Art Exhibitions

Every few months the Sherman Library, as part of our effort to promote cultural enrichment, features the works of a selected local artist. Over the course of a year, many different types of art can be seen such as traditional, abstract, watercolors, oils, pastels, as well as photography. Not only is the artwork enjoyed by library visitors…it’s for sale. In fact, a percentage of any sale is donated by the artist to the Sherman Library.

If you are interested in showing your art at the Sherman Library please contact us at SLPrograms@biblio.org

Our Current Exhibition

“For the Love of Flowers”

Art Show February 20th - April 2nd, 2025

The Sherman Library presents a new art show: “For the Love of Flowers” – paintings by Doreen O’Connor. Depicting the beauty of our natural world and the images of the fading small farm life in America, O'Connor's paintings are predominantly done “en plein air” or on site. Being present in a place enhances her ability to capture the atmosphere of the scene.

Doreen O’Connor has lived in a rural area for most of her life and feels deeply connected and inspired by its history and natural beauty. Her family purchased a farm in Dutchess County when she was nine years old. That farm and the surroundings became her muse.

She does not remember a time when she was not involved in art. She holds a bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Art Education and taught for a few years before shifting into historic house museum work. This work combined history with life skills like spinning, weaving, and open-hearth cooking and antiques. After many years in the museum field, she started a decorative painting business in 1990. There she did faux finishes, murals, painted furniture, Trompe L’eoil, and many other fun projects. Doreen was finally making a living from the art she loved and was her own boss. “If it doesn’t move, I have probably painted on it” became her business slogan.

O’Connor moved back to the family farm after her father died in 2001 and lived there and cared for the place as she continued decorative painting. As faux finishes were losing popularity and age was advancing, Doreen moved to doing more “fine art,” painting beloved old buildings, equipment and landscapes en plein air (outdoors). Today she paints Plein en Air around eastern NY and Connecticut. Though this can often be very challenging, it can also be extremely rewarding. She also uses her faux finish experience to make interesting frames for her work when barn wood is unavailable.

O’Connor is a member of several art groups where she shows her work, and participates in paint outs with fellow artists. She is a member of Sherman Artists Association, ArtEast, Arts Mid-Hudson, and FrOGS (Friends of The Great Swamp)

The artist's reception will be held on Friday, February 21, 2025 from 6 - 8pm. The show will be on display at the Sherman Library from February 21 through April 2, 2025 both at the Library.