Joy of Art

The annual Joy of Art exhibit, inaugurated in 2008, features two-dimensional and three-dimensional work by current Maine artists, both amateur and professional, aged 16 or older. Awards are made in several categories identified in the published guidelines with an additional Peoples’ Choice Award announced at the close of the exhibit. This signature event is co-sponsored by the Friends of the Topsham Public Library and the Library’s Board of Trustees.

SIXTEENTH ANNUAL JOY OF ART EXHIBIT

Live in the Crooker Gallery, January 13 – February 9, 2024

The 2024 Joy of Art exhibit will be hosted in-person in Topsham Public Library’s Crooker Gallery and Highland’s Community Room. A reception is scheduled for Saturday, January 20, 2024 at 1pm and is open to the public. Please join us! There will be no artists’ talk this year.

Registration for the Sixteenth Annual Joy of Art opens November 15th. The deadline is Saturday, January 6, 2024 at 4pm. Printable guidelines with rules of entry and key dates for Joy of Art 2023 are available below.

Click here to register.

New to our JOY lineup is the option for the public to purchase a color catalog of the exhibit. All funds raised will go to the Friends of TPL and will be used for future Joy of Art expenses. You may purchase a copy from our Blurb bookstore.


Artists, below are the documents you will need to review and reference. We suggest printing them to have on hand:

Topsham Public Library Gallery Policy and Waiver.
Joy of Art Rules of Entry & Submission Guidelines.
How to Photograph Your Artwork.

If you have any questions, please email Monique Marchilli-Barker at tplgallery@topshamlibrary.org or call the library at 725-1727.

Library Lover’s Lottery – Drawing to be held on February 9th at the close of the show

Congratulations to the 2023 Joy of Art Winners!

  • Painting: Needlework by Kevin Mizner
  • Drawing: Portrait of Reuben by Emily Hollister
  • Mixed Media / Collage: In Conversation by Barbara Stainman
  • Textile: Flower Power by Theresa Green
  • Digital Art: Clover and Ivy by Sula Demers
  • 3-Dimensional: Crown/Helmut of Horns by Douglas Kanes

Honorable Mentions:

  • Painting: An Abundance of Pears by Susan Cunniff
  • Drawing: Last Light by Diana Washburn
  • Mixed Media / Collage: I Found Your Keys #5 by Ian Trask
  • 3-Dimensional: Golden Acorn Crown by Douglas Kanes

People’s Choice winner

  • Yellow by Angela Dumais

** Sign up to receive email notifications about the JOY exhibits by clicking here. **

Haven’t been receiving JOY emails? You may have previously “unsubscribed” from the gallery or Friends emails and you must re-subscribe if you wish to receive any JOY updates.

If you have any questions, please email Monique Marchilli-Barker at tplgallery@topshamlibrary.org or call the library at 725-1727.