Weekly Updates

March 31, 2023

In this issue: Special Collections Exhibition at the Concord Museum - Special Collections Highlights - Poetry at the Library - Virtual Films at Fowler - Art Jury - Adult Events - Teen Events - Children's Events

A Perpetual Invitation: 150 Years of Art at the Library: Our Special Collections Exhibition Held at the Concord Museum

A Perpetual Invitation: 150 Years of Art at the Concord Free Public Library (Please note - the exhibition is held at the Concord Museum, not the Library)

March 24 - September 4, 2023

Concord Museum (53 Cambridge Turnpike, Concord, MA)


In honor of the Concord Free Public Library’s 150th Anniversary, the Concord Museum, the Concord Free Public Library, and the Concord Free Public Library Corporation’s William Munroe Special Collections have collaborated on this special exhibition featuring the Library’s art collection. Curators from the Concord Museum and the Library’s William Munroe Special Collection lead the guided tours of the exhibition. Featured objects include paintings by Washington Allston, N.C. Wyeth, May Alcott Nieriker, Charles Hovey Pepper, Alicia Keyes, and Elizabeth Wentworth Roberts, among other artists, as well as sculptures depicting noted Concord authors such as Nathaniel Hawthorne, Henry David Thoreau, and Louisa May Alcott.


When establishing the Library in 1873, founder William Munroe envisioned a combined library and art gallery, with the goal of creating a public space where Concord residents could experience art and culture. Munroe aimed to offer artists, donors, and visitors a “perpetual invitation” to explore and expand the Library’s art collection. [Learn More]

Highlights from Special Collections: VIEW NOW - A Daniel Chester French Event: The Process of Sculpting

Did you miss the March presentation by Robert Shure (pictured), an expert sculptor, and conservator of sculpture, LIVE on Zoom from his studio to learn about the process and technique of the American sculptor of the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, Daniel Chester French? You can access the video recording HERE.


Robert Shure is the president of Skylight Studios, Inc. and Caproni Collection, LLC. Robert has accumulated over 40 years of hands-on experience working in the field of sculpture. His expertise ranges from the design and creation of monumental sculpture in bronze and granite to the conservation and restoration of historical sculpture and architectural ornament. Robert works with a worldwide clientele of communities, institutions, committees, architects, and museums. Communication with clients from design to dedication is the practice he stands behind. Before founding Skylight Studios, Robert apprenticed for almost two decades with sculptors Arcangelo Cascieri and Adio di Biccari and with Lino Giust of the Giust Gallery (now the Caproni Collection) and continues their traditions.

 

Other Upcoming Special Collections Programs:

April 13 - Divide In Concord (Film Screening): In April 2012, Concord residents voted to ban the sale of single-serving plastic water bottles, and the measure went into effect in January 2013. Jean Hill's campaign inspired Divide in Concord, an award-winning 2014 documentary about Concord's bottle-ban battle.

April 27 - Joel Myerson Annual Lecture Series: After Lives: Bringing Una Hawthorne Home - presented by Prof. Megan Marshall

May 11 - Thoreau's Henhawk Visits Mexico (Film Screening and Discussion) and again on May 20.

May 17 - May Alcott and the Town of Concord: The Making of an Artist - presented by Prof. Daniel Shealy

June 8 - Mr. Agassiz's Puzzle-Box: What To Do With 19th-Century Science Today - presented by Prof. Irmscher

June 22 - Celebrating Ralph Waldo Emerson: Filmmaker Michael Maglaras and Writer James Marcus in Conversation

Poetry at the Library Series

Poetry at the Library Series: Anna VQ Ross & Jason Tandon

Sunday, April 2, 2:00 - 3:15 p.m.

Goodwin Forum, Main Library


April is National Poetry Month. Join us for an in-person afternoon with award-winning poets Anna VQ Ross and Jason Tandon who will read and engage in a Q & A about their inspirations and craft. Anna VQ Ross reads from her most recent poetry collection Flutter, Kick (Red Hen Press: November, 2022) and winner of the 2020 Benjamin Saltman Poetry Award. Jason Tandon reads from his fifth full-length poetry book, This Far North (Black Lawrence Press, March, 2023). [Register]


Sunday, May 7, Jordan Escobar (Men with the Throats of Birds) and Adam Scheffler (Heartworm). [Learn More and Register]


The Poetry at the Library Series is generously sponsored by the Friends of the Concord Free Public Library. Open to all.

