Faith Darnell recommends building some extra time into your next trip to the Lawrence Public Library.

It’ll take awhile to take in the new 27-by-45-foot mural at the library’s south entrance.

“You can’t really look at it real quick,” said Darnell, a 15-year-old painter. “It takes at least five minutes.”

Darnell and 17 other young artists involved in the JAMS program at Van-Go Mobile Arts unveiled the mural Thursday afternoon. The program — which stands for Jobs in the Arts Make Sense — employs 14- to 18-year-olds to work on art projects.

The busy, brightly colored work was a sharp contrast to the gray, rainy skies, but the weather didn’t deter nearly 100 people from gathering for the ceremony.

The mural was designed to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the library and the 150th anniversary of Lawrence’s founding, both being celebrated this year. The work was commissioned by the Friends of the Library and the Lawrence Sesquicentennial Commission.

Its three panels depict the past, present and future of Lawrence. It includes several references to books, historic figures such as William S. Burroughs and Langston Hughes and landmarks, such as the old Carnegie Library.

“We really tried to represent the running themes about Lawrence without relying on cliched imagery,” said Cathy Ledeker, the local artist who oversaw the project.

Art enthusiasts and community supporters gather outside the Lawrence Public Library for the unveiling of the centennial mural painted by youngsters from Van-Go Mobile Arts. Three mural panels were hung Thursday above the southern entrance to the library during a light rain. For more on the mural's unveiling, see page 4B.

Bruce Flanders, the library’s director, said the students met with the library’s advisory board to present ideas. When the students came back with a preliminary design, he said, “we were just blown away.”

He promised the mural would be a permanent part of the library, even if it is renovated or relocated in the future.

“This is an important part of Lawrence history now,” he said.

Melanie Bolden, a 17-year-old artist, said she was especially proud to be part of something that would become a fixture in Lawrence.

“I hope I live here long enough my children can come to see it,” she said. “That would be cool.”

6News video: ‘Pages in Time’ mural gives color to Lawrence’s past Library centennial celebration helps ‘honor the past’ (4-22-04) 6News video: Lawrence Public Library turns 100 (4-21-04) On the street: Library appreciation (4-19-04) Lawrence Public Library celebrating centennial (4-19-04) Lawrence Public Library Lawrence Public Library Centennial Celelbration