In the Gallery -- February 2011

PHOTOGRAPHIC AWAKENINGS by Bob Hamm

Bob Hamm, a native Hoosier, comes to us from Linden, Indiana. Before settling in Linden, he had been a citizen of the world, thanks to Uncle Sam. He joined the United States Air Force after graduation from high school in 1969, signing up to serve four years. He graduated from Basic Training, Technical Training and then went on to an On the Job Training career as an Antenna Maintenance Specialist; later becoming a Communications Specialist. He served in Texas, Mississippi, Florida, Tachikawa, Japan and Koza, Okinawa.

He reenlisted and was assigned for four years to Spain where he was able to toured the country. His last assignment was at Offutt AFB in Bellevue, NE where his military career ended in 1977 -- He had served over 7 years of a 4 year tour!

It was during one of his assignments in Okinawa, Japan that he became interested in photography. He wanted to document places he had been and people he had met while in the military. He bought a 35 mm manual film camera with a 55 mm lens and began educating himself about how to use it. All the bells and whistles on the camera were intimidating, but eventually he learned it all. His first 35mm camera was a Petri for which he later purchased a 135 mm lens.

After Robert was honorably discharged from the military, he wanted to become a "Professional Photographer". He took a correspondence course through the School of Modern Photography in Little Falls, New Jersey and did well. He received a Certificate of Completion in December of 1978, which made him feel very proud indeed. He was young and more than ready to prove that he was the world's best photographer! Well maybe not! Bob learned the hard way that sometimes the best laid plans simply do not work out as hoped.

Since that time, Bob has kept in touch with his passion for photography by reading as many books as possible on great and not so great photographers and their work. He has photographed weddings, taken portraits inside and out and enjoys taking scenic and nature shots. At present he has everything he needs to open a studio. Maybe you would like to be one of his first customers and get a discount. Take one of his cards and enjoy!

The ORCHIDS IN THE SNOW Display Case exhibit will remain until February 18, 2011

J.D. Salinger 1919-2010

January marks the month for both the birth and death of the reclusive author J. D. Salinger. He was born in New York, January 1, 1919 and died January 27, 2010. In his most famous work, The Catcher in the Rye, the angry protagonist Holden Caulfield narrates his adventures when he runs away from boarding school and finds his way to New York City.

Salinger had attended Valley Forge Military Academy which became the model for Caulfield's Pencey Prep. After graduation Salinger drifted through life until he found his calling as an author. He submitted stories to the mass-circulated magazines hoping to one day be published in the New Yorker. Finally the New Yorker accepted his story about young rebellious Holden Caulfield. The novel The Catcher in the Rye was finally published in 1953 to critical acclaim.

Salinger did not enjoy his popularity and guarded his privacy with a shotgun. He became the ultimate anti-celebrity and even went as far as having his picture removed from the dust jackets of his books.
He said "I love to write, but I write just for myself and my own pleasure."

CDPL has copies of his books plus a biography of elusive author.


Sources:

Lacayo, Richard. J.D. Salinger, Dies: Hermit Crab of American Letters, http://www.time.com/time/printout/ 0,8816,1957492,00.html, 1/5/2011..

DeCourcy, Anne, Why did J.D. Salinger spend the last 60 years hid in a shed writing love notes to teenage girls?, http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1246881, 1/5/2011.

Euchre at the Library!

Euchre at the library!

Beginning: Wednesday February 2nd      Time:  5:30

We will meet for seven consecutive Wednesdays -- Just For Fun -- and have a final meeting March 23rd for a Euchre Tournament.

All "Fun" meetings are scheduled in  the basement classroom.

Must be at least 18 years old! Please sign up at the Circulation Desk.

After Hours Genealogy Research

The Genealogy Club of Montgomery County, IN Corp is holding its "After Hours Genealogy Research" from 5:00 -9:00 pm, January 28, 2011 at the Crawfordsville District Public Library.

Pizza Supper and research -- no charge -- donations accepted towards pizza
-- 5:00 pm = Donnelley room, lower level;
-- 5:45 pm = Research in local history and reference area, 2nd floor (no time limit on computers)
-- 9:00pm = final closing.

Advanced arrival (Before 5:00pm) is required. Library is locked at 5:00pm -- Visitors Welcome --Please confirm your expected attendance by Wednesday, January 26, 2011. 765-362-2242 ext 118 or 624 or gen@cdpl.lib.in.us

New Adult Non-Fiction: Resources for Guitarists

CDPL now has new resources for guitarists!

Teach yourself to play guitar with Mel Bay's Guitar Chords and Mel Bay's Modern Guitar Method Grade 1.  Both of these instruction books include DVD tutorials.

Once you've learned the chords, learn to play the songs of John Mayer and Jack Johnson.  John Mayer Anthology Volume 1 (for piano, vocal, and guitar) includes the songs Daughters, Why Georgia, Your Body is a Wonderland, and Waiting on the World to Change. 

