HinermanJoin us at the downtown library for a “how-to” session with Nature photographer and Quilt Artist Brooks Hinerman. The “Making a Floral Art Quilt” program is in conjunction with Hinerman’s quilt exhibit “The Blooms of Matthaei” on display now at the downtown library. The exhibit represents a melding of Hinerman’s love of photography with quilting in that she uses her macro photography of flowers as patterns for making art quilts. Many of Brooks' finest macro flower images were taken at the Matthaei Botanical Gardens in Ann Arbor. The exhibit is based upon photos taken at Matthaei, in their conservatory and outside gardens.

If you haven’t had the chance to take in the exhibit, come take a look and join us Tuesday evening!

Making A Floral Art Quilt | Tuesday October 5 | 7:00-8:30 PM | Downtown Multipurpose Room

On Friday, October 29, 2010 the Ann Arbor District Library will be hosting author Scott Westerfeld at the Downtown Library at 7:00 p.m. Come early. We are expecting a big crowd for this very popular author.

Mr. Westerfeld will be touring to promote the October 5th release of Behemoth (on order), the sequel to his book Leviathan. He is also the author of a popular series about a futuristic society that makes everybody look the same. Uglies, Pretties, Specials and Extras are the four titles in that series.

For more information, check out Mr. Westerfeld's website.

rebecca

Enter the sophisticated world of couture when Rebecca Lambers, “Couturiére,” Fashion Designer and Exclusive Dressmaker visits the Downtown Library at 7:00 p.m. on September 29th.

One of Ann Arbor’s unique treasures, Ms. Lambers’ is an exclusive dressmaker and fashion designer, who specializes in creating unique custom clothing for women. She was showcased at the Detroit Institute of Arts in conjunction with fashion photographer Richard Avedon and was profiled in the May 2010 edition of Hour Detroit Magazine. Current Magazine calls her 'the fanciest stitcher between Chicago and New York.'

Rebecca will talk about her life in art – showing images, garments and presenting a few live models to illustrate her process of connecting with the ideas of each client and highlight the value of useful, tangible, beautifully made objects.

So I Come to America: Detroit Pre-World War I Immigrnts

The exhibit So I Come to America tells the story of pre-World War I immigrants through documentary photographs and text panels. Between 1980 and 1983, Robert Gordon interviewed and photographed 50 Detroit area immigrants who came to the US prior to the outbreak of WWI in 1914. Join us Wednesday, September 22 from 7:00-8:30 PM at the Downtown Library where Dr. Gordon will discuss the compelling stories behind the immigrant subjects used in his exhibit. His work will be exhibited in the Multi-Purpose Room of the Downtown Library through October 14.

grown in detroit

The award-winning documentary Grown in Detroit focuses on a Detroit public school of 300 parenting teens who learn about nutrition and independence as they work in the school's farm. This school is the third of its kind in the country; the Catherine Ferguson Academy strives to provide quality education in order to ensure a bright future for each new parent and their child. The school is named after Catherine Ferguson, a famous freed slave who lived in New York who, although illiterate, has been credited as one of the largest promoters of education in the early 1800s. Mascha & Manfred Poppenk are the Dutch independent filmmakers who brought Grown in Detroit to light.

Thursday, September 23, 6:30 - 8:30 pm, Film & Discussion, Grade 9 - Adult, Downtown Library, Multi-Purpose Room

carolynking

Listen & watch some local history when AADL presents “The Girl in Centerfield” on Wednesday, September 15 from 6:30-8:30 PM at the Downtown Library. This documentary tells the 1973 story of 12 year old Carolyn King, who just wanted to play ball on an Ypsilanti Little League team, except the National Little League organization didn't allow girls to play. Find out about the political fallout that occurred & how the Ypsilanti City Council stood up for her. Not long after, the National Little League changed their No-Girls rule. Producers Buddy Moorehouse and Brian Kruger will be on hand for a Q and A after the film.

nelsonWal-Mart is the world's largest company and it sets the standard, both socially and commercially, for a huge swath of the global economy. On Wednesday, September 8, at the Downtown Library, UCSB History Professor Nelson Lichtenstein will discuss the company's national and international influence.

Storytimes are beginning all over town! We’ll be celebrating grandparents at the Downtown Tuesday and Wednesday storytimes, with Beautiful Bananas and the silly folktale, The Squeaky Door. Can’t wait to see all our favorite listeners again!

In a dystopian future America divided into twelve districts, twenty-four teenagers must fight to the death each year to sate the corrupt Capitol's need for absolute control and bloody entertainment. That is, until Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark of District 12 provide the spark to ignite nationwide rebellion! Suzanne Collins' Hunger Games series first appeared on the scene in 2008, and finally, after an extremely suspenseful cliffhanger in the second book in the trilogy Catching Fire, fans will find out what happens to Katniss, Peeta, Gale and the entire nation of Panem.

Join us at the Downtown Library on August 24th from 4 to 6 p.m. to celebrate the release of Mockingjay with food and fun. Come in costume, so that I won't be the only one! Brush up your trivia knowledge for a chance to win prizes! And, as Effie Trinket says, "May the odds be ever in your favor."

Here's a list of suggestions for Hunger Game fans.

sleeping beauty

On August 23rd at 7:00 pm the library hosts a performance of "The Sleeping Beauty", a marionette ballet performed by Detroit's Puppet Art Theater, at the Downtown Library. The members of the troupe are masters of puppetry art theater trained in the former Soviet Union.

A beautiful princess, wicked fairies and a handsome prince will be brought to life with exquisite marionettes and accompanying classical music.

We all know that Sleeping Beauty has been cursed by a wicked fairy and is forced to sleep until she is awakened by a kiss from a Prince. Most versions focus upon the Princess’s story but this production sheds light on the story of the Prince as well. We find out how he knows of the sleeping Princess and why he feels destined to rescue her. You can relax and enjoy the show because this story, as all fairy tales, promises a very happy ending.

If you would like to refresh your memory of the classic tale, Sleeping Beauty is a beautiful version illustrated by Trina Schart Hyman. The Walt Disney version of The Sleeping Beauty is available on Blu-ray. Finally, if you would like to listen and imagine the story yourself, Tchaikovsky's Sleeping Beauty performed by the National Philharmonic Orchestra is an excellent version.