Adult Events

Arts & Crafts Club with Art for All at Fowler (teens & adults)

Tuesday, April 4, 4:30 - 5:30 p.m.

Fowler Branch Large Meeting Room

Art for All comes to Fowler - Every Tuesday from 4:30 to 5:30, teens and adults with cognitive differences are welcome to attend Arts and Crafts Club. Projects and activities may include making art for local shows, making holiday cards, and playing drawing games. [Register]

FREE Online Group Meditation with Be Well Be Here

Thursday, April 6, 8:30 - 9:00 a.m.

Zoom

Join Be Well Be Here for a 30-minute morning meditation practice with the Concord Free Public Library and start your day with a moment of ease. Discover mindful tools that center the body, settle the mind, and open the door to wellbeing. [Register for Zoom Link]

Library Lunchtime Meditation

Monday, April 10, 12:30 - 1:00 p.m.

Front Lawn, Main Library or

Trustees Room, Main Library

Restore at lunchtime with a sampling of short meditation practices - Join Lara Wilson, the Concord Free Public Library's Mindful Wellness program organizer and founder of Be Well Be Here, for 30 minutes that relieve stress and bring ease into your day. Be kind to yourself trying simple wellBEing practices that may become the restorative part of every day. We will meet in the Rotunda to choose practice indoors or outside. [Register]

Tuesday Book Discussion: This Side of Paradise by F. Scott Fitzgerald

Tuesday, April 11, 9:30 - 11:15 a.m.

Trustees Room, Main Library

Each month, join other readers to discuss a range of books, from classics to contemporary. For April, we will discuss This Side of Paradise by F. Scott Fitzgerald. Copies of the book will be available at the Main Library circulation desk. The book is also available as an eBook on Hoopla and Libby. [Register]

Cookbook Club

Wednesday, April 12, 12:00 - 1:30 p.m.

Fowler Branch Large Meeting Room

For April we will make more southwestern recipes - You may choose any recipe from the three selected books. Copies of the three chosen books will be available at both branches. [Learn More and Register]

An Evening with Alice Finn, Author of Smart Women Love Money

Wednesday, April 12, 7:00 - 8:00 p.m.

Goodwin Forum, Main Library

Come gain investment self-confidence by attending a "PowerHouse" discussion about how to invest for your future - Alice Finn founded PowerHouse Assets with the goal of motivating women to invest for their future and gain investment self-confidence. To that end, the firm hosts "PowerHouses" – small interactive discussions about investing. The intent is for these to be a fun, casual and engaging time to learn and talk about how we can invest in our financial futures using 5 Simple Life-Changing Rules of Investing. Join us and discover how to invest in your financial future with 5 simple rules that cut through the unnecessarily complex jargon of Wall Street. [Register]

Virtual Films at Fowler Spring 2023: True Stories

Films at Fowler continues in spring 2023 with True Stories. For 26 years Concord film viewers gathered on winter evenings at Fowler Library to see some of the most interesting and stimulating examples of current and classic cinema from around the world. That movie series, now called Films at Fowler, changed to an online video streaming format in 2021 and continues in that format in 2023. Because we no longer meet in person, we now watch—on your own schedule—selected movies on Kanopy, a free streaming service available to Library patrons. We will then gather on Zoom on scheduled evenings for a lively movie discussion. The theme of the movies this spring is True Stories. The movies in this series are based on real events, and have varying degrees of surprise, suspense, compassion, and drama at their heart. 


Spencer (2021)

Wednesday, April 12, 7:00 p.m. (Discussion Date on Zoom)

Kristen Stewart, in an Oscar-nominated performance, embodies Diana, Princess of Wales, during three fateful days of Christmas festivities in 1991 at the Queen’s Sandringham Estate. Diana’s erratic behavior and her strained relationship with the royal family during those days begins the public dissolution of her marriage to Charles. 


Please watch the film on Kanopy before the discussion. To register for the discussion and receive a Zoom link, send an email to the host of the series Randall Warniers at FilmsatFowler@concordlibrary.org.


This series is sponsored by the Friends of the Concord Free Public Library.

Art Jury

Calling artists - Our next Art Jury will be held on Thursday, May 18, 2023 at 6:00 p.m. in Special Collections.


  • Art Drop-off: No later than 5:30 p.m. on the evening of the Art Jury
  • Judging: Between 6:00 and 7:15 p.m.
  • Art Pick-up: Between 7:15 and 7:30 p.m.


HOW IT WORKS:

Bring five pieces of your work, framed or unframed, to Special Collections at the Concord Free Public Library.


Pieces should reflect the type of work you would choose to include in an exhibit.

Be sure that your work is clearly labeled with your name and contact information.


QUESTIONS?

For more information, please contact the staff liaison at the Concord Free Public Library: 978-318-3367 or e-mail gweiss@minlib.net

Teen Events

Concord-Carlisle High School (CCHS) Weekend Chess Club

Saturdays, 11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.

Teen Lounge, Main Library

For beginners and pros alike - Play chess with the CCHS Weekend Chess Club. Ages 11-18. No registration required.

Teen Dungeon and Dragons

Wednesday, April 5, 3:30 - 5:30 p.m.

Teen Lounge, Main Library

Teens - Join Dungeons and Dragons. Play casual one-off games or start a campaign with others. Beginners are encouraged. Experts expected to help out. No registration required. Ages 11-18 welcome.

Teen Board Game Advisory Board

Thursday, April 6, 3:30 - 4:30 p.m.

Teen Lounge, Main Library

Teens - Join The Board Game Advisory Board. Register now and visit the Teen Lounge on Thursdays this winter. Receive your very own Board Game Board Member membership card. Choose from our game selection at the Library, plan which games we purchase in the future, or bring your own from home (board games, table top role playing, card games Magic, Pokemon, etc). Popcorn will always be provided. [Register]

Children's Events at the Main Library

StoryWalk: A Stick is an Excellent Thing

Main Street Leading to the Children's Library

To celebrate National Poetry Month, we have selected A Stick is an Excellent Thing by Marilyn Singer for our April StoryWalk. The trappings of childhood change from generation to generation, but there are some timeless activities that every kid loves. Award-winning poet Marilyn Singer and New York Times best-selling illustrator LeUyen Pham celebrate these universal types of play, from organized games such as hide-and-seek and hopscotch to imaginative play such as making mud soup or turning a stick into a magic wand. Lyrical poems and bold illustrations capture the energy of a group of children in one neighborhood as they amuse themselves over the course of a day.

Musical Monday with Hugh Hanley

Monday, April 3, 10:30 - 11:00 a.m.

Goodwin Forum, Main Library

Come join the fun with Hugh Hanley, a nationally-known early childhood educator and musical entertainer who specializes in programs for young children and their teachers and families.

Hugh accompanies his singing with guitar and banjo and draws on a wide repertoire of songs, finger plays and music activities that are engaging and accessible to young children; they are so much fun that the grown-ups will love to join in too. Musical Monday Series is sponsored by the Friends of the Concord Free Public Library.

New Children's Program Schedule for April (Starting April 10)

Children's Activity Room, Main Library

Add some fun to your morning with programs for little ones every weekday - Musical Mondays @ 10:30; Crafty Tuesdays @ 10:30; Wednesdays Toddler Time @ 10:30; Baby Storytime (for pre-walking babies) @ 11:30; Thursdays Storytime at Main @ 10:30; Fridays Alphabet Storytime @ 10:30; Concord Puppet Theatre @ 10:30 (on the third Friday of every month).


For more Children's events at the Main Library, visit here.

Fowler Branch Children's Events

Musical Mornings with Ricardo, A Music Class in Spanish & English at Fowler (Ages 7 & under)

Saturday, April 1, 11:00 - 11:30 a.m.

Meeting Room, Fowler Branch

Ricardo Rosales will join us on the first Saturday of each month for a special music class in Spanish and English. Expand your musical and language skills in this program sponsored by the Friends of Concord Free Public Library. No registration required.

Zoom PJ Storytime, Ages 5 and under

Monday, April 3, 5:00 - 5:30 p.m.

Zoom

Get a jumpstart on bedtime with songs, stories, and rhymes. [Register for Zoom Link]

Fairy Tales at Fowler, Ages 4-12

Thursday, April 6, 4:30 - 5:15 p.m.

Fowler Branch Large Meeting Room

Explore the world through folktales and fairy tales in this storytime for a slightly older audience! We'll share songs, stories, and do a hands-on craft. No registration required.


For more Children's events at Fowler, visit here.

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