A mural is the new addition to the Madison Valley Public Library

A new addition has been added to the Madison Valley Public Library (MVPL). A bright and colorful mural was added over the winter to the children’s reading nook. Here they can join fun fairytale characters in their reading adventures.

Karen Ketchu the MVPL Director had some words to share. 

“I had been thinking about a mural on this wall for years, but never found the right combination of vision and expertise in filling large areas. Juliene and her family are regulars at the library and knew what we wanted the space to feel like when you walk in. She donated another painting to the library that showcased her talent and hard work, and when she told us what she envisioned for the space, I knew immediately she was the right artist to create another world on this wall.  Every layer that she added to the mural was magical, and bringing in the littles from the pre-school for the finishing touches was the community imprint needed. The Ennis Arts Association and the Friends of the Library generously donated the materials to make this happen; they are wonderful organizations that have dedicated volunteers that add so much to this community. Kids from 0-100 will enjoy the mural and the comfort it brings to the kids area. It not only draws you into a space where diverse creatures are sharing stories, it encourages exploration and curiosity, which sums the library up quite neatly in a nutshell.” 

Juliene and her family moved from Bozeman to Cameron in 2022. MVPL was a huge contributor to her and her young boy, Remi’s world, allowing a place for them to read and cultivate their creative sides. Every artist needs to feed their creativity and Juliene gave a great backstory as to how she became the artist she is today. 

“Like many people, I was an artist as a kid - always crafting, drawing, and painting. (Thanks Mom for all your support and encouragement!) Then, like many people, as I grew older and started accumulating more responsibilities, I stopped painting. After graduating college and getting my first “real job”, I became depressed, angry with life, and lost. I didn’t even recognize myself anymore. I spent years pursuing random entrepreneurial endeavors in hopes I could quit my job. Each attempt was a failure as I became more and more desperate to find my old awesome self that seemed nowhere to be found in this adult world. Eventually, the answer was obvious - I simply needed to pick my paintbrush back up. So I did,” wrote Juliene on her website julienesinclair.com. Including the Ennis Community Children's School (ECCS) was a big part of her mural. Not only does her son attend school there as a student but she wanted to include the kids that were going to be in that reading area so often to have a part in something so important and big. Juliene said, “I wanted them to experience the value of art. If their hands are on it and they actually partook in it, then they will forever be more included in this mural. Sometimes painting big is unachievable for some people, it feels like too big of a gap to get there. If they experience it at a young age, then in my mind, they already did it. It won’t just be something they want to do. They’ll get to thinking, ‘I can do this’, I’ve already done it.”Juliene wears many hats, she does murals and is a muralist but she also wants to help spread the love of art and she does that through her website and through social media. She has shared her journey and wants to remind people just because you stopped does not mean you can’t pick it back up.