Strum & Sing Jack Johnson (for guitar and vocal) includes the songs Bubble Toes, Cocoon, Rodeo Clowns, and Inaudible Melodies. 

Happy Birthday, Wilbur de Paris!

Bandleader and trombone player Wilbur de Paris was born in Crawfordsville on January 11, 1900. The Paris family lived at 601 Illinois Street in Crawfordsville and his father, Sidney, is listed as an auctioneer in the city directory. Wilbur attended Crawfordsville High School and played the tuba in the school orchestra before traveling to New Orleans with Billy and Mary Mack's Merrymakers. Along with his brother, Sidney, Wilbur formed New New Orleans Jazz, a band that toured and released many records throughout the 1950s. He worked with Louis Armstrong, Ella Fitzgerald, and Duke Ellington. Wilbur and his band performed at the Cannes Jazz Festival in 1960 and were also showcased in The Pirate starring Gene Kelly and Judy Garland.  He died on January 3, 1973 at his home in New York City.

Sources:  
American National Biography
REF 920 Ame
Crawfordsville City Directory, 1914-1945 
RL977.248 Cra

Images of America: Crawfordsville now available

The Crawfordsville District Public Library is pleased to announce the release of Images of America: Crawfordsville, a book of photographs, postcards, and other illustrations that tell the story of Crawfordsville's history since 1865. The book, a well-researched, detail-packed collection of archival photographs and captions, was written by Bill Helling, Head of Reference/Local History at CDPL. Helling has directed the digitization of the library's archives and creation of the many local history databases for many years. From the laying of the cornerstone for the Montgomery County courthouse in 1875 to mid-1950s views of city streets, from old Central School to the closing of Horace Mann School, from Bischof's Big Store to R.R. Donnelley, the book presents significant photographs in the life of our city in central Indiana. The book will be available locally as well as from major booksellers.

Genealogy Club of Montgomery County

The Genealogy Club of Montgomery County presents "Elston Family Genealogy Expanded" by Tamara Hemmerlein, Executive Director, Montgomery County Historical Society at 7:00 pm on January 11, 2011.

The program wil lbe held at the Crawfordsville District Public Library in the Donnelley Room. Public Invited. Call: (765) 362-2242 Ext 118 or 624 for more information.

In the Gallery -- January 2011

The intriguing January Gallery presents two exceptional artists. Pontip Berry has created ORCHIDS IN THE SNOW: An Art Clay Rendition and David Mngodo is exhibiting ORIGINS: Paintings Filled with Color and Light.

PONTIP BERRY owns and operates Berry Beautiful Flowers in Avon, Indiana, where she sculpts and hand paints flowers from specialty clay. After her son went to college, she revisited Thailand, her native country, and discovered a small flower shop where they were making clay flowers and teaching classes. On her next trip to Thailand, she learned how to create these flowers with air dry clay and was immediately inspired to share this craft in America.

It has been nearly five years since Pontip started her business and she is still in love with sculpting new flowers every week. The process of making, specializing and customizing each flower keeps Pontip fully occupied. Many hours are dedicated to the small details that are done by hand. When you first look at the flowers they appear real. The first question customers usually ask is "Are they real?" Can I touch them? Pontip answers that they are real in the sense that you can touch them and keep them forever and you don't have to water them!

Each flower is hand crafted using air dry clay. Stems are made from clay mixed with the desired color and molded over a wire armature for strength. The petals are handmade using white as the base and adding desired color. Special tools are used to get the size and shape desired. The petals are glued together to form the flower and the flowers are then attached to the stems to complete a one of a kind creation. The special imported air dry clay adds to the uniqueness of each flower which can be mounted on a treated natural wood base or vase.

Pontip often travels to arts and crafts shows to display her flowers which come in all shapes and sizes from miniature to large. She is hopeful that you will find each arrangement stunningly beautiful and amazingly lifelike. I did!

DAVID MNGODO is a self taught artist who works primarily with acrylics, but also enjoys using oil and pastels. He graduated from the Art Instructional School of Minnesota and Collins College of Design and Technology in Tempe, Arizona. He has exhibited his work in New York, Arizona, Minnesota and Wisconsin. In 2007, he received the Minnesota Inventors Congress Art Festival "Peoples Choice Award."

His work has been commissioned by the Redwood, Minnesota Area Hospital and multiple individuals. His work can be found online at www.davidmngodo.com

David's view of the world comes through his paintings, most especially through the use of colors and negative space, creating an emotional feeling in each painting. This provided David with an opportunity to develop a style that always tells a story. His paintings are filled with the colors and lights that fill his memory. His abstract hard line paintings draw the observer into each painting revealing David’s creative intent to develop a particular feeling or story.
In addition to His work as an artist, David serves as Senior Pastor for Revere Christian Fellowship in Revere, Minnesota and in De Forest, Wisconsin. He is active with Redwood Falls Public Library, Redwood Area Foundation, Redwood Falls Chamber of Commerce and Big Buddies of Western Community Action.