The Windham Public Library will host a collection of paintings inspired by the Iraq war by a local artist starting Friday.

Donna Borelli, 60, of Windham said she’s been painting for as long as she can remember, but got serious about it in the 1970s when she began to see images of genocide in Cambodia.

“I had young children at the time,” Borelli said Monday. “I couldn’t imagine my children having to live that kind of life.”

After painting images of the children of Cambodia, Borelli felt inspired to create by other troubling images she saw, such as those of the children of Somalia and Darfur. The Iraq paintings that will be center of the exhibit portray the children of the region as well as American troops and helicopters, Borelli said.

The 13-painting exhibit will include several scenes from countries other than Iraq. Borelli said she didn’t want to focus on one country because she feels mass brutality is taking place all over the world.

“It’s going on in more countries than not,” Borelli said.

Borelli said her paintings reflect the terrible inhumanity and carnage of the world but do not take sides with any group or nation.

“I believe no one moves until we all move, that everything is connected,” Borelli said.

Borelli said she originally painted with pastels because they were readily available, but now alternates between oils and pastels.

The library has exhibited Borelli’s paintings in the past with other artists.

The exhibit will begin with a reception on Friday, Nov. 3, from 5:30 to 8 p.m. Borelli’s masterpieces will be displayed until the end of January. Some of the paintings will be available for sale.