LOS ANGELES (CNS) - The County of Los Angeles this week debuted a half dozen artworks in honor of the 100th anniversary of the ratification of the 19th Amendment, which gave women the right to vote in the U.S.
The county's Department of Arts and Culture collaborated with the Women and Girls Initiative to commission the art, which is intended to reflect a diversity of women and perspectives and highlight themes such as empowerment, civic engagement, resiliency and the right to vote.
The county has made the artwork available through digital downloads to be made into posters, and the Los Angeles County Library is featuring three of the designs on its latest special edition library cards, which are available at all library locations currently offering sidewalk service, while supplies last.
The cards function like a traditional library card, with the same benefits. Existing library cards may be exchanged for the new designs, free of charge. “These remarkable artworks illustrate the breadth of the movement for women's suffrage and our persistence as we continue the fight for full equality 100 years after the ratification of the 19th Amendment,'' Supervisor Sheila Kuehl said. “Every time someone uses one of these library cards, it will remind them that our struggle has a long history and it continues still.''
The artwork by six artists -- four women and two men -- is available at www.lacountyarts.org/experiences/los-angeles-county-celebrating-100-years
“I am thrilled that L.A. County Library is a partner in this momentous, cross-departmental collaboration celebrating the suffragists' struggle and achievements with these creative works,'' Library Director Skye Patrick said. “We know that many library fans cherish their library cards as collectibles, and we hope that these cards, which commemorate such a significant time in our history, will hold special value for our customers.''
The artwork is available at www.lacountyarts.org/experiences/los-angeles-county-celebrating-100-years.
County library branches are currently servicing patrons via “sidewalk service'' during regular business hours amid the COVID-19 pandemic, More information is available at lacountylibrary.org.
Note: A previous version of this story erroneously stated that the creators of six works in honor of the 100th anniversary of the ratification of the 19th Amendment that gave women the right to vote were all female artists; in fact two were men. KFI regrets the error.