Mercer, WI – Mercer Public Library has decided to posthumously recognize local artist Mietzi “Marie” Bleck as the 2026/2027 Artist in Residence. Prints by Bleck have hung in the library since 1937 when they were donated by the Mercer Women’s Civic Club. With 89 years of history, the Mercer Library is proud to recognize her importance to Mercer history and welcome her home.
To honor her legacy, Mercer Public Library will host art classes, history talks, and screen movies and documentaries related to aspects of her life from July 2026-June 2027. The Opening Reception will kickstart the series on Thursday, July 2 from 4:00-6:00pm. Light snacks and drinks will be provided and no registration is required. The Reception will also mark the beginning of a yearlong public contest to reenact Bleck’s art with the winner being chosen by popular vote.
Art classes, including block printing with Cedar Nelson and watercolor with Lisa Krueger, and public screenings of documentaries “The New Deal for Artists” and “Soul of a People: Writing America’s Story” are scheduled for July and August 2026. Additional classes will be announced highlighting the many aspects of Bleck’s life and art.
Thanks to a sponsorship by the Friends of the Mercer Library, all programs in the Artist in Residence series are free and open to the public. For more information, visit the library’s website at mercerpubliclibrary.org or call the library at 715-476-2366.