Kara Saki Lion King Mask Art
Scotts Valley Branch Library, January 3- April 3, 2026
During the 2024-25 school year, Kara Saki designed and built four Lion King masks for the Scotts Valley Middle School production of Lion King Jr. She received well deserved applause and recognition for her unique and marvelous creations. The Arts Commission of Santa Cruz County awarded Kara a Spotlight Award in 2025. Through the Spotlight Award, the County Arts Commission publicly recognizes individuals who have achieved a high level of excellence and creativity in their work, but who have not received widespread acknowledgment of their talent. Hot on the heels of the Spotlight Awards exhibition at the County Government Center, the Friends of the Scotts Valley Library are thrilled to present Kara’s Lion King masks in the teen area of the Scotts Valley Library.
Janet Silverglate Assemblage and Mixed Media
Felton Branch Library, November 5- December 31, 2025
Janet Silverglate found her artistic voice through Assemblage and Mixed Media, embracing salvaged, found, and recycled materials in her work. She is inspired by the textures, forms, and histories of worn objects. Her assemblages reflect a playful, thoughtful process that honors the past lives of materials, weaving them into harmonious, one-of-a-kind works of art. Janet has an MFA and is a San Lorenzo Valley and Santa Cruz Open Studios artist.
Creative Works from the Veteran Community
Downtown Branch Library, September 13 - December 6, 2025
Art created by veterans and artists connected to the veteran community such as service providers. Pieces are mostly art on canvas, watercolor, oil, watercolor on top of prints; mixed media, 3D objects: painted skulls.
Becky Olvera Schultz Art Exhibit
Aptos Branch Library, October 1- December 31, 2025
I have directed my consuming interest in the native peoples of the Americas into my own personal art expression. I derive immense satisfaction from putting life into the materials I work with. My art is an extension of my spirit, a piece of my personal vision and a constant source of comfort and healing for me. I believe my own indigenous bloodline, natural talent, research and travel experiences have all contributed to my specific style of art. Over the years my art has been featured in nine museum exhibitions, galleries in several states as well as included in countless national and local exhibitions and Santa Cruz Open Studios twelve times.
Karen Whitaker Art Exhibit
Aptos Branch Library, October 1- December 31, 2025
I am strongly moved by the ocean, clouds and ambient landscapes as well as figurative work. Experimenting with new techniques and color offers me a wide realm of possibilities in exploring ideas. My work has been described as having a subtlety of subject because it bridges the gap between pure abstraction and representational art. The element of landscape is apparent in many of my pieces but the abstraction allows for a more personal level of interpretation. Painting for me is a process - I create in layers and as I take the painting to a new level it often times takes on a life of its own. Inspiration comes from various sources but I am most affected by atmospheric Native American and ambient music as it allows me to enter into areas of introspection and emotion. I hope my art does the same for you.
A Collection Lost to Fire
Duane and Annie Armstrong
Scotts Valley Branch Library, October 4, 2025- January 2, 2026
Boulder Creek artists Duane and Annie Armstrong are both highly experienced and celebrated oil painters. Duane’s paintings explore atmosphere and mood through abstraction and landscape. Annie creates glowing larger than life close-ups of flowers, shells and butterflies. Many of Duane and Annie Armstrong ’s fabulous oil paintings were destroyed in the CZU fire, five years ago. The Friends of the Scotts Valley Library are thrilled to have a collection of high quality giclée prints of their original oil paintings on view October 4, 2025 through January 2, 2026.
