Celebrate a Local Artist at Pasadena’s Hastings Branch Library

“Calm a Little Soul” by the late Karen Reitzel (Photo – PPL)

Celebrate an innovative artist and 140 Years of Growth on Saturday, April 20, at 10:00 am, at Hastings Branch Library, 3325 E. Orange Grove Blvd.

By News Desk

Community members of all ages are invited to learn about native pollinators from Pasadena Water and Power and receive a native plant, while supplies last. Create butterfly-themed crafts then attend the ribbon cutting of “Calm a Little Soul” by artist Karen Reitzel, moderated by the Pasadena Cultural Affairs Division.

Karen Reitzel

The artwork “Calm a Little Soul” by artist Karen Reitzel was first exhibited in 2018 as part of the third iteration of the City’s Rotating Public Art Program. Following her untimely passing in 2021, the artist’s husband has generously donated the sculpture to the Hastings Branch Library, where it will pay homage to the nearby butterfly garden and inspire visitors for years to come.

Rotating Public Art Program

Established in 2011, the Rotating Public Art Program is intended to complement the permanency of both the Private Development and Capital Public Art Programs by placing artworks throughout the City that activate unusual locations, transforming small, often unnoticed areas into exciting destinations for visitors and residents to discover. By presenting original artworks at established locations, the program encourages residents and visitors to circulate throughout the City and experience the entirety of each exhibition.

Pasadena Public Library’s 140^th Anniversary Celebration

Since first opening its doors in 1884, The Pasadena Public Library has served the community with free and open places to commune, connect, learn, read and belong. Pasadena Public Library has spent 140 years shaping the past, sculpting the present, and building toward a brighter future.

Throughout 2024, Pasadena Public Library will host a feature program at each branch location, from January through October, release limited edition merchandise, hold a 14-book reading challenge celebrating 14 decades of library service, collect and feature community stories of what the library means to you, and broadcast videos of interviews with library staff. These monthly vignettes will offer a glimpse into how the people of Pasadena have shaped our library from the beginning and continue to guide our growth into the future.