Art and Reading Unite at Martinsville Library
- BTW21
- Jun 30
- 2 min read
Martinsville, Va. — A vibrant new partnership is blooming between the Harvest Youth Board (HYB) and the Blue Ridge Regional Library, combining creativity, literacy, and youth engagement to inspire readers of all ages across Martinsville-Henry County.
The collaboration kicked off at the Harvest Youth Board’s annual Books and Bunnies event in March, where children joined forces to create a colorful, collaborative canvas painting under the guidance of local artist Adrienne Anderson.
The artwork, now proudly displayed in the Martinsville library lobby, was officially presented in June by HYB members Bailey Stanley, Chloe Wood, and Madeline Cooley.
“It was a beautiful experience to witness little hands with big hearts contribute to a work of art,” said Wood. “The library and the Harvest Youth Board’s partnership has ushered in a feeling of communal joy. I hope people go by, see the canvas, and remember that we are all masterpieces.”
The canvas features a cheerful illustration of the library surrounded by bright, child-painted flowers and includes an inspirational quote by Dr. Seuss:
“The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go.”
Children’s librarian Janet Boucher, who attended the Books and Bunnies event, expressed her surprise and delight at the finished product.“I didn’t even know it was the library they were painting,” Boucher said. “I thought it was just flowers! It’s a beautiful image of the library and will be treasured for years to come.”
This marks the first official collaboration between HYB and the Blue Ridge Regional Library — a partnership both organizations hope to expand in the future. In addition to the art donation, the Harvest Youth Board is supporting the library’s “Color Our World” summer reading program by promoting teen book recommendations and encouraging community participation through their social media channels.
“It is a great work of art, and I hope it encourages kids to read,” said Stanley. “This is a great partnership that I hope to continue to see well into the future.”
Families can sign up for the summer reading program at www.brrl.lib.va.us.
Reflecting on the collaboration, Cooley added: “Getting to work alongside the Blue Ridge Regional Library has been a wonderful experience that I hope only flourishes with time.”
To learn more about the Harvest Youth Board’s initiatives and community efforts, visit harvestyouthboard.org.
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