Artworks to bring a rainbow of colors into Arlington Hts. library

At the Arlington Heights Memorial Library, officials describe it as "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor -- Library."

They are borrowing from the famous Broadway show, in order to underscore just how colorful and vibrant the library is becoming, thanks to new pieces of artwork recently contributed.

The latest pieces will be unveiled at a reception Thursday. Ironically, both artists' names are Joseph.

Arlington Heights sculptor, Joseph Burlini, first will introduce one of his first mentors, Joe Welna. The longtime Chicago art dealer and prolific artist now lives in Arlington Heights.

He has contributed one of his paintings to the library, called "The Squint II," after contributing two more of his works to Marquette University's new Raynor-Memorial Library and Archives, which opened one year ago.

"The library really needs to have one of his paintings," Burlini said. "These are major works."

Arlington Heights library officials will unveil Welna's acrylic on canvas painting in the public computer area, on the wall opposite the historical mural, which depicts the history of Arlington Heights.

Welna's piece offers a more contemporary style to the library's permanent collection. It appears to be a series of stripes in different colors that actually are based on Eastern European fold costumes.

The grading of light to dark in the stripes make them appear shaded, but they also create an optical illusion when viewed from a distance, making them seem curved rather than straight.

At the same reception, library officials will showcase one of Burlini's metal sculptures, which originally was purchased by the Friends of the Library in 1983, and recently has been refurbished.

Called the "Rainbow Mobile," it appears as if planets are rotating around the sun, and will be hung in a highly visible location near the reference desk.

During the reception, library officials will distribute a new color brochure highlighting some of its 41 pieces of public art on display, both inside and outside the building. A map of them is available on the library's web site, www.ahml.info.