Mattoon library displaying 'All Together Now' themed youth artwork

Young artists Aiden Kai, Jillian Boeser, Erin Boeser, Olive Boeser and Alaska Doucette stand next to a display of their artwork Wednesday afternoon at the Mattoon Public Library. The artwork will be

Young artists Aiden Kai, Jillian Boeser, Erin Boeser, Olive Boeser and Alaska Doucette stand next to a display of their artwork Wednesday afternoon at the Mattoon Public Library. The artwork will be on display through August. Not pictured are Jade Johnson and Leandra Johnson.

MATTOON — A family gathered around a campfire. Canines and their owners relaxing at the dog park. Archery teammates huddled for a motivational chant.

Local youths have created those and other images as part of the annual art contest for the Mattoon Public Library Summer Reading program, which had an “All Together Now” theme this year. The artwork has been placed on display through August next to the service desk on the library’s main floor.

The family roasting hot dogs over a backyard fire belongs to artist Erin Boeser, 14, who used colored pencils and alcohol markers for her drawing. Erin said this has become a beloved summer and fall activity for her family, noting that she and her siblings stay up late talking around the fire.

“A fire in my backyard surrounded by the people I love is my definition of ‘All Together Now,’” Erin said. Her siblings Olivia, 13, and Jillian, 18, Boeser also entered artwork in the Summer Reading program.

Erin Boeser, 14, used colored pencils, and alcohol markers to create this picture of her and her family enjoying a backyard campfire.

For her marker interpretation of this togetherness theme, 14-years-old Alaska Doucette said she took inspiration from her Mattoon High School JROTC archery teammates.

Alaska said the regular practices that the team has been holding this summer have become one of her favorite times of the week, adding that she looks forward to competing alongside these archers during the upcoming academic year.

“My JROTC archery team is doing the Spartans’ chant,” Alaska said of the huddled group in her picture. “I chose this picture because my JROTC team is helpful, and together we can achieve our goals.”

Alaska Doucette, 14, drew this picture of her Mattoon High School JROTC archery team doing their Spartans chant.

A love of dogs has brought people together in Olivia Boeser’s pencil, ink, and alcohol marker picture of a dog park with a grassy field and a leafy tree in an urban area.

Olivia said she used to have canine companion and would like to have one again. The young artist pointed out that she placed dogs from two of her favorite breeds, Chihuahuas and Golden Retrievers, in her picture.

Olivia Boeser, 13, used pencil, ink, and alcohol markers to create this picture of people hanging out and having fun with their canine companions at a dog park.

Aiden Kai, 11, took a black and white approach to his graphite pencil drawing, which depicts two figures in the foreground silhouetted by a silvery moon in the nighttime sky.

“The picture shows two people sitting on a bridge looking at the moon over a lake,” Aiden said. “It looks like a place where my family goes camping.”

Aiden Kai, 11, used graphite pencil to draw a picture of two people sitting on a bridge looking at the moon over a lake.

Family, along with The Beatles’ “All Together Now,” was also an inspiration for Jillian Boeser’s psychedelic alcohol and pen drawing. Jillian said she aimed to depict her and her siblings hugging in the shape of a floating Valentine’s heart but produced the outline of a physical heart, which was still appropriate.

Jillian Boeser, 18, used the Summer Reading Art Contest's "All Together Now" theme as inspiration for this psychedelic pictured of her and her siblings hugging.

“My sisters are my best friends and my whole world. They’re there for me through thick and thin. We always have each other’s backs no matter the circumstances,” Jillian said. “We’re still growing and learning together, and I wouldn’t trade them for a billion dollars, although it’s tempting.”

Siblings Jade, 12, and Leandra, 13, Johnson also created artwork depicting friendly sea life and a rain of colorful doughnuts, respectively, for the Summer Reading program.

Jade Johnson, 12, used colored pencils and markers to create this picture of a fish and a sea turtle becoming friends.

Leandra Johnson, 13, used colored pencil, graphite pencil and ink to create a rain of doughnuts because she said, "Life needs a little sweetness."

Vivian Stewart, 4, and Veronica Stewart, 2, of Charleston pet a calf at the Coles County Fair in Charleston on Thursday.

Payt Titus, 9, pets the outrider’s horse while volunteering at the harness races.

Peekaboo Sal, a 2-year-old filly driven by Wyatt Avenatti, leads the pack on the way to a harness racing win.

Kayden Chapman, 6, and Dawson Dyer, 8, watch the harness racing while volunteering with Mattoon wrestling at the Coles County Fair in Charleston on Thursday.

Goats from Gilmore Acres farm greet visitors at the Coles County Fair.

Coles County 4-H completion members Kaylin Richey of Mattoon, at left, and Ila Richter of Lerna wait to present their goats at their final 4-H Livestock Auction, sponsored by the Coles County Fair Board, Thursday evening at the fair in Charleston.

Carter Ballinger walks his rabbit to the stage to be sold in the youth livestock auction at the Coles County Fair in Charleston on Thursday.

A crowd watches the youth livestock auction at the Coles County Fair in Charleston on Thursday.

The youth livestock auction takes place at the Coles County Fair in Charleston on Thursday.

Chase Bodner unloads bales of hay for dairy cows at the Coles County Fair in Charleston on Thursday.

The crowd watches the ITPA Jim Austin/John Mumma Memorial Truck and Tractor Pull from the grandstand on Thursday evening.

Ruckus Fairley, 3, of Lerna, watches the ITPA Jim Austin/John Mumma Memorial Truck and Tractor Pull with his grandfather Clark Fairley.

Drivers compete in the ITPA Jim Austin/John Mumma Memorial Truck and Tractor Pull in front of the grandstand at the Coles County Fair in Charleston Thursday evening.

The crowd watches the ITPA Jim Austin/John Mumma Memorial Truck and Tractor Pull from the grandstand at the Coles County Fair in Charleston Thursday evening.

The ITPA Jim Austin/John Mumma Memorial Truck and Tractor Pull takes place at the Coles County Fair in Charleston on Thursday.

Attendees at the youth livestock auction put their hands on their hearts for the playing of the "Star-Spangled Banner" Thursday evening at the Coles County Fair in Charleston.

Miss Coles County 2023 Laney Wright helps sell a watermelon as a fundraiser during the youth livestock auction Thursday evening at the Coles County Fair in Charleston.

Bumper cars were one of the many ride in the carnival area.

The Coles County Fair celebrates its 169th iteration with carnival rides and games, food, entertainment, and competitions in Charleston on Thursday.

Attendees at the youth livestock auction place bids Thursday evening during the Coles County Fair in Charleston.

The Coles County Fair celebrates its 169th iteration with carnival rides and games, food, entertainment, and competitions in Charleston on Thursday.

A food booth worker fries up a corn dog Thursday evening at the Coles County Fair in Charleston.

The Coles County Fair celebrates its 169th iteration with carnival rides and games, food, entertainment, and competitions in Charleston on Thursday.

Midway games like this were the source of many smiles.

The Coles County Fair celebrates its 169th iteration with carnival rides and games, food, entertainment, and competitions in Charleston on Thursday.

Contact Rob Stroud at (217) 238-6861.

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Mattoon library displaying 'All Together Now' themed youth artwork