ASHTABULA – A face looked back at Joëlle Shaw.
The visage wore aviator’s goggles and a serene look.
It was an image that Shaw drew on a canvas and began to paint as she applied gentle brush strokes to bring the artwork to life.
A third grader, Shaw created a painting of Bessie Coleman, the first African American woman to earn a pilot’s license, during the Black History Community Art Project Jan. 17 at the Ashtabula Public Library.
As part of the event, people from the community could create art related to Black history, which will then be displayed at the library’s William Tokarczyk Gallery in February. According to the Ashtabula County District Library’s Facebook page, a reception is set for 4-7 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 19.
Shaw thought Coleman’s accomplishment of earning her pilot’s license on June 15, 1921, was really special.
“She’s kind of like Amelia Earhart,” Shaw said. “There’s more to life than being a passenger.”
Lyn Glover, public services manager for ACDL, described the event as “an art lab for Black History Month.”
In addition to making their own creations, people could color some pre-printed images, including such notable Black history figures as Harriet Tubman, Sojourner Truth and many more.
Glover noted that the art will be accompanied by some book displays in the William Tokarczyk Gallery.
“I just wanted to bring anybody who was interested together to make some art,” she said. “People also like to have their art shown in the gallery.”
She thought there was a good turnout for the event, which drew about eight in the first hour.
LaVette Hennigan, who is well known locally as the former long-serving Clerk of Council in Ashtabula, took part in the event. She colored a pre-printed image of Africa, giving it a woodgrain look.
She was enjoying herself.
“I like it,” she said, noting she was able to meet some people and learn from them.
Hennigan noted that someone at the event told her about a famous Black painter from the 1800s.
Another participant, Nancy Vallen, was drawing and cutting out several traditional African symbols like Akoma, a heart symbol that means love and goodwill, and a bird symbol called Sankofa.
She liked getting out of the house and meeting people.
“It’s fun and relaxing,” she said.
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