“My recent paintings explore the theme of memory and the sensory experiences conveyed during a memory. They are fictitious still lifes that depict obscure photorealistic vintage objects representing past sights, sounds, music, patterns, textures, and even smells from my life.” Moss Freedman

When Michael found out about the Mural project on Springfield Ave, he felt right away that it was a wonderful opportunity to make more art on the largest scale he had worked so far and to design a public mural with a positive message behind it, something that everyone can enjoy and admire. At that time, Michael and Viktorija had been residents of Maplewood for only a short time, but they already felt the need to give back to the community for such a wonderful place to raise their daughter, who is now 6, and this was a perfect way to say “Thank you”.

“Advancements and developments in science, technology, advertising and art, as well as in other technical and cultural realms, doubtlessly alter world view. Perception, knowledge and understanding evolve as new elements are introduced into the scheme of what is known. My work investigates the construction of visual knowledge and inquires into the ways vision, perception and recognition change.”
— Roberta Melzl

Maplewood Library’s Ideas Festival is a celebration of the talent and creativity of our community. This popular series of events, now in its 7th year, was postponed due to the Coronavirus.

The Library is happy to announce that the 2020 Festival events will be held virtually throughout the fall. The programs will be held on Zoom, and registration will be required for each program.

“Maplewood’s Grace’ is a fabric-collaged image of commuters waiting on the platform for their train to NYC. This artwork is my tribute to this unique town, which embraces a wide berth of racial, religious, and social spectrums. I hope my piece will give pause to busy commuters and families alike who pass it, and will remind them to celebrate this special tenet of our town. We are a community with a strong moral code of courteous good will and respect for each other. The rainbow expresses the joy of our diversity and of Maplewood’s everyday grace with all its people.”
- Lisa Lackey

"Architecture first drew me in and became a subject of my painting while I was in graduate school…When I first came to the U.S., the experience of seeing skyscrapers for the first time had an enormous imaginative impact. The modernist style of the buildings seemed to demand a more modernist artistic approach, and I was inspired to create my urban series."
— Ekaterina Ermilkina