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Spring-based mural’s images sold to raise money for library
  
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By KEVIN KOLOIAN
A mural at the Barbara Bush Library paints a picture straight out of a Spring-based storybook; the Cypress Creek winds through the soaring pines, cottonwoods and oaks of northwest Harris County, in a way that allows one to leave the ordinary behind and escape into a forest of imagination through the leaves of books and trees.
Now the the 7-foot-by-30-foot, $25,000 mural, commissioned by the Barbara Bush Library Friends as a memorial to Kathleen “Niki” Rogers -- a longtime employee and friend -- is being used to raise money for the library.
The library’s store is selling note cards depicting four images of the “Niki Rogers Memorial Mural” in packs of eight at a price of $8 each.
The backs are blank, so they can be used for Christmas cards, birthday cards, thank-you notes, or anything else people can find a use for.
Located in the Children’s Services area of the library, the mural combines the history, wildlife and vegetation of the area with allusions to classic and current children’s literature.
“It combines literary characters with history and the nature of the Klein-Cypress Creek area,” said
Nancy Agafitei, branch librarian.
Many historic landmarks, including a Karankawa Indian hut, the Peter Wunderlich House, old Trinity Lutheran Church, an ox-drawn timber wagon, a Strack Farms truck hauling produce from farm to market, the Champions water tower, the blimp and a Hooks Airport jet On can be seen on the back left portion of the painting.
In the center of the fairytale scene stands a massive tree house with branches full of young readers and their books. At the base of the tree house sits Niki Rogers reading “Good Night Moon” to her children, Catherine and Jon. According to the story, people believe that the forest librarian lives in the trunk of the tree and can be seen reading there at night.
The front and right sections of the picture feature a variety of literary characters and imaginative creatures including Little Red Riding Hood and the Big Bad Wolf, Huck Finn, Long John Silver, Clifford the Big Red Dog, the Magic School Bus, Robin Hood, characters from Alice in Wonderland and the Wizard of Oz, Baba Yaga’s hut, a griffin, Paul Bunyan and Babe the Blue Ox, a castle, a dragon, a UFO, and numerous fairies.
Many kids, who are actual library patrons, show up in the painting.
Dedicated in December 2007, the piece was done by Pat Rawlings, a contract artist for NASA, who is known for painting space portraits.
“We sat down with the artist, library friends and library staff and brainstormed some ideas of what is important in our community,” Agafitei said. “He worked with us to develop a special theme, just for our area.”
MURAL NOTE CARDS
To purchase sets of the note cards, you can either place an order online at bblf@bblf.org or buy them from the Friends Bookstore within the library. If you order online you must make payment and pick-up at the Barbara Bush Library Friends, 6817 Cypresswood Dr., Spring. Payment can be made by cash or check.
Now the the 7-foot-by-30-foot, $25,000 mural, commissioned by the Barbara Bush Library Friends as a memorial to Kathleen “Niki” Rogers -- a longtime employee and friend -- is being used to raise money for the library.
The library’s store is selling note cards depicting four images of the “Niki Rogers Memorial Mural” in packs of eight at a price of $8 each.
The backs are blank, so they can be used for Christmas cards, birthday cards, thank-you notes, or anything else people can find a use for.
Located in the Children’s Services area of the library, the mural combines the history, wildlife and vegetation of the area with allusions to classic and current children’s literature.
“It combines literary characters with history and the nature of the Klein-Cypress Creek area,” said
Nancy Agafitei, branch librarian.
Many historic landmarks, including a Karankawa Indian hut, the Peter Wunderlich House, old Trinity Lutheran Church, an ox-drawn timber wagon, a Strack Farms truck hauling produce from farm to market, the Champions water tower, the blimp and a Hooks Airport jet On can be seen on the back left portion of the painting.
In the center of the fairytale scene stands a massive tree house with branches full of young readers and their books. At the base of the tree house sits Niki Rogers reading “Good Night Moon” to her children, Catherine and Jon. According to the story, people believe that the forest librarian lives in the trunk of the tree and can be seen reading there at night.
The front and right sections of the picture feature a variety of literary characters and imaginative creatures including Little Red Riding Hood and the Big Bad Wolf, Huck Finn, Long John Silver, Clifford the Big Red Dog, the Magic School Bus, Robin Hood, characters from Alice in Wonderland and the Wizard of Oz, Baba Yaga’s hut, a griffin, Paul Bunyan and Babe the Blue Ox, a castle, a dragon, a UFO, and numerous fairies.
Many kids, who are actual library patrons, show up in the painting.
Dedicated in December 2007, the piece was done by Pat Rawlings, a contract artist for NASA, who is known for painting space portraits.
“We sat down with the artist, library friends and library staff and brainstormed some ideas of what is important in our community,” Agafitei said. “He worked with us to develop a special theme, just for our area.”
MURAL NOTE CARDS
To purchase sets of the note cards, you can either place an order online at bblf@bblf.org or buy them from the Friends Bookstore within the library. If you order online you must make payment and pick-up at the Barbara Bush Library Friends, 6817 Cypresswood Dr., Spring. Payment can be made by cash or check.
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