In a celebration of the spirit of inclusiveness and hopefulness, the Henry Carter Hull Library is offering a chance for members of the community to show off their artistic chops at a free event on Monday, Jan. 14 between 4 and 7 p.m.

The event is called the We Have a Dream Community Mural Project. The event, which is free and requires no registration, was the brainchild of the library’s adult programming coordinator Sarah Borgnis-Tobin.

“I wanted to do something to acknowledge Martin Luther King, Jr’s 90th birthday,” Borgnis-Tobin said.

What she came up with was a project that draws inspiration from King’s famous “I Have a Dream” speech. At the event, community members can decorate a puzzle piece with a drawing or quote that represents each person’s dream for the community in the coming year. When all the puzzle pieces are placed together, they will form a mural that reflects the community’s dreams.

“I thought we could do a month-long project and do something interactive. I liked that it was one cohesive result,” Borgnis-Tobin said.

Borgnis Tobin said that the mural will hang in the library in an area that is highly visible from other sections of the library.

“We’ll hang it for the whole month,” Borgnis Tobin said, noting, “We’ve already had some submissions. It’s a really quick thing.”

The event is open to all ages, and people of all artistic abilities.

“It doesn’t have to be a masterpiece, but the more pieces we get the bigger the mural will be, so I hope people participate,” Borgnis-Tobin said.

Additionally, Borgnis-Tobin encouraged people to use quotes not only from King, but one’s that reflect each person’s personal experience and hopes for the coming year.

“I think it’s nice to see a pop of color when it starts to feel dark and dreary out, as well as spread a positive and hopeful message,” Borgnis-Tobin said.

For those with more time on their hands, prior to the start of the event the library will be screening a remastered version of the movie To Kill a Mockingbird at 1 p.m. Though the two events are not necessarily related to each other, Borgnis-Tobin said “the movie discusses lots of crucial themes about race and community” that are reflected in the spirit of Martin Luther King Jr day.