Friends of SUNY Brockport’s Drake Memorial Library will be hosting “Painting with Friends,” a fundraiser in support of library services to students, faculty, and members of the community.
“Painting with Friends,” to be facilitated by guest artist Andrea Newman, takes place Sunday, May 21, from 1 to 4 p.m. at the College’s “Joy and Happiness to all the Children of the World” fountain sculpture adjacent to Drake Memorial Library, New Campus Drive. Rain location will be the Drake Memorial Library Kiefer Room.
Novice and experienced artists will have the opportunity to create their own painting of the fountain with assistance from Newman. No prior painting experience is required; just bring your enthusiasm to learn a new skill and spend an afternoon with others doing the same. Registration is $50 general, $40 students, or bundle two registrations for $80. All materials are included. Pre-register at https://bit.ly/40lfnoQ.
The fountain was created in 1979 by then Soviet artist Zurab Tsereteli and donated to the College. His inspiration for the sculptured fountain happened when two events coincided: the United Nations proclaiming 1979 the “International Year of the Child” and the University hosting that summer’s International Special Olympics Games. Tsereteli, who had recently taught a painting course on the Brockport campus, constructed both the fountain and a statue of Prometheus in honor of these events. This donation marked the first gift from the former USSR to the people of the United States. The five pillars of the fountain sculpture represent the five continents that participated in the International Special Olympics Games that year.
For more information about “Painting with Friends” event, contact Mary Jo Orzech at morzech@brockport.edu.
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