Ferndale Library Kicks Off New Year with Local Music Showcase and More

Happy New Year...

It's been a busy year at the Ferndale Library and, as always, we thank the community for their enthusiastic support of various programming and utilization of our multifaceted resources/materials/services. Onward to 2013! 

First, a few quick notes

Thanks, but no thanks...
We're in need of some turnover in our Used Book store and hence will not be receiving Book Donations until further notice. Throughout 2012 we received a generous amount of donations from patrons; so steadily was the pace of proffered materials that our diligent and dedicated volunteers were soon out of space to store all the charitable acquisitions. Stay tuned to our main site or inquire at the Circulation Desk for updates on when we plan to renew reception of donations. 

First Stop Friday
Welcome back to another year of engaging/enriching programming hosted by your local Library. My personal favorite is the brainchild of Circulation Director Kelly Bennett, who hosts the local music showcase - First Stop Friday - the place to kick-off your weekends, early in the evening, every lead-off weekend of the month. 

Live performances from local artists Electric Corpse and The Philter will begin around 7pm. This is an after-hours event; the main library will be closed but our Community Room will be accessible via our main entrance.  

Ferndale Game Day
Board game enthusiasts mix, mingle, compete and converse over trundled dice, scattered plastic pieces and playing cards, inside our Community Room, Saturday January 12 (2pm - 6pm). Turn-out has been steadily increasing over our first three Game Days, let's keep it rolling. Come learn a whole host of new and exciting board and card games! Come alone or bring your friends and family. Local game enthusiasts will be on hand to teach new games and play along. No experience is required and all ages welcome! Children under 12 should be accompanied by an adult. This event is a "drop-in" affair, no registration is required. 

More Art in the Library - featuring local artist Mike Ross

Who Are We To Argue With Chance?

The Library Arts & Exhibitions Committee is curating its 2nd proper art showcase, displayed in our Community Room through January and into mid-February. We'll host an Artists’ Reception (ft. the works of artist/musician Mike Ross) on Saturday, January 12 from 7pm – 9pm with refreshments and live music by Cactuswax, (one of the artist’s various musical-performing/recording projects).

“Patterns are everywhere if we choose to see them,” Ross observed. Chance’s works ruminate upon how repetition, through nuanced patterns, influences how our eyes and how our minds see and understand the world.

Ross’s paintings further explore the provocation of chance, that certain inspiration of a pattern-disrupted, of either a sudden unpredictability or the meditation of a lulling, lapping rhythm.

Working in a variety of mediums, including oil and watercolor, his art features a stratum of bold, parallel lines atop colorful shapes that create a mesmerizing image. Ross cites Robert Ryman, Jackson Pollack and Andy Warhol among his inspirations. “If you triangulate their respective bodies of work you could probably see where I’m coming from (with a dash of R. Crumb for sad comic-effect). My artistic influences seem to run less on direct visual similarity and more on feel, aesthetics and implication.” 

Ross’ limited edition prints, t-shirts and other handmade merchandise will also be available for purchase at the reception.The Committee will not be involved in the sale of any artwork beyond providing interested buyers with the artist's provided contact information.
Community Room (January 12-February 23).

And finally... I hope you're not sick of Zombies yet. 

Our bi-monthly Book Parties Book Club is meeting at the Emory on January 17th to discuss one of the quintessential works of our modern Zombie-culture renaissance: World War Z! Better stop in at the Circulation Desk this week and grab your very own copy (with your library card, of course), because in a short time there'll be a major motion picture released nationwide (starring Brad Pitt) and I'm sure you'll want to count yourself among the many (ourselves on staff, here, included) who will likely have enjoyed the book more than the movie. (Isn't that how it always goes?...btw: What'd you think of The Hobbit?)

Happy New Year!