Our Current Display

More Garbage than Fish by Sarah Schneiderman

Sarah Schneiderman began her artistic journey with private painting lessons, ultimately earning a B.F.A from the Corcoran School of Art and an M.F.A from the California Institute of the Arts. She attended numerous civil rights protests and anti-war marches throughout her childhood and high school years. These political actions significantly influenced her artistic subject, often addressing environmental, political and social concerns. 

Since 1995, Schneiderman has been committed to creating art from recycled materials, transforming everyday trash into beautiful and thought-provoking pieces. In recent years, she has taken her work outside traditional galleries and exhibited it in public spaces, primarily in public libraries. She currently splits her time between Connecticut and Bonaire, Dutch Caribbean.

Schneiderman creates assemblage artworks using found, non-recyclable items–plastic cutlery, buttons, and beads to lace, ribbons, toy parts, feathers, and discarded everyday trash. She use garbage to encourage viewers to reflect on plastic waste, pollution, rising ocean temps, coral degradation, and our planet’s toxicity.

The works in this show feature sea creatures built on cardboard or wood using beads, plastic cutlery, metal, cribbage pegs, and everyday trash. These pieces highlight marine pollution and the fragility of ocean ecosystems. Crafted with rich textures and vibrant colors, they evoke both the beauty and the threat to sea life. 

Information for Artists about Exhibiting at the Cheshire Library

Art exhibits featuring the work of local visual artists are part of the Cheshire Public Library’s cultural mission. The library welcomes submissions for consideration in the library’s display areas. 

Area artists are welcome to apply, with priority being given to those living or working in Cheshire. Our Art Exhibits Selection Committee consists of four members of the Cheshire Performing and Fine Arts Committee (CPFA) who evaluate works for technical and artistic quality and the contribution to a lively and varied program for the year. Potential exhibitors should fill out the online application and submit it along with 4-6 digital images of works they plan to display. Artists may also include links to their websites or social media pages. Exhibits are generally displayed for one month. All exhibits must be appropriate for family viewing. Children’s programs are held in the Mary Baldwin Room, a shared community programming space. As a result, any subject matter deemed inappropriate may be excluded at the discretion of the art selection committee and/or the library. 

The committee meets twice a year to select art for the exhibits. The deadlines for submissions are December 31 and June 30. 

There are two display areas in the library, a wire grid hanging wall in the lobby and the Mary Baldwin Room. The lobby display area is 12’ by 5’. The Mary Baldwin Room has a hanging system which offers 55 linear feet of space. Paintings may be hung one above the other. An exhibit can utilize both spaces or just one. Artists are encouraged to visit the library to assess the space. 

ART EXHIBIT GUIDELINES