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Barre, Massachusetts

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Art Among the Stacks | February & March: Ellen Ludway

Our next featured artist is Ellen Ludway. Her son, Vern McClish, brought his mother’s incredible works to share with our community. Vern writes:

“Ellen Ludway, born in 1920, was affected by the societal expectations of her time. In her mid-teens during the thirties (the depression) she channeled her extraordinary talent into creating breathtaking pastels and pen and ink drawings of famous people and movie stars. Despite the era’s norms that dictated women’s roles, Ellen’s artistic prowess shone brightly. While her four brothers fought in WWII, she supported her mother, gave birth to my older sister (my father never saw Vernita until after the war), and carried on in life as best as she could.

Fast forward to today. As I reproduce copies of her remarkable artwork, I celebrate not only her artistic brilliance but also recognize the tough choices she made in life. Ellen prioritized family, raising three successful children, and fostering a loving relationship with her husband, Verne. Her art, hidden gems from a different era, will now get some of the recognition they deserve. They showcase a woman who, in today’s world, could have achieved widespread fame as a talented and celebrated artist. Her work was hidden for decades, but now will be appreciated.”

About Art Among the Stacks:

We moved some shelving around on the main floor, added a fresh coat of paint to the wall, and voilà… our art gallery is back! Local artists are invited to display their art in a one- or two-month showing at the library. For more information, please view our Local Art Gallery policy. Interested artists can contact Joe Hood, Library Director, at jhood@barrelibrary.org with any questions or to schedule a showing.

Click on the images to enlarge.


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Our Library At A Glance: 2023 Quick Stats

35,923

total items owned by Barre


4,988

ILL items sent
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38,875

total checkouts


6,855

ILL items received
from other libraries