The 16th annual Individual Artist Showcase has begun, featuring 12 distinguished Queens artists whose work can be seen in many Queens Library branches. Admission to all Queens Library exhibits is free.

Launching this year’s showcase is Diane Lieberman whose woodblock prints can be seen at the Hillcrest branch, 187-05 Union Turnpike, now through June 18th. The work of photographer John Ruffins will be on display at the St. Albans branch, 191-05 Linden Blvd. through June 11th. Lisa Gordon’s watercolor collages will be on display at the Forest Hills branch, 108-19 71st Ave. through June 18th. Miruna Dragan’s mixed media paintings will be exhibited at the Astoria branch, 14-01 Astoria Blvd. from June 14th through July 1st.

During the months of July and August artists Joanne Lo, Oscar Perez and Gail Manpearl will take center stage. Dates and Queens Library branch locations to be announced.

Later this year, in a joint exhibition of showcase winners Judy Chen, Susan Locke, Lisa Michitsch, Jennifer Ryan and Alacia Stubbs will have their sculptures on display at the Alliance of Queens Artists Gallery, 99-10 Metropolitan Ave., from Oct. 26th through Nov. 6th. For further information on this exhibit at the Alliance of Queens Artists Gallery, call (718) 520-9842.

Cosponsored by the Queens Library and the Alliance of Queens Artists, the Individual Artist Showcase was begun in 1983 and has become a highly regarded competition among the borough’s art community. It provides an opportunity for library customers to view the work of talented artists and gives local artists a forum in which to showcase their work. Applications for the Showcase 2000 will be available at all Queens Library branches at the end of June.

The Queens Borough Public Library serves a population of two million in the most ethnically diverse county in the United States. With 16 million items in circulation for fiscal year 1998, the library has the highest circulation of any library system in the country. For more information about library programs, services, locations, events and news, visit the Queens Library web site at http://www.queenslibrary.org.