The Annual West Tisbury Book Sale Marks its 55th Year and Celebrates the Late Jane Newhall

One year after her death, the West Tisbury Library Foundation, Inc. and the Friends of the Inc. are celebrating the life and work of West Tisbury resident Jane Newhall by holding a sale of her paintings in conjunction with the 55^th annual Book Sale this weekend at the

Newhall was one of the founders of the Book Sale, which originated on the porch of the old Agricultural Hall (now the ) during the Agricultural Fair. Run by the Friends, the much-anticipated book sale raises funds for the West Tisbury Free Public Library.  In 2010, the West Tisbury Library Foundation, Inc. was created in order to conduct the capital campaign currently under way for expansion and renovation of the existing library building.  Both organizations provide much-needed funds to the much-beloved town library.

While the book sale takes place in the school gym, there will be several original paintings by Newhall available for sale in the lobby. Newhall was not a professional painter, but her paintings are charmingly innocent, capturing many Vineyard scenes as well as still life images of flowers, books and bottles. Visitors will also have the opportunity to “buy a brick” for the Library walkway, as well as to purchase canvas bags with the Library logo on them.  

Although Jane Newhall was born in San Francisco in 1912 and lived much of the year there, her heart remained in West Tisbury where she died on July 27, 2011.

Newhall's paintings will be sold in the lobby of the West Tisbury School from Friday, July 27th through Sunday, July 29th from 9 am - 3 pm.