AFTON – The Afton Free Library is celebrating art, in miniature form, as it opens its second annual Tiny Art Show. A community exhibit that this year, features 42 entries of small-scale artwork created by local adults and teens. On display now inside the library, the show runs from August 1-11.

When people entered the Tiny Art Show, the library supplied a small six-by-six inch canvas along with some paints and paintbrushes if they needed, though they had the freedom to use any medium they chose. This year's theme for the Tiny Art Show, “Unearth a Story,” ties directly into the library's summer reading program for children and teens.

Library Manager, Michelle Hurd said the Tiny Art Show offers adults a chance to join in the seasonal programming. “This is a way for the library to include adults in our summer reading program by them participating in the Tiny Art Show,” she said, explaining that there is an adult category and teen category for those 12-17. This year, 31 adults and 11 teens participated.

The show includes three prize categories: Interpretation of the theme, Bookmark Worthy, and a People's Choice Award. Library visitors are asked to vote for their favorite canvases throughout the display period. Voting opens Monday, August 3, and the prizes will be awarded on Tuesday, August 11 at the end of the summer reading program party at 1:30 p.m.

The Summer Reading Program at the Afton Free Library runs from Tuesday, July 11 through August 11 this year, it includes weekly Tuesday activities in the theme of “Unearth a Story,” which involves a lot of dinosaurs. This year the summer program held a town-wide scavenger hunt. Children under 17, were tasked with searching the town's local businesses for dinosaurs, earning stickers, and exchanging them for custom trading cards designed by the library. The Tiny Art Show extends that creative energy to older age groups who were invited to submit artwork reflecting the summer theme.

The Tiny Art Show, growing in its second year, is quickly becoming a a beloved community event, offering a low-pressure way for residents to express themselves and see their work displayed publicly.

“We have so many people in the community that are interested in art. There's different art experience levels, and we love to see them all,” Hurd said.

The Afton Free Library also hosts Adult Craft Night, on the last Thursday of each month. Upcoming on August 27, they will be hosting “Bling-a-Book.” Hurd said just bring in a book and they will provide the supplies.