Collaboration in Creativity

The Mary Bishop Memorial Gallery at the Crawfordsville District Public Library would like to invite the public to view “Light in Winter: The Exhibition,” a collaboration of creative storytelling by Elsie Koning and Lydia Stewart.

This exhibit is currently open and will be on display through Feb. 9. The public is welcome to visit the gallery during the library’s regular hours of operation. A limited amount of work will be for sale through the Circulation department.

Artists Elsie Koning and Lydia Stewart bring life to the everyday interactions of the people, animals and plants living and working at Sylvanmore, a diversified livestock and Christmas tree operation in Parke County. This exhibit highlights the fantastic stories born from the daily operations of farming and the interpersonal connections that develop during these agricultural processes.

Each week during the winters of 2021-22 and 2022-23, subscribers to “Light in Winter” received a story inspired by adventures on the farm. With your visit to “Light in Winter: The Exhibition,” you are not only on your way to finding joy and light, but you are supporting Sylvanmore’s work in providing food, fiber, and a place to reconnect with nature and the wild pieces of yourself.

This exhibit pushes the boundaries of the gallery space by merging original stories, drawings, photographs, and objects with mindfulness. As you walk from story to story, it is easy to connect the cycles of agriculture and
growth of personal relationships. Each item is strategical placed and the message of joy and light is clear.

Koning is a writer, photographer and farmer. She holds a bachelor’s degree in agricultural communication from Purdue University and a master’s in agricultural and extension education from Penn State University. She is known for her pastoral landscape photographs, and she writes for the farm newsletter “Sylvan Sundays” which can be found at sylvansundays.beehiiv.com.

Stewart is a playwright, director and visual artist who is inspired by nature. She holds a bachelor’s degree in creative writing and a master’s degree in dramatic production from Bob Jones University, and a Master of Fine Arts from Hollins University’s Playwright Lab. Stewart has developed several children’s programs and theater shows for her community. You can follow her visual art on Instagram at lydia.stewart.

For more information about CDPL’s hours of operation, visit online at www.cdpl.lib.in.us/.

If you are an artist or a member of an artists’ group and are interested in displaying your work at the Mary Bishop Memorial Gallery in 2024-25, contact Toni, the gallery coordinator at 765-362-2242, or email her at twoodall@cdpl.lib.in.us for more information.