Library Goes on Safari in February

Sherry Wright (left) and Toloa Perry will exhibit their art from a 2011 African safari at the New Woodstock Free Library from Feb. 1 through March 8.

New Woodstock Free Library News

By Norm Parry

(New Woodstock, NY – Feb. 2013) Toloa Perry and Sherry Wright will exhibit paintings, photographs, memorabilia and books from their July 2011 trip to Tanzania. The exhibit will open Feb. 1 and continue through March 8 at the New Woodstock Free Library.

A reception will be held from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 8, at the library, located at 2106 Main St. (Route 13), New Woodstock.

Perry and Wright are well-known local artists with an engaging story to tell of their travels in Africa. They tell that story with their art.

Tanzania is located on the eastern coast of the African continent. It is a mostly rural nation of more than 43 million people speaking over 100 different (tribal) languages though Swahili and English are in most general use. The country is known for its diverse wildlife population and Africa’s highest peak, Mount Kilimanjaro.

Perry earned a fine arts degree at Ohio University and a master’s in art education from Syracuse University. Many private collections in Central New York include her works and she lists more than two dozen exhibitions, including shows at the local libraries, Hospice of Central New York and other galleries and art venues. Her specialty is portraying animals.

She gives private watercolor lessons in her Cazenovia home.

Wright, a teacher in environmental studies and international studies, has traveled to Africa four times. She is an award-winning photographer. She was the grand prize winner of the (Seattle) Photo Works Company National Photography Contest in 1998. In summer 2010, she placed first in the Black and White Photography Division at the Herkimer County Community College Show.

In June 2011, she was awarded the Color Print of the Year honor at the end of the year Utica Camera Club banquet. Wright is president of the Cazenovia Watercolor Society and is a member of several camera and art organizations.

Wright also illustrated the children’s book “Water for Sudan” on the life of Salva Dut, a Lost Boy of Sudan, who has started drilling wells in South Sudan. This was part of the activities of a project now known as Water for South Sudan.

The two artists have compiled a book of their photographs tracing their trip through Tanzania that portrays the people and cultural life they encountered.

Norm Parry is library director for the New Woodstock Free Library. The library is open Monday through Friday from 1 to 5 p.m., Monday and Wednesday evenings 7 to 9 p.m. and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. The library also is open whenever the flags are flying out front. Children’s hour is every Tuesday at 11 a.m. Find and “like” the library on Facebook. For more information, visit www.midyork.org/newwoodstock or call (315) 662-3134.