This month the Library is displaying our collection of pastel portraits by local artist Douglas Matthew Hay in the Howard Silverman Community Room.

There are nine faces. One of the studies is of a local quahogger.

There is also a man reading by lamplight, a young woman with a picture hat, a Native American, an ice skater, a laborer and a Calypso Singer. One painting is dated 1931. Over the years I have tried to find out more about the artist. Dorothea Pelley, who worked in the library from 1965 to 1997, told me that Douglas Hay lived in a second floor apartment on Main Street in East Greenwich.

In the 1970's, worried about protecting his paintings from fire and theft, he asked the Library to hold them for safe-keeping. He left his paintings to the library in his will. At Norman's Restaurant a local artist told me that when he was in high school, he took art lessons from Mr. Hay. He also thought that most of the portraits were of local people.

Douglas Matthews Hay signed his work as Douglas LR Hay, D. Matthews Hay L.R. and Doug Hay. He was a charter member of the East Greenwich Art Club. I would welcome any information on our "Library" Artist. Karen A. Taylor, Library Director karentr1@yahoo.com ; 884-9510 ext 24