-out is also available. A limited number of tickets will be sold.

For information, call library Director Colleen Winters at 503-992-3246.

The following is from Lauren’s recent email to her fans:

On September 17, 2013, the Forest Grove Library Foundation and McMenamins will have this year’s Family & Friends Night at the Grand Lodge. 50% of the money spent at the Ironworks Grill between the hours of 5 p.m. and closing will be donated to the foundation to support the creation and installation of Ed Carpenter’s “Light Garden” in the foyer of the library!

Family and Friends Night at the Grand Lodge is one of a number of community events in the Forest Grove Library Foundation’s The Story Unfolds capital campaign.

Join us for great food, company and to benefit a great cause! To receive updates on the progress of our campaign please join our Facebook group “Fans of the Forest Grove City Library” or follow our blog at fglf-copy.dev.cc.

The New York Times article “Libraries See Opening as Bookstores Close” (December 27, 2012) documents the changing role of public libraries in communities across the United States.

As the foundation works to improve the library, we support our librarians as they create a library that fulfills contemporary and future needs. Much of the current capital campaign focusses on developing outstanding spaces where community members gather. The new furniture, signage and art for the Children’s, Spanish Language, and Fiction areas comprise part of this effort.

The present phase of the campaign seeks to raise $60,000 to purchase materials and fund the installation of the glass art piece whose design and construction has been donated by world-renowned artist Ed Carpenter in memory of his mother, Molly Starbuck, a long-time library volunteer. We expect that the art installation in the library’s foyer will draw visitors from throughout the Portland Metropolitan Area to Forest Grove.

A post by Linda Stiles Taylor:

Since the March installation, the community has very enthusiastically embraced the new furniture in the children’s area. Children have quickly found their favorite spots to read and play, and keep coming back for more! It has been fun and satisfying to see the new furniture in action, and see how children respond to it.

Wooden wedges by local woodcrafter, Greg Kriebel, and wooden end panels have made the children’s area safer. Good-bye and good riddance to sharp edges and corners!

New furniture for both children and adults in our Spanish area has created a more inviting and comfortable family space. Pictured here are the new sand table and children’s bench.

Friday, May 3rd heralded our biggest annual community event, Children’s Day/ Book Day, and record numbers of children and families came to celebrate. The new furniture made the library more welcoming and easier to rearrange. Some 330 children and their parents  participated in a wide variety of crafts and activities in the west end of the library.

With the help of volunteers, we shifted nearly every piece of furniture to accommodate the event, and it worked beautifully!  We are so grateful to the Library Foundation for their continuing efforts to create child-friendly, safe and welcoming areas in the library. Stay tuned for the next round of purchases which will be for our early childhood area!

Now that the projects to improve the Children’s and Spanish Language areas are nearly fully funded, the Forest Grove Library Foundation Board of Directors will turn its energies toward raising the funds necessary to install the beautiful glass artwork that world-renowned Portland artist Ed Carpenter has donated to the library in honor of his mother, Molly Starbuck, a long-time library volunteer.

As reported by the Forest Grove Leader on December 26, 2012, Mr. Carpenter donated his design approximately 13 years ago. He will work with local craftsmen — metalworker Eric Canon and woodworker Greg Kriebel — to install the artwork in the foyer of the library, a space designed and built to house the glass sculpture.

The materials and labor to build and install the piece will amount to $50,000. At the completion of the project, the Forest Grove City Library will offer visitors the opportunity to enjoy a spectacular work of art crafted in honor of a wonderful library volunteer.

Thanks to Maggie Pike and Forest Grove Library supporters, we raised more than $1800 at the Oct. 25 Books ‘n Buns event at the UCC Church. We fed more than 100 people and raffled off some great prizes. All the food and the raffle items were donated by Maggie’s Buns, with coffee donated by BJ’s Coffee. Thanks for the support.