New Curiosity Creates Program for Tweens

The Smyrna Public Library hosted the first Curiosity Creates workshop last night. This is a new program for Tweens (age 8 to 12). The Tweens had a lot of fun learning about different watercolor techniques from our artist, Kathi Wall Fly. Next Tuesday the tweens will be able to come back to our Open Lab and practice the techniques they learned to create their own watercolor piece that inspires them. 

The Curiosity Creates program was made possible by a grant Smyrna Library received from the Association for Library Service to Children and Disney.

Congrats, Henry!

Our friend, Henry, was one of the winners in our Clifford contest. He'll get to see Clifford the Big Red Dog live this Friday. 

Special thanks to ArtsBridge Foundation for donating the tickets!

Awarded Grants Fund New 200-Book Collection for Children

A 200-book, nonfiction collection of new titles for children and young adults was recently added to the Smyrna Public Library. The purchases were funded by grants awarded by community organizations.

STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) books were purchased through a grant from Gas South.

Financial Literacy books for children and young adults were purchased through a grant from Wells Fargo.

History books were purchased through a grant from Friends of Smyrna Library.

Thanks to all involved for adding these great new reading options for our young library patrons!

Oils and Acrylics by Karen Snider Opens in Art Gallery

The final art gallery exhibit for 2015 opened today - Oils and Acrylics by Karen Snider. Ms. Snider's paintings are on display until January 3. The art gallery is located on the 2nd floor of the Smyrna Library. The art gallery exhibits are sponsored by the Friends of Smyrna Library. 

Artist Statement: 

"My main interest in creating several of my paintings is to portray a slice of daily life. I attempt to showcase some of America's unique individuals going about their daily activities.

I'm also fascinated with studying and painting nature