2026 August

September brings two new exhibits to the library! Paging through Penguins: A Penguin Books Gallery opens with an informal “tea talk” featuring collector Danya Walker on September 10th, and Ken Southwick’s stunning Paintings of the Ozarks series opens with a reception in the Bramlage & Willcoxon Foundation Gallery the following week. Save the dates–details below!

Paging through Penguins: A Penguin Books Gallery | Thursday, September 10, 2026 | 6:00-7:00pm | Post Reading Room

We’re welcoming a display of vintage Penguin paperbacks to the library and you’re invited! During this event, local collector Danya Walker will talk about her collection and introduce us to the wonderful world of Penguin Books.This is a FREE public event. Recommended for adults, but all ages welcome. Tea and light refreshments will be available while supplies last. Paging through Penguins us is on display though October 31st. Find it on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1SVNqtpoya/.

Opening: Paintings of the Ozarks | Tuesday, September 15, 2026 | 5:00-6:00pm | Bramlage & Willcoxon Foundation Gallery

Join us in welcoming Paintings of the Ozarks, a series by local artist Ken Southwick, to the library’s Bramlage & Willcoxon Foundation Gallery. Ken is an artist and illustrator living in Carthage, Missouri. Growing up, his father took him to every commercial cave in the region, and they canoed many rivers in his later years. These early experiences of the Ozarks have inspired him to paint for his entire career. Missouri Wildflowers, and paintings from his travels in Europe, Asia, and Africa, are among his other series. Ken’s work is shown in galleries, fairs, and colleges throughout the Midwest. In 1994, he was invited to exhibit and lecture at the Central Institute of Fine Arts in East Beijing, China. He was an early adopter of computer illustration and spent his career giving demonstrations and seminars in the education system. His client list includes Marvel Comics, Hallmark Cards, Lee Jeans, and Leggett & Platt. Samples of his work can be seen at KenSouthwick.net. Paintings of the Ozarks will be exhibited through October 31st. Find it on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1BfmVNmK7j/.