St. Joe County Public Library’s art galleries offer local artists the opportunity to let their talent shine

With the vast array of free educational programs, engaging activities, and numerous services offered under its roof, the St. Joe County Public Library (SJCPL) Main Library serves as a hub for not only residents of South Bend, but for residents of Michiana as a whole. In 2021, the Main Library underwent a multimillion dollar renovation, which saw the addition of several new fixtures to the building. Among these were the Second Floor Gallery and the smARTbox, an interactive art space. In the four years that have passed since they were constructed, these two art-centric locations have done much to provide local artists with a place to commune and display their work to the community.

SJCPL seeks to support creators from throughout the community in a variety of ways. The library purchases works made by local artists and puts these pieces on display at its central location and satellite branches. According to Daniel Lichty, senior communications manager at SJCPL, this helps enhance the patrons’ experience at the library by providing them with a welcoming environment that is grounded in the community and encourages both exploration and creativity.

“Libraries are not simply book warehouses,” Lichty said. “We want to help our patrons connect with new stories, ideas, and learning strategies. Visual art is an excellent way to do so. The SJCPL art galleries offer free access to art in all its forms and, in so doing, supports our overall mission of connecting members of our community to learning, resources, culture, and each other. We also want to give artists from throughout the community the chance to showcase their work and present it to new audiences.”

The smARTbox is primarily dedicated to interactive art events along with the display of larger-scale, three-dimensional pieces or interactive experiences.  For one communal smARTbox project, Kamika Perry, Creative Spaces Coordinator, mounted several largesketched canvases on the wall and invited library patrons to color in the designs with acrylic pens. By the end of the two-week project, three canvases had been colored in and over 200 individuals had participated.

The Second Floor Gallery features two-dimensional artwork crafted by local artists, including photographs, charcoal drawings, and paintings. Local artists aged 16 and older, regardless of their experience or skill level, may fill out an online application on the SJCPL website to have their artwork displayed in the gallery. If their artwork is selectedit will be exhibited for about four weeks. Not only does this give fledgling artists the chance to learn how to prepare a piece for exhibition, but it also offers them an invaluable opportunity to advertise their work and boost their visibility.

Each year, a first-come, first-serve open call submission portal is opened on the SJCPL website for artists interested in exhibiting their art at the Second Floor Gallery. There was an excellent turnout this year: the entire gallery was booked through 2026 within 24 hours of the submission portal being opened. Melody Lutz, Community Services Senior Manager, is of the opinion that, under Perry’s guiding hand, the Second Floor Gallery will continue to provide local artists with a welcoming and fruitful creative community.

“The Second Floor Gallery provides us with a unique opportunity to help local artists present their creations to the community,” Lutz said. “Anyone in the community can express themselves by exhibiting their art here. They don’t have to be top-tier artists, or even consider themselves an artist. It can actually be the first step in helping an artist develop. We established the creative spaces coordinator position because we wanted to have a person with expertise in the coordinating and arranging of exhibits. Kamika Perry was an ideal choice for this role, as she is an experienced artist and is well-connected with the local art community.”

Although Perry, an award-winning abstract painter, just ascended to the role of creative spaces coordinator in September of last year, she is no stranger to SJCPL. In 2023 and 2024, her artwork was exhibited in the Second Floor Gallery. As both a former presenting artist and the gallery’s current curator, Perry has a singular perspective into the ways that the Second Floor Gallery benefits artists.

“I’m very proud that the SJCPL can offer the community so many programs and resources,” Perry said. “The library has made sure that art is a central part of our programming, which is very beneficial. A lot of thought went into the making of this gallery. Multiple patrons who have exhibited their art here have told me about how important a role art plays in their lives. I appreciate the fact that SJCPL offers so much support for them. Managing a gallery requires a lot of behind-the-scenes work, so I am proud of the library for recognizing that and establishing the creative spaces coordinator position to address that need.”

According to Perry, several factors are taken into account when an artist’s exhibition eligibility is being determined. Not only is the quality of the art considered, but also the way it is mounted, the artist’s exhibition history, and their promptness when responding to correspondence. An artist who has minimal exhibition experience will likely be unaware of these factors. Perry and makes it a point to support these artists every step of the way.

“My focus is on artist development,” Perry said. “I want to help artists who have minimal exhibition experience learn more about what goes into it. Emerging artists often aren’t aware of just how much work needs to be put in to get their art some exposure. Having a reference for these things is truly an invaluable asset to most developing artists. By exhibiting their art here, they can go step-by-step through the process, all under the direction of people who have extensive experience in this field. In the end, these artists will be able to say they have exhibited their work in an official space, which is great for their artistic background.”

In June, Perry hosted SJCPL’s inaugural Community Curated Exhibition in the Second Floor Gallery. Pencil, charcoal, graphite, oil, and acrylic fine art pieces were put on display, offering attendees the opportunity to view the broad scope of local art. For many of the exhibiting artists, this was the first time they had ever presented their work in public. This not only gave them experience that can help them gain access to exclusive galleries and art fairs, but it also gave them the opportunity to share their stories.

One of this year’s presenting artists, a domestic abuse survivor, turned to painting after she realized that years of therapy was not enough to help her process her trauma. Her art has a bright and whimsical feel to it, a stark contrast to her dark lived experiences. She seeks to make people smile with her artwork, yet had never before presented it in the public. The Community Curated Exhibition gave her the opportunity to share her story and let some happiness into the lives of others.

SJCPL offers an array of programs that help local artists develop their skills and connect with other creatives from throughout the community. Among these is a matting and mounting workshop that guides participants through the process of preparing their art for presentation.

SJCPL also hosts creator meetups at its digital media lab Studio 304, allowing artists to network, collaborate on projects, and share strategies for overcoming obstacles. The South Bend Museum of Art and the Raclin Murphy Museum of Art have frequently partnered with SJCPL to offer local artists and its patrons art-centric programming. The library also hosts several art clubs, which include knitting and crocheting, fiber art, drawing, and painting.

SJCPL continues to find new ways to support Michiana artists – both experienced and emerging – as it promotes learning, fellowship, and creativity throughout the community.

Visit sjcpl.org to learn more about how SJCPL supports the arts and local artists.