“Art is anything you can get away with.” – Andy Warhol

Art Resources at the Library

by Brandon Priddy, Public Services Librarian 

     As I mentioned in my previous newsletter, January is a great time for resolutions and another common one is to devote more time to hobbies (or start a new one).  Personally, I made another mini-resolution to commit to drawing more.  Did you know that art can help you relax and cope with difficult situations?  According to this article, “There is evidence that engagement with artistic activities, either as an observer of the creative efforts of others or as an initiator of one's own creative efforts, can enhance one's moods, emotions, and other psychological states.” While I really miss visiting galleries and museums; we can still create art or learn about it at home and reap the health benefits.  

     If you’re interested in a similar artistic endeavor, Kanopy has comprehensive lessons on how to draw and paint.  I recommend checking out the Great Courses series An Introduction to Drawing or How to Paint.  These series cover the history of the art form, techniques, materials used, and artistic exercises.  They’re perfect if you’re just getting started on creating art or want a refresher course.  Check out the 36 episode drawing course here and the 24 episode painting course here.  

     Not interested in creating art yourself, but still want to immerse yourself in it? Kanopy also has a wonderful series How to Look at and Understand Great Art which promises to help you appreciate, “The power of great artwork to capture aesthetic beauty, to move and inspire, to change your perceptions, and to communicate the nature of human experience.” You can watch the 36 episode series here.  Kanopy has a lot of other art related content, so I encourage you to explore what they offer.  

     Furthermore, on Wednesday, January 27th at 7PM Todd DePastino will present Drawing Fire: The Editorial Cartoons of Bill Mauldin.  You can register for the program here.  I’m excited to welcome Mr. DePastino back to our virtual program series and his past talks have been very popular!  He will discuss cartoonist Bill Mauldin, who shot to fame during World War II with grimly realistic cartoons of the life up front. Lesser known are Mauldin’s second and even third acts as one of America’s premier political cartoonists from the last half of the twentieth century, when he traveled to Korea and Vietnam; Israel and Saudi Arabia; Oxford, Mississippi, and Washington, D.C., covering war and peace, civil rights, and the Great Society. Todd DePastino is founder and executive director of the Veterans Breakfast Club, a 501(c)(3) non-profit dedicated to sharing veterans’ stories with the public. Todd is the author of the award winning BILL MAULDIN: A LIFE UP FRONT (W.W. Norton) and six other books. He has a Ph.D. in American History from Yale University and has taught at several places, including Waynesburg University where he won the Lucas-Hathaway Award for Teaching Excellence.

     Finally, don’t forget to register for our Winter Reading Challenge here! If you decided to read more in 2021, this is a fun and free activity that will help you meet that goal.  We already raffled off a great surprise bag and patron Adrienne won hot cocoa and a board game! We’re giving out weekly prizes all January and February, so make sure you register! You also have a chance to win a Grand Prize Surprise Bag or even a Visa gift card! Happy reading!  

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Mt. Lebanon Public Library
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