The stunning collection of buttons belonging to local resident Kathleen Marquardt is now on display at T.B. Scott Free Library as the current Beyond Books: Community ArtShare exhibit.
This timing of this display coincides with the National Button Society’s 75th anniversary, as well as Wisconsin hosting the Society’s National Convention in Appleton this month. The convention showroom is open to the public on Aug. 15-17 for those wishing to see more.
Kathleen has been collecting buttons for over 15 years. While her collection has the appearance of being museum quality, Marquardt states she collects for the fun of it. Her favorites are celluloid and pinwheels. “The variety of buttons is just fascinating. You never run out of finding one that is unique and that’s what I enjoy. Searching for the perfect button that calls to you is what makes this so much fun,” Marquardt said.
Each button has a story. Whether it’s a memory of the quest for a particular button, or the history and significance of individual items on display, each button has something to say. Come to T.B. Scott Free Library and spend some time with the stories you might find while enjoying this latest display.
The buttons will be available for viewing through August. T.B. Scott Library’s “Beyond Books: Community ArtShare” series features a new exhibit rotating on an ongoing basis. The series was originally made possible by a $10,000 grant from the Mead Witter Foundation, Inc. of Wisconsin Rapids.