‘Fall Colors’
NORWAY — Visitors to Norway Memorial Library may view a memorial art exhibit on the reference room walls. ‘Return to Norway: A Betty Thompson Retrospective’ features fourteen paintings in various mediums by Betty Thompson. Betty, who passed away in 2015, was the mother of local artist Sandra Pealer.
Betty Thompson grew up in a fairly rural community in Michigan. She traveled and painted the United States countryside while accompanying her husband on business trips. She moved with him and their family to various new locations as his jobs changed. Betty said she had no choice but to paint as she loved it so much.
A family member gifted her with the Famous Artists Series in painting that she learned from. Betty had further artistic instruction in high school and two years of college. She was the first member of her family to attend college and had beloved teachers who encouraged her pursuits. Betty’s horizons broadened by attending a college out of state.
She thoroughly enjoyed the independence and the chance to continue painting. In this place, her art flourished and developed into a lifelong habit of making art.
In the 1980s, Betty lived about five years in Norway, Maine, and loved the Norway Memorial Library. To honor her and her love of the library, Sandra asked to exhibit works, which include various styles in oils, watercolors, inks, acrylic, tempura, and pastels. She worked at home in her studio and rarely displayed her work except at church.
The exhibit may be viewed whenever the library is open from November-December 2023. Norway Memorial Library is located at 258 Main Street in Norway, Maine. For more information visit www.norwaymemoriallibrary.org or call 207-743-5309.
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