Monday, January 19, 2009

Preview Shelf -- Clements Returns

The Crawfordsville District Library staff is happy to welcome back Angela Clements, who has returned to serve as Electronic Resources Librarian. Angela has been Head Outreach Librarian for the Tippecanoe County Public Library for 3 ½ years, before which she was Head of Children's Services when our library was across Washington Street in its original Carnegie home. Angela says her duties are "Maintaining and updating the library's hardware and software, databases, and website." Her office is on the lower level. Bill Helling has moved from that office to become Head of Reference Services located on the second level.This week's list is devoted to new fiction. "The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society" by Mary Shaffer and Annie Barrows has to be first because of its title. It is an alibi to protect its members from arrest in World War II. The plot is a good look back at this British island's shocking treatment while occupied by the Nazis. "The Other Queen" by Philippa Gregory, labeled as the "untold story of Mary, Queen of Scots" also looks captivating. "The Third Circle" by Amanda Quick is an Arcane Society story "revealing the passionate - and paranormal - secrets of proper Victorian London." "The Friday Night Knitting Club" by Kate Jacobs describes a quiet storefront on Manhattan's Upper West Side, where the members are just as varied as "the skeins of yarn in the shop's bins". "How to Be Single" is a thirty-something's fictional tour of the world to find out how women are dealing with singlenesss (the author herself made just that tour) and there's humor with the adventure. "More Than It Hurts You" by Darin Strauss illustrates Munchausen (a mother intentionally harming her baby). "The Mercy Rule" by Perri Klass highlights the predicament of a pediatrician, dealing with upper-middle-class working mothers, who must decide whether parents' actions are so incompetent that their children are in danger."Three Girls and Their Brother" by Theresa Rebeck follows sisters with red hair becoming "It" girls photographed by a world-famous glamour maker, and find themselves becoming easy prey for the worst side of show business while their parents are ignorant of the dangers. Kat Martin's "Heart of Fire" is the first volume of a romance series called Heart of Honor which begins in London in January, 1844. "Eighth Shepherd" by Bodie & Brock Thoene transports readers back in time to first century A.D. to critical events in the history of the world. Philip Hensher's "The Northern Clemency" shows ordinary lives shaped by both everyday experience and large forces of history. Toni Morrison's "A Mercy" is described as a powerful tragedy distilled into a jewel of a masterpiece. Randa Jarrar's "A Map of Home" is based on the author's childhood in Kuwait, teenage years in Egypt, and eventual flight to Texas. "Happy Families" by Carlos Fuentes (translated) follows a family and its love across an expanse of Mexican lifestyles. "A Sun for the Dying" by Jean-Claude Izzo (translated) is his last masterpiece about a man's search for human intimacy. "The Wasted Vigil" by Nadeem Aslam tells of war in our time through the lives of five people who come together in post-9/11 Afghanistan. "Ms. Hempel Chronicles" by Sarah Bynum shows a new teacher questioning what she should and should not teach in middle school. "The English Major" by Jim Harrison follows a man who's lost everything, on his "healing" road trip across America to find new names for states and state birds. "Marilynne Robinson's "Home" develops several interesting generations of a brilliant, lovable, and wayward family in Iowa.

Wednesday, January 07, 2009

In the Gallery -- January 2009

As the glitzy Christmas season ebbs, the Crawfordsville Public Library's Art Gallery glows with two exquisite eye candy exhibits you will absolutely not be able to resist seeing. Joyfully dancing from the Gallery's warm welcoming walls are the colorfully created pencil confections created by local artist Tony Jeurissen. In the soft glow emanating from our three display cases, the elegantly embellished creative cross-stitch of Corrine McCann radiates. Enjoy these exhibits anytime during the month of January.

In the Nazi-occupied Netherlands, Tony Jeurissen was born In February of 1943. Tony's father was a civilian casualty of the Netherlands pre D-Day bombings and remained an invalid for the rest of his life. Because of this unfortunate incident, Tony's family was allowed to immigrate to the United States in 1956. The family settled in Urbana, Illinois until 1967 when they moved to Crawfordsville.

While in first grade Tony discovered his favorite subject was art and art has remained with him since. Tony believes his talent came from God, but inspiration came from his mother and early teachers. His formal art training came from high school art classes, art camp, the University of Illinois and a year working as a commercial designer for a sporting goods manufacturer.

The work in his exhibit is a reflection of Tony's interest in History and Historical Preservation. He believes firmly that each artist has a purpose in his or her art. Tony's purpose is to explore and draw objects of beauty found in Montgomery Count. He likes to draw things with historical significance before they pass into oblivion. He enjoys local architecture, the surrounding countryside, colorful seasons, natural and man-made landmarks brick buildings, rusty roofs and colorful skies. His pleasure comes simply from drawing the things he experiences every day. Drawing is definitely Tony's passion as you will see in this exhibit. Come often and stay long enjoying the fruits of Tony's imagination.

Corrine McCann delights in sharing her needlework with the community this month. When asked if she wanted to sell her work, she respectfully declined, saying "I'd rather give it away." Lucky recipients, I'd say!

Corrine learned her craft in the 1980s while living in Kentucky's St. Catherine's Dominican Motherhouse. A sister friend had just returned from Palestine where she taught English at Bethlehem University. One summer afternoon while working with cross-stitch material, Sister Margaret Marie told Corrine about the Palestinian women who gathered in each other's homes to visit and sew. With cross stitch fabric and varied colors of thread, the women began stitching without a pattern. They made tablecloths, napkins, coasters, bookmarks and any other creative venture that came to their minds.

Sister Margaret Marie told Corrine that when a mistake was made in the sewing process, it wouldn't be corrected. The 'mistakes' were symbolic of the shortcomings in their own lives from which they had the opportunity to learn. The consequences of these creative accidents left their mark on the sewer and on the lives of others no matter how small or inconsequential the mistake seemed at the time.

Corrine made two or three cross-stitch pieces with her friend, but too soon her life became more complicated with work and ministry. She set aside her art, poetry and other pursuits until retirement. In 2000, when she did retire she began to sew again. Most of her cross-stitch pieces are accomplished while listening to National Public Radio or books on tape from the Library. It takes about two hours to complete a bookmark and four or five hours to make small table runners. A large piece may take up to twenty hours and takes a great deal of patience. As a retiree living alone in Crawfordsville, Corrine delights in the plethora of time she now has to pursue theological interests and various art forms.

Now that you know a bit more about January's artists, how could you stay away and not experience these beautiful works of art. See you there!

Diane Hammill, Coordinator
Mary Bishop Memorial Art Gallery
Crawfordsville Public Library
205 South Washington St.
Crawfordsville, IN 47933

Scrapbook Workshop

January 10, 2009
Presented by Susan B. Griffith at the Crawfordsville District Public Library

Crop Workshop, 9:30-4:30
$10.00 ($5.00 for half day)
Some supplies available for purchase

Beginners Class, 10:00-12:00, $8.00, materials charge
Register and pay at Circulation Desk 362-2242
Questions can be directed to Sue at 307-7738 or suegriffith@accelplus.net