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Local Artist Unveils Work at Pendleton Library

Anderson, Ind. – On August 23, Anderson artist Leigh Boram unveiled an expansive multi-panel mural at the Pendleton Community Library, utilizing years of experiences in and around the library as inspiration for her work. The original pieces took over two years to complete and are designed to each look like separate pages in a book. Each piece provides a unique perspective on plant life and gardening, incorporating landscapes, diagrams, and quotes from a variety of historic authors.

Boram, who grew up in Pendleton, first proposed the work to the Pendleton Community Library in January of 2006, drawing heavily on her childhood experiences in the area for inspiration. “I grew up in Pendleton,” says Boram, “and the hours spent at the Carnegie Library building were a big part of my education. I think I absorbed some of my love for art through the covers of the giant reference books that I could barely lift when I was a child.” Pendleton’s influence, Boram reveals, goes beyond just her interest in art itself, but also helped to inspire the subject matter of the pieces. “Pendleton has always had beautiful parks and gardens,” she says, “and it’s something I’ve really come to appreciate. I can remember working at the first Earth Day event. Experiences like that made the environment and ecology an important part of my life growing up.”

The collection of works, says Boram, is characterized by its variety. While some pieces blend soothing depictions of nature with uplifting quotes from the likes of Henry David Thoreau and Sir Walter Scott, others provide displays of tree fruits or leaf shapes that look as though they come straight from a textbook. “I wanted to create a collection, just like a library, that had enough variety for everyone to find at least one piece inspiring,” says Boram. “I wanted to explore a balance between the natural and the academic.”
Boram’s studio is housed in the Anderson Business Incubator, and although an artist may not be the incubator’s typical tenant, Boram says that the space has proved to be beneficial to her work. “Typically, an artist’s studio is just kind of a bubble to work in,” she states, “but the ABI has given me the opportunity to interact with a number of interesting people while still being in my work space. It’s really been a fun experience.”

In addition to completing the paintings, Boram has found other ways to be active at the library and in the community over the past few months. “I helped with classes held for children in the area in January,” she says. “I painted along with a story that was being read to the children and helped spark their imagination for art. We also held events for kids to come in and paint at the library. I wanted to help them find the joy in doing art for pleasure.”

Ultimately, says Boram, her paintings and classes with the library are a way of expressing gratitude. “This work is all about my love for the library,” she says. “I want to give back for everything it has taught me.”
Boram’s work and activities are made possible, in part, by the Indiana Arts Commission and the National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency.