Exhibits and Displays 

Landscape Quilts by Loesje Creeden will be exhibited in the Simpkins Room during the month of March.  Inspired by the beauty of Cape Cod and expressing her journey of grief, Loesje Creeden has created these Landscape Quilts in loving memory of her two sons, Jesse and Ryan.  Her artwork can be appreciated as both an expression of her devoted love and admiration for her family, and reverence of our fragile Cape Cod habitats.  After many years of educating children as a teacher and naturalist, Loesje chose to pursue her passion in the creative world of art.  Having been a quilter it seemed a natural process to create these landscape quilts, hoping to educate others about our threatened natural environments.  But most important she hopes to show that you can move forward and find beauty around you even after the tragic loss of two children. A battle waged in your heart can be won with your mind, allowing you to create.  Loesje lives in here on Cape Cod, where she is constantly being inspired by the natural beauty around her.

Americorps Cape Cod will be exhibiting artwork and photography by Americorps members as part of their 15th anniversary celebration.  The works illustrate significant aspects of living on Cape Cod and the four Americorps focus areas -- natural resource management, disaster preparedness and relief, environmental education, and volunteer outreach.  You can learn more about Americorps Cape Cod at their website:  http://www.americorpscapecod.org/

Antique plow planes from fine woodworker Dan Santos' collection of of tools will be on display during the month of March. Plow planes were used by carpenters and cabinetmakers to make shallow grooves in the edge or the face of a board for joinery. The planes are typically adjustable and can accomodate a set of six or eight blades to make a varity of groove widths. Plow planes  were developed in the 18th century and flourished during the 19th century. Their demise was assured with the advent of power tools in the late 19th and throughout the 20th century.  There were scores of makers making hundreds of models from simple to complex models featuring silver, ebony, ivory, and rosewood.

The following artists will be featured in the coming months:

Simpkins Room Gallery Exhibit                

• April 2014:  Sammie Lydon -- Illustrations and drawings 
• May 2014:  Tracy Lindholm Nee oil paintings
• June 2014:  Senior Center Artists -- various media
• July 2014:  Taylor Sijan -- Drawings, jewelry, etc.   
• August 2014:  Just Jill Today -- photographs
• Open September, October, November 2014 
• December 2014:  KrisMarie Photography 

• April 2014:  Kate Walls illustrated prints fundraiser 
• May 2014:  Soutache Bead Embroidery & Jewelry by Patty Lange & artifacts from the Coast Guard Heritage Museum  
• June 2014:  Senior Center artists -- various media
• Open July-December 2014 

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A portion of the proceeds from the sale of exhibited art, photography, and crafts benefits the Sturgis Library.  Proceeds are used to enhance library services and programs. 

Monthly Book Discussion Group  

The book group meets the third Tuesday of the month at 1:10 p.m. New members are always welcome. You can email Antonia at sturgisreference@comcast.net to be added to the group email list (which means books will be ordered for you in advance). The group will be discussing "The Hare With the Amber Eyes," by Edmund de Waal.

Reading and Discussion Series 2014

Odd Couples: Literary Feuds, Friendships and Falling-outs 

4th Tuesday of the month through April 2014 @6:30 p.m. 

The relationships between authors and their opinions of each others' work can make for fascinating study, especially if there are elements of conflict involved. As Anthony Arthur notes in his book, Literary Feuds: A Century of Celebrated Quarrels--From Mark Twain to Tom Wolfe, "it is an appreciation of the degree to which writers, in their art, overcome their limitations as people."   

 In this series, sponsored in part by Mass Humanities, we will explore the works of four pairs of authors who were known or rumored to have a complicated relationship with one another, either in their personal lives or in regard to their literary output (which often became personal). The discussions will be as follows:

• 25 March: "Ethan Brand," by Nathaniel Hawthorne and "Billy Budd," by Herman Melville, with Dr. Sam Coale.
• 22 April: "The Alchemist," by Ben Jonson and "Twelfth Night," by William Shakespeare, with Dr. James Crowley.  

Just send an email to Antonia at sturgisreference@comcast.net with your name, email and phone number. The texts for the first discussion on 28 January @6:30 p.m. are available now behind the circ desk.  

To register for these programs, call the Library at 508-362-6636 or send an email to Ms. Megan at sturgiskids@comcast.net. 

Come join us for Drop-In Preschool Storytime every Thursday morning at 11:00!

Library Hours & Holidays 

Sturgis Library will be open regular hours during the month of March. 

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Newsletter header photo credit:  Lucy Loomis