Tuesday, January 26, 2016-- In this issue:

• Reception This Thursday
• Camden Conference Discussion Series
• February Art: 10 Years of the Blue Hill Fair Poster Designs

Join us for a reception for "The Art of the Book," a show currently in the Howard Room glass cases THIS THURSDAY January 28, from 5:00 to 7:00 PM. The show is by a collective of bookmakers, who have been making and sharing their artwork together for nearly 15 years.

The artists in this group meet several times a year to share their work, to look at book forms and to come up with a "theme" for the next meeting. Then in the intervening time the artists each make a book generally along the chosen theme."

Books in the show cover a wide array of media- prints, ink, watercolor, collage, found objects, photographs, acrylic- whatever. The artists include: Kristy Cunnane, Anne- Claude Cotty, Jennifer O. Pappas, Karen Zimmerman, Cathy Willey, Beth Smith, Kristy Cunnane, Holly Betrand, Judy Ham and Deborah Holmes.

The exhibit is available for viewing during Library hours subject to the meeting room schedule through the end of March. For more information call the Library at 374-5515.

The Library will be holding a three session discussion series in connection with the 29th annual Camden Conference, which runs from February 19 to 21 in Camden. The theme of the conference is "The New Africa." The discussion sessions are free, and will take place on two Mondays before the conference, February 8 and 15, and one after, on February 29, all from 1:00 to 3:00 PM at the Library. This series is designed to help participants achieve optimal benefit from participation in the Camden Conference, but everyone is welcome.

According to the Camden Conference website, "Africa is home to the world's poorest nations, but also has a dozen economies that maintained 7% growth rates over the last decade. It is the last major frontier for resource development, while simultaneously struggling with some of the world's oldest, most corrupt and filthiest oil and mining ventures. While Africa suffers from ethnic and religious violence and poverty, it is blessed with rich and creative cultures and vibrant civil societies. These are only a few of the contradictions and conundrums that will frame the 2016 Camden Conference on the theme of Africa, a massive and often mysterious continent."

Bob Sargent

The sessions will be moderated by Bob Sargent, a former U.S. diplomat whose overseas assignments included Belgium, Bulgaria, the Netherlands, Tunisia, Turkey and Vietnam. Mr. Sargent is a former member of the Camden Conference Board of Directors and Advisory Board and a three-time conference program chair.

Space is limited for the Blue Hill Library series, so participants are asked to register using the Library's interactive calendar  or by calling the Library at 374-5515. For more information and suggested readings, check the event listing on the library's calendar or call the Library at 374-5515. More information about the conference itself can be found at www.camdenconference.org.

Blue Hill artist Megan Granger will be showing her original paintings from 10 years of Blue Hill Fair posters in the Library's Britton Gallery during the month of February. The paintings are in watercolor and egg tempera. Megan has lived in Blue Hill for over 40 years and has been the Blue Hill Fair artist for 10 years.

About her show Megan offers, "Growing up in such a beautiful town has given me a great appreciation for nature's gifts. Studying the delicate patterns in plants or the fine textures of animals' feathers or fur allows me to capture a glimpse of what our natural world presents every day. The Blue Hill Fair board has been wonderful to work with, trusting me to completely take charge of the theme and presentation every year."

Megan started taking weekly private art lessons at 12 years old. She attended one semester at Portland School of Art before transferring to the University of Maine in Orono, where she received a BA in Art Education with a Concentration in Developmental Disabilities. She also has a Master of Arts in Art Therapy from Vermont College, and an Independent Maine Clinical Counseling License in 1999. Megan uses visual and expressive art as well as clinical expertise in her job as a counselor at Blue Hill Consolidated School.

The exhibit will be available for viewing during library hours starting February 1st. For more information, call the library at 374-5515.

Don't hesitate to call us for more information at 207-374-5515.