The Park City Library adds color to life through its various programs that promote literacy, community connection and education. In return, the library is seeking public donors to add some color to a black-and-white mural through a fundraising session this giving season. For a $150 donation, members of the public can purchase a colored square tile that will fit on one square of a black-and-white photograph of aspen trees taken by Park City-based photographer, Mark Maziarz. The mural is 14 feet wide and 7 feet tall, and each tile measures 4 inches by 4 inches, according to former library board member Margie Schlosser, who is now a volunteer. “The idea started 10 years ago and came up during the library’s renovation (that began in 2014),” she said. When the library celebrated its grand opening in the summer of 2015, the mural was ready, according to Schlosser.  “There are 882 tiles total, and we’re close to being 50% complete,” she said. “We anticipate to hit that mark during this season.” The donation includes a tile and up to two lines of text that will appear on the tile, Schlosser said. “We’ve had people purchase tiles in honor of teachers and in memory of a loved one,” she said. “We’ve also had people purchase tiles as a thank you to the library, and we’ve had people who have vacationed here and bought a tile.” Alison Kuhlow, a friend of Maziarz who worked with him on another public-art installment called Art Pianos for All, had picked the aspen photo for the mural. “She had already picked the photo off my website,” he said.  Maziarz remembers taking the photograph in an aspen grove just above Bonanza Flat. “It was just off Guardsman Pass Road where we have some of our tallest and straightest aspens,” he said.  When Maziarz saw the scene, he knew what he wanted to do. “I laid down on the forest floor and pointed the camera up,” he said. “And every time I see that picture, I think of laying down a blanket, having a picnic and laying back with hands behind my head and daydreaming.” Maziarz, who has been a professional photographer for 25 years, took the photo digitally in color and used PhotoShop to turn it black and white. “It was pretty straightforward,” he said.  The public can donate for a tile two ways, Schlosser said. “There are paper forms at the library’s information desk, and we also accept donations online at parkcitylibrary.org/mural-wall,” she said. “When you go online, you can see the names of those who have donated so far, except for those who choose not to put their names on the tile.” Schlosser collects the information and donations, and responds to each donor. “I want to make sure their texts are what they want,” she said. “I will also attach a PDF that they can print and use as a gift acknowledgement to be given to people during the holidays.” The printer won’t take the tiles until there are at least 10, according to Schlosser. “Sometimes it takes several months before people will see their tiles,” she said. “So, we’re hoping during this holiday season, more people will donate.” The cut off time for this fundraising drive that runs between Thanksgiving and Christmas is Jan. 2. “Once the tiles are finished, we have Park City’s maintenance department install them on the mural,” Schlosser said. “Our goal is to have the tiles installed by early February.” Maziarz is so happy the library is using his photo as part of the fundraiser. “We have such an amazing library for a town this size, and there are so many resources there,” he said. “It also has little study rooms and nooks here and there, and the staff is great.” Maziarz, a past library board member, also knows the importance of libraries. “I remember hearing how the literacy rate has dropped 40% over the past 20 years, and that’s scary,” he said. “ So I’m pretty thrilled with anything I can do to support it. And Margie is amazing. Her organizational skills are what is needed to do all this.” For information about the Park City Library Wall Mural fundraiser, visit parkcitylibrary.org/mural-wall For information about photographer Mark Maziarz, visit maziarz.com. The post Park City Library fundraiser adds color to the community appeared first on Park Record. ...read more read less