I bet the name Storm Thorgerson doesn’t mean that much to you.  It should and I’ll tell you why. Thorgerson designed some of the most iconic album cover art of all time. Dark Side of the Moon, ring a bell? I bet you’re picturing that legendary prismatic triangle as you read this sentence.  Storm Thorgerson worked with everyone from Pink Floyd to Led Zeppelin to Biffy Clyro. He worked up until the very end of his days; Thorgerson passed away this April at the age of 69.

     April 21^st, 2013.  That’s it.  That’s the last day to see the spectacular show, Impressionism from Monet to Matisse, at the Columbia Museum of Art.  More than a showing of rarely seen paintings from the period, this exhibit aims to give the viewer an appreciation of both the traditional and revolutionary ways artists of this time saw their world, painted it, related to art, and chose their subject matter.  An important aspect of the show is to illustrate how Impressionist artists created a bridge between academic and modern art, with many artists of the period having a brush dipped into more than one artistic world. Therefore, many of the paintings are by artists who were combining a portion of the traditional and accumulated knowledge of art with the new ways of seeing composition, applying paint, and using color that are so characteristic of the purely Impressionistic period.  These are artists who were relishing in, and whose work reflects, the political and societal changes, and scientific advancements of the day. The paintings show the exquisite effort of artists truly at work within the context of their times, looking back, looking forward, and trying to see and paint their world uniquely and beautifully.   

The Hélène Berr, A Stolen Life, holocaust exhibit will be on display at Richland Library starting April 8, 2013. 

The digital art of North Carolina based artist Brandon Reese will be on display in the library’s Gallery at Main through March 31, 2013.

The Coretta Scott King Award is given by the American Library Association (ALA) annually to outstanding African American authors and illustrators. This year’s recipient was Bryan Collier, an artist whose work is no stranger to the ALA.  The winning illustrations are presented in the book entitled I, Too, Am America, a short but powerful poem written by Langston Hughes, in which Collier beautifully portrays strength in the face of adversity with his watercolor washed collages. Collier has illustrated more than 20 books in his career, collecting several Coretta Scott King awards as well as three Caldecott Honors.

If your preschooler can't get enough of cutting, drawing and painting, check out Hands on Art at the Main Library this Friday at 11 am.  This program features simple art for the very young (ages 2-5) plus stories and songs.  Hands on Art focuses on activities that, not only encourage creativity, but also build the skills children need for kindergarten.   The books below will also increase your child's knowledge of art and the world around him.  So check them out and head downtown on Friday, January 4th at 11 am with your own pint-sized Picasso for free, fun, Hands on Art! 

After having eaten my lunch during my morning break – yes, I do that sometimes – I was left wondering what to do with my lunch hour. I finally decided that this would be a perfect time to stroll from the library over to the Columbia Museum of Art.

Looking for art related information? The Richland Library staff can recommend the following web sites. From local museums to international auction houses, it's all here.

What’s your favorite color? Skills can only develop if they are practiced. Reading books that introduce colors allows children to practice learning in a fun way.

Did you know that scribbling is a very important part of literacy development in toddlers? When young children are given crayons, paints, play-dough and the freedom to explore their creativity, they are learning about artistic expression and working on their fine motor skills. More importantly, however, they are learning how to tell a story, and taking the first steps to learning to read. Those scribbles will eventually turn into letters, words, and will contribute to the early reading skills required for a child to develop a healthy appetite for learning.