Exhibits

Visual Libris: 100 artists and the books that influenced them

Fahrenheit 451 by Frank Germano. “Montag and Clarisse” 18” x 40” (framed, approximately 22” x 44”). Ink and acrylic.  Inspired by the The Association of Writers & Writing Programs (AWP) Conference that invaded Seattle last week artist Siolo Thompson put out the call for artists to create works derived from books that impacted their lives. 100 artists contributed and all genres, from sci-fi to non-fiction, poetry to romance are included. The result is the nothing short of spectacular. Ex Libris: 100 Artists, 100 Books is destined to be one of the bookish exhibition highlights of 2014. The sample below is just a taste of the depth, range...

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Music to Our Ears and Eyes: The Library of Congress Celebrates the Songs of America

Robert Winslow Gordon, first head of the Archive of American Folk-Song, at the Library of Congress, with part of the cylinder collection and recording machinery, about 1930.  "Know the songs of a country and you will know its history for the true feeling of a people speaks through what they sing." – Preface to The Songs of Henry Clay Work (1884) The latest stellar online exhibit from The Library of Congress, Songs of America, celebrates: American history as documented in the work of some of our country's greatest composers, poets, scholars, and performers. From popular and traditional songs, to poetic...

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Nicole Brauch: The weight of small things is our lives

A Letter And Its Consequences, 2013. Encaustic, acrylic, glass bottle, ash, book pages, photo and diagram. 16 x 12 x 3 inches. It is the remnants of a rich life that form the foundation of Nicole Brauch's work. Brauch is an archaeologist of the highest order, one who combs through their family and personal history to makes sense of the world around them. Tomorrow We’ll See, 2013. Glass jar, wrapped object, handkerchief, photo, acrylic, letter, encaustic and small key hole. 10 x 10 x 4 inches  Brauch explains her process: My work is derived from personal history – either told or uncovered. I...

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Oregon Art Center Rejects Dick and Jane

Talk about watching Dick and Jane run into the 21st century The piece is called "School Days" and it was submitted to the Emerald Art Center monthly members’ show by Linda Cunningham. Cunningham created the assemblage in response to the Sandy Hook school massacre. The center rejected the piece deeming it “too controversial” and “inappropriate.” Cunnigham said she: did this piece because of my feelings about Sandy Hook and all the little children and teachers who were killed there...Here we are, a year later, and nothing has been done to prevent gun violence,...I say, what’s controversial about not killing children? The National...

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The Department of Labor Celebrates the ‘Books that Shaped Work in America’

Taking the lead from the successful  Books that Shaped America exhibition sponsored by the Library of Congress in 2012 the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL)  has come up with a great way to celebrate its centennial. In partnership with the Center for the Book in the Library of Congress, it's developing a list of Books that Shaped Work in America. To populate the list the DOL has asked all the former Labor Secretary's to recommend their favorites. From Walt Whitman's Leaves of Grass (1855) chosen by George P. Shultz, the 11th U.S. Secretary of Labor, to Barbara Ehrenreich's Nickel and Dimed (2001) chosen by former Secretary Robert Reich...

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