Mini Canvas Painting
Hartford Public Library Albany Avenue Branch
Hartford
June 10, 2025
Most of my experiences with public painting have been evening paint-and-sips, so I was intrigued by a daytime painting event offered by the Albany Avenue branch of the Hartford Public Library Tuesday morning.
A woman who overheard me talking to the librarians about my job she sat next to me for the event. “I’ve never talked to a real-life reporter,” she said before introducing herself as Bonni McKenney.
I got to know Bonni, a Southern belle who had made the north her home, as we were painting. She lives in the South End of Hartford, like me. Typically a crochet/knitting person, she heard about the painting event because she’s a member of the library.
“I don’t know how to paint,” she said. “That’s why I’m here. That’s the fun of it.” She said that she forced herself to leave the house this morning, even though the rain made her want to crawl back under her covers. “Sometimes you have to make yourself do the fun stuff.”
I watched as she used gentle brush strokes to make green and purple streaks that exploded out from the center of the canvas. At first I thought she was making fireworks. Then she added little dots here and there. I realized it was a flower.
Bonni worked for the Episcopalean Church for more than 30 years before retiring. She said that doing activities like art is finally her “me” time, and she planned to stay as busy as she could.
We were joined by some friends from the Catholic Charities Learning and Lifeskills Adult Day Program in Newington. It’s designed to help adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities identify their own goals and work to achieve them. They told me that they try to get the program participants out in the community to be a part of the events happening around them.
Every other Tuesday, they make the drive to Hartford for the painting event, which many of the adults in the program love. The librarians greeted the group like old friends when they arrived. A young man named Tyrone happily obliged when I asked if I could take a picture of his artwork.
“Take a picture of mine!” a gentleman named Dylan said, holding up his artwork (pictured above) with pride.
My painting was the least creative by far. The librarians provided us with guide images to help spark our imaginations, but I confidently set mine aside.
I had imagination in spades. I was ready to turn my canvas into a masterpiece.
I proceeded to stare at my blank canvas for 15 minutes while Bonni and everyone else worked diligently on their paintings. Eventually, I painted a bright red bar across the middle of the canvas.
“Guess I’m making a flag,” I said to Bonnie.
NEXTThe Hartford Public Library hosts several events every day. You can check out what’s happening at their website.
Jamil goes to check out some drag karaoke.
