Whimsy and wonder are attributes that Sarah Fitzgerald uses to describe her art.
The longtime elementary art teacher at Mount Vernon has a gallery of her work on display at Cornell College’s Cole Library. She is Mount Vernon’s artist in residence, and is completing her second year in the program this fall.
Cole Library director Grace Chamberlain Rowray said that featuring Fitzgerald’s work in the gallery space was a terrific decision, due to the space being part of the public library and Fitzgerald’s own connection to Cornell College and being a longtime resident of Mount Vernon.
“I have to thank Tiffany Carr and the people at Mount Vernon Area Arts Council for the artist in residence program,” Fitzgerald said.
Fitzgerald said when she retired from Mount Vernon schools, she really started missing the creative environment she had been conducting a lot of her art in when she was teaching, but has had more time to tackle a number of art projects.
“Having this opportunity to feature some of my art in a public space has helped me spur on my creativity,” Fitzerald said.
Some of it has been stoked with an endeavor she has been doing with the Iowa City at the moment, too.
“A lot of my work has been focused on the seasons, so you see a lot of summer and spring photos and elements,” Fitzgerald said. “I do have some snow and winter pictures and videos I’ve been featuring as well.”
There are video elements to many of Fitzgerald’s work, where screenshots are featured in the gallery.
That is that whimsy, wonder and playfulness side of her art she said she got from her work with students for so long.
As part of her artist in residency, she and Chamberlain Rowray have been working on kicking off a monthly art program to be hosted at the library called Creatives Connect. The first meeting will be Sunday, Feb. 4, from 2-4 p.m. at Cole Library.
Fitzgerald said that many of the pieces you see are for sale, she has just never did well with the marketing side of being an artist.
Marie DeVries, with the Mount Vernon Area Arts Council, said applications for the next artist in residence for Mount Vernon will be available in the fall of 2024. It is a two-year position for the community.
Citizens pore over some of the jars that contain some of Sarah Fitzgerald’s pieces at the gallery opening and artist event Sunday, Jan. 21.