Image courtesy of MarionGundersonArt.com

From now until the end of December, the public is invited to add some color to their lives while also supporting their local library.

The Perry Public Library is involved in a fundraiser being organized by Perry resident Louise Gunderson-Shimon to honor her late mother, Marion Gunderson. Gunderson was a librarian at the Rolfe, Iowa Public Library for 35 years, in addition to being a celebrated artist, particularly in the watercolor medium. Prints of her work are now on sale at the Perry Perk Coffee Shop, though supplies are limited. All proceeds from the sale with go to either the Perry or Rolfe library, with the purchaser able to choose their beneficiary.

To date, over $5,000 has been raised for the two libraries, with the money helping to pay for projects and programming. The sale will run through the end of the year, or until the supply of paintings runs out. Gunderson-Shimon says her mother always had a passion for libraries and firmly believed in the difference they make to communities, and she believes the late artist would be happy to know her work was benefiting such a cause.