Art Rescued from Closing Yorba Linda Public Library

All of us look forward to the new Yorba Linda Public Library with its expansive spaces and new Cultural and Arts Center. To make changes, some pieces of original artwork purchased by the Library in 1993 were going to be left for demolition with the building. The Yorba Linda Save The Mural Coalition has expanded its scope to preserve the Donor Tree, some paintings, and large wall installments.  

​One painting by Libbi DeMartino, entitled “Marketplace”,  was returned to her family through the combined efforts of the Coalition and the Genealogical Society of North Orange County (GSNOCC).  

Vincent Demartino and his wife Victoria Jo with "Marketplace"

​The story is told that a few years after Libbi Demartino's death, the family requested that the painting be returned to them. The librarian who could release the piece was not in the library when the family came to the library, and they were denied the request that day. Nothing happened from the 1990’s until now, when the Coalition took on the mission of returning the painting. The coalition reached out for help in finding the family to return the painting. Norma Keating from YLPF & GSNOCC used traditional genealogy techniques to determine that the artist had died. However, help was needed to locate Libbi's living family. Investigative genealogy lady, Pat Williams of GSNOCC, was able to help. Within a few minutes, she located the son and other family members still living in Yorba Linda using people searching Internet sites.  Some searches of social media located many more family members. The Demartino family is pleased to have the painting back in the family and will be proudly displaying Libbi’s beautiful work in their home. Special thanks to Norma Keating, Pat Williams and Lynne Yauger for enabling the return of this painting to the family.
Story adapted from GSNOCC newsletter, Oct 2020.