The holidays should be a time of both jovial fun and lovely artistic expression, and right now, the Hernando County Library System is offering numerous opportunities for local residents to create their own festive, colorful and meaningful symbols of the season.
Throughout this month, the public is invited to contribute their own personal touch to a vivid seasonal artwork adorning the walls of the Spring Hill Library, 9220 Spring Hill Dr., Spring Hill.
“In December, the Spring Hill Library will be featuring a community winter mural. Throughout the month, patrons can come into the library and create their own unique snowflake. Staff will add the snowflakes to the wall and watch the winter mural come to life,” said Jennifer Hodges, Branch Supervisor of the Spring Hill Library.
Located on the far wall of the library, the mural consists of decorative snowflakes handcrafted by patrons, with materials made available free of charge at the library.
Currently, a festive fall of artistically culled snowflakes adorns the featured wall; many of them are formed from gleaming wallpaper colored vibrant shades of purple, green, blue, ivory, and more—with these bright hues arranged in various patterns and in the shape of oversized snowflakes.
“Take part in the community winter mural and create your own unique snowflake,” invites a poster placed just above the mural.
An additional sign advises, “Always remember you are as unique as a snowflake.”
The community mural is the latest in a long line of community art projects presented for public participation at the Spring Hill Branch Library, which earlier this month hosted an Ugly Sweater craft activity.
“Every month, staff at the Spring Hill Library prepares a fun, hands-on take-and-make activity called a grab-and-go kit. Chase’s calendar of events, which is the ultimate go-to guide for special days, weeks and months, helps in providing inspiration,” said Hodges. “When staff came upon National Ugly Sweater Day, they knew they had found the one! They chose this fun and quirky holiday because it allows individuals to let their personalities be front and center for others to see.”
The branch’s ugly sweater grab-and-go kits were claimed within a week, with this activity proving wildly popular among patrons.
The Main Branch of the Hernando County Library System is offering Winter Crafts, a seasonal craft session for the younger set, on Monday, December 18, from 4:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. at the library, 238 Howell Ave., Brooksville. Aimed at kids ages 6-12, this class will serve as a celebration of the season.
“Celebrate the start of winter with some crafts!” read an event notice. “Participants will be able to make a variety of different crafts, including snowflakes and snowmen, among other winter-themed crafts. All supplies will be provided.”
Justin King, Youth Services Librarian of the library system, promises a fun and creative activity perfect for the holiday season.
“We order craft kits for this session, which allow the children to fold and decorate paper crafts in any way they like,” he explained. “They can make snowflakes, snowmen, whatever they imagine.”
As endless as the possibilities are for the subject and as focused as their craft activities are, the possible uses for the completed craft projects.
“Kids might choose to take a few extra steps, decorate the folded paper more, and make holiday cards,” he said. “Some make their crafts as gifts to give or as ornaments to place on their family’s trees.”
Participants can make as many as seven crafts and are encouraged to talk and socialize as they work.
“They have a lot of fun,” said King.
Register for Winter Crafts at https://tinyurl.com/tj5f5ac8
The northern border of the Community Winter Mural is marked by an ivory cast, docile-like snowflake, one bearing a message that encourages all guests to “Have a Merry Christmas.”
