Art Literally a stroke of luck for Flower Library, Red Cross

Organizers of the Art Literally benefit have stirred up the pots this year for their third annual show and sale.

The event benefits the Roswell P. Flower Memorial Library and the Red Cross of Northern New York. Last year's event raised $11,931, which was split between the two organizations, according to Art Literally board member Maxine M. Quigg.

This year's show and sale will be a juried event. The jurors are Mary Ellen Kalil Shevalier, an art teacher at South Jefferson Central School District, Adams, and Kari Robertson, an artist and former art educator who is the president of the North Country Arts Council.

A donor, who organizers said wishes to remain anonymous, has donated 20clay flowerpots for this year's Art Literally. The containers will be decorated by artists and be sold in addition to items in the regular Art Literally art sale.

Artists donate items to Art Literally, and the artworks are displayed at Flower Memorial Library for people to purchase. More than 200 pieces of art from 80 artists were sold last year.

The art show runs from May 31 to June 11 at Flower Library. A gala will be held June 4. People may view the artworks before the official gala but not purchase them until then. People will be able to purchase any unsold items the week after the gala.

Sales are not based on bids, rather the artists place a price on their works and they go to the person who provides the money first.

All proceeds from the flower pot sales will benefit the library and Red Cross of Northern New York. This differs from the structure of the general art sale, where artists have the option of receiving a percentage of sale proceeds.

Sponsors, for a $50 fee, are also sought for the pots. Sponsors will be given special recognition, Mrs. Quigg said.

The deadline for artists to register for Art Literally is June 18. Registration forms are available on the library's Web site at www.flowermemoriallibrary.org.