Workers with Mulford Tree Service, Lawrence, cut down trees on the east side of the Lawrence Public Library Thursday, Feb. 28, 2013. The trees, which must be removed to make way for the library's renovation project, are being salvaged for Logs to Literature, a juried exhibition in which artists will use lumber from the trees to create artwork. The exhibition and related auction, to benefit the library, are scheduled for 2014.

Some of the logs from trees cut down for the Lawrence Public Library renovation that will be available to artists for the Logs to Literature exhibition.

One of the more uniquely patterned pieces of wood that will be available to artists for the Logs to Literature exhibition. Wood for the project is coming from trees cut down to make way for the Lawrence Public Library expansion at 707 Vermont St.

The bad news for tree lovers is that the Lawrence Public Library renovation required workers to cut down trees around the building at 707 Vermont St.

The good news? Those trees aren’t gone forever.

A project is under way to keep them in the public realm by turning them into art, the sale of which will benefit the library.

The library has issued a call for proposals for Logs to Literature, a joint effort by the library, Friends of the Library, Lawrence City Commission and the Lawrence Arts Center. The juried exhibition is open to all wood artists and craftsmen in Douglas, Jefferson, Leavenworth, Johnson, Miami, Franklin, Osage and Shawnee counties.

Artwork must interpret at least one of two themes, “books” or “nature,” and can be wide-reaching or specific. A number of wood varieties and different-sized blocks will be available.

May 31 is the deadline to submit proposals. Find the detailed call for proposals, plus updates about the project, online at logs2literature.blogspot.com.

Wood will be distributed to artists in October. Artwork will be auctioned following the two-week Logs to Literature exhibition, planned for May 2014 at the Arts Center.