image: Sophie Blackall – Big Red Lollipop
As is now routine, I moseyed through the park and did my weekly grocery shopping at the Grand Army Plaza greenmarket on Saturday. This time, though, I wasn’t too loaded down with pickles and goat cheese, and actually had the energy to stop at the Central branch of the Brooklyn Public Library.
I’d been meaning to hit the BPL because, though I’ve always been a huge library supporter (it’s in my blood, thanks mom and dad), lately I’ve been in the bad habit of buying books instead. But with student loans looming this November (it’s been nearly 6 months already?!), it is time to tighten the finances and catch up on my reading – for free.
I was disappointed that I didn’t find anything super fresh and exciting in the YA section… but I guess it’s good that teens are checking them all out. Next time, I’ll have to bring a bigger list. I DID get the chance to see the Drawn In Brooklyn! exhibition of children’s illustration – and that, in itself, was worth the trip.
Drawn In Brooklyn! is a 4-month long festival of 34 local artists, celebrating the borough with the largest concentration of children’s book illustrators on the planet. In close proximity to Manhattan, illustrators can network with the publishing and art worlds first-hand… but then find both community inspiration and a bit of creative peace back here. No wonder Brooklyn is home to, well, almost everyone I admire.
image: Peter Brown – Chowder
In the vast display of work in the Grand Lobby of the BPL, there were many, many familiar names, including personal heroes (Leo and Diane Dillon, Ted and Betsy Lewin, Paul O. Zelinsky), current favorites (Sophie Blackall, Peter Brown) and former professors (Pat Cummings, Megan Montague Cash). Also, a few illustrators I’d never heard of before: both Daniel Salmieri and Sergio Ruzzier‘s whimsical, quirky characters made me smile. Here they are below!
image: Daniel Salmie
DRAWN IN BROOKLYN opened yesterday! It a showcases picturebook work made in Brooklyn, NY. Check it out! The show is chock full of original art, sketches, and illustration secrets of some of your favorite picturebook artists (including me!).
From Boris Kulikov – Eraserheads
Drawn In Brooklyn Exhibitions
September 21, 2010 – January 23, 2011
Central Library, Grand Army Plaza
Here is a list of activities that are taking place during the show:
Art Workshops with Illustrators
Central Library – Second Floor Meeting Room
Saturdays, 2:30 p.m.
Kids ages 8 to 12 can learn to create art alongside their favorite illustrators!
These workshops can only accommondate 25 kids, so they are first come, first served.
- Mermaid Tails and Neptune Crowns: Halloween Costumes with Melaine Hope Greenberg
Join author-illustrator of Mermaids On Parade, Melaine Hope Greenberg to get ready for Halloween. Learn how to craft your own costume. Become a mermaid, Neptune or any sea creature you can imagine.
Saturday, October 2, 2010, 2:30 p.m.
- Stamp Making with Kam Mak
What made your neighborhood or community where you are living now so special to you? For author/illustrator of My Chinatown: One Year In Poems, Kam Mak, the Lunar New Year is the most exciting holiday in his community. Kam will illustrate a stamp that best high light and celebrate the uniqueness of his neighborhood and community. For example the carousel in Prospect Park, the Aquarium in Coney Island, he will give a short lesson on designing a stamp and show some examples to the kids. Then he will hand out an 8 x 10 blank stamp sheet so children can put their illustration inside. Many of you will have to use their memories and imagination.
Saturday, October 9, 2010, 2:30 p.m.
- Painting a Birthday Party
If you like painting and partying join illustrator Boris Kulikov for this workshop. You’ll get an opportunity to create and illustrate your own story about a birthday party of your friend or pet or any character.
Saturday, October 23, 2010, 2:30 p.m.
- Character Creations
image: Peter Brown – Chowder
image: Daniel Salmie
.jpeg?picon=1639)