The Patchogue-Medford Public Library will be partnering with local acclaimed artist Cara Lynch for a new mural inside their Main Library.

As part of the project, the community is invited to help create and color it during a Community Paint Party at the Carnegie Library on Saturday, Sept. 7, during the St. Liberata Festival.

Lynch, who lives in East Patchogue, is excited to work with the community to bring joy and beauty through the artwork.
“I’m also so excited that our community painting day will align with the festival in Patchogue. This will allow so many people to experience the process of making the mural and participate in painting together,” she said. “I always find community painting days to be a fun way for people to engage with their town and their neighbors. It’s especially great that many of them might stumble upon the event—it allows this project to reach even more people.”

The idea for the project came after Lynch reached out to library director Danielle Paisley, who immediately said “yes!”

“The library has had so much success working with the Patchogue Arts Council on various projects—our mural, MoCA Lights—and our regular art education programming that makes the arts, in all their variations, accessible to everyone in the community,” Paisley said, noting that their patrons have also requested more color at the main branch. “[Lynch] is a nationally recognized artist who brings joy and light to public spaces, and we thought our main branch could use some of that!”

Adults and children of all ages are welcome to participate (kids under 12 must have parental supervision). The mural will be paint by number. Once complete, it will be hung, leading down to the Children’s Department.

The event will take place during the St. Liberata Festival on Sept. 7 from noon to 4 p.m.; participants are encouraged to drop in at any time behind the Carnegie Library located at 160 West Main Street in Patchogue. In case of inclement weather, the event will be held at the main library branch down the road.

All materials will be provided, but wear appropriate painting clothes.

The project is made possible with funds from the statewide Community Regrant Program, a regrant program of the New York State Council on the Arts, with the support of the governor and New York State Legislature, and administered by the Huntington Arts Council.