On Exhibit

On Display in the Atrium & Community Room

Community Room

October Art Exhibit: Dan Topalis

Otis Library is proud to showcase the artwork of Dan Topalis throughout the month of October. Topalis’s paintings capture vibrant color, texture, and emotion, inviting viewers to pause and reflect. His work ranges from striking landscapes to expressive abstracts, each piece offering a unique perspective and artistic vision.

Visit the library gallery this month to experience his creativity up close and celebrate the talent of a local artist.

On display: October 1–31

Atrium

On Display in the Displays Cases:

Xena: Warrior Princess — A Tribute to a Legendary Heroine

Throughout October, the Otis Library atrium is proud to feature a vibrant and nostalgic showcase dedicated to the groundbreaking 1990s television series Xena: Warrior Princess. This display celebrates one of pop culture’s most iconic heroines and the loyal fan community that continues to keep her spirit alive.

Visitors will find a colorful array of original memorabilia, including collectible action figures, comic books, trading cards, DVDs, VHS tapes, and vintage photographs from the series. Among the highlights are classic Xena and Gabrielle figures, a Funko Pop! edition, Hercules & Xena animated movie keepsakes, and even themed die-cast cars and PlayStation games—all representing the adventurous world that made the series unforgettable.

First airing in 1995, Xena: Warrior Princess broke new ground with its powerful female lead, adventurous storytelling, and timeless themes of friendship, courage, and redemption. The show inspired a generation of fans and paved the way for modern heroines in film and television.

Stop by the Otis Library atrium this month to enjoy this dynamic tribute to Xena: Warrior Princess—a celebration of strength, storytelling, and the enduring power of fandom.

October Atrium Display:

Alexander Hamilton: Immigrant, Patriot, Visionary

Otis Library is hosting the traveling exhibit Alexander Hamilton: Immigrant, Patriot, Visionary on loan from the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History. It is on view in the library’s atrium September 29 through October 24, 2025, and is free and open to the public.

Alexander Hamilton: Immigrant, Patriot, Visionary explores the founding era through the life of one of its most influential figures, Alexander Hamilton. As one of our country’s founding fathers, Hamilton played a central role in creating the economic, constitutional, social, journalistic, political, and foreign policy templates for modern America. Using reproductions from the Gilder Lehrman Collection, this traveling exhibition teaches viewers about Hamilton’s life as an immigrant, statesman, and innovative thinker whose work shaped the America we live in more than two hundred years after his death.

This exhibit is provided by Otis Library in support of America 250 Norwich, CT initiatives.

October Book Display:

 “Dying to Read a Scary Story”

Just in time for Halloween, Otis Library invites readers to explore a chilling new display that’s to die for! Our “Dying to Read a Scary Story” showcase highlights some of the most spine-tingling titles in our collection — from haunted houses and restless spirits to psychological thrillers and classic tales of horror.

Featured authors include masters of the macabre such as Stephen King, Paul Tremblay, and Ray Bradbury, alongside eerie true ghost stories from New England and beyond. Whether you’re in the mood for timeless classics like Frankenstein and The Raven or contemporary nightmares like Doctor Sleep and A Head Full of Ghosts, there’s something here to send shivers down your spine.

Stop by the library this October to discover your next frightful favorite — and see if you’re brave enough to read these stories after dark!

Permanent Displays

Art by Dan Topalis

Dan Topalis has been painting and drawing since 1976. When he lived in Philadelphia, he would draw the homeless sleeping on the benches in the park. Now living in Norwich, he has continued his passion of painting people he sees. He has always loved each person, appreciating that there is a story in every person’s face. He chooses people whose faces intrigue him. 

Dan’s work is a permanent fixture at Otis Library. There are pieces on display throughout the building. Additional pieces are featured periodically in the Community Room on the second floor, when another exhibit is not on display.  

“Children of the World” by Lavanya Shubhakar

Lavanya Shubhakar, local artist and Director of Education at Mystic Museum of Art, created a multi-panel artwork titled Children of the World for Otis Library. The panels focus on cultures of various regions/countries and feature children of all abilities and ages. Lavanya’s main goal for the project is for all viewers to find a part of themselves in the artwork. 

To view her installation, please visit the Children’s Department on the second floor of Otis Library. 

This project was made possible by the Norwich ARPA grants for arts and culture awarded to Lavanya by the Cultural Coalition in partnership with the City of Norwich.

Children’s Playroom Mural by Carolyn McNeil

Carolyn McNeil is a local artist who volunteered over 30 hours and donated the supplies to create this beautiful mural to brighten our playroom. She works as a muralist, spreading joy and art throughout the area. 

A large tree stretches from floor to ceiling. Its branches are home to little native woodland creatures. Green fields reach about half way up the wall.

Papier-Mâché Art by Pamela Spiro Wagner

Pamela Spiro Wagner is an accomplished author, poet and artist who lives with schizophrenia.  Pamela is a graduate of Brown University, and briefly attended medical school.  Through her art, poetry and writing, she tries to express the experience of mental illness and mental health.  With her twin sister, psychiatrist Dr. Carolyn Spiro, she wrote the extraordinary book Divided Minds: Twin Sisters and their Journey through Schizophrenia, which received the national NAMI Outstanding Literature Award and was a finalist for the Connecticut Book Award.  The artist generously donated these pieces to Otis Library in 2009.

The Papier-Mâché Doctor wears a blue shirt of many shades in a seemingly random pattern. His light brown skin is accented with small, confetti-like pieces of color. The colors represent mental illness, specifically schizophrenia.
The Papier-Mâché child wears a peach and blue tank top. His dark brown skin is accented with small, confetti-like pieces of color. The colors represent mental illness, specifically schizophrenia.

“The View of My Town”  by Samson Tonton

Local artist Samson Tonton’s piece, “The View of My Town,” is on permanent display in the Otis Library Community Room. The piece is his interpretation of the City of Norwich. Mr. Tonton has exhibited his work at Otis Library several times over the years, always to rave reviews!  We are so grateful for this very generous donation.

Samson Tonton and then Director Bob Farwell stand next to "The View of My Town."

“Waterfall”  by Faith Satterfield

Donated in 2016, this piece is a juxtaposition of an aerial map view and standing right in front of flowing water. This harbor town is made better by the water that flows through it – water brings a place of peace and quiet, even when it roars. 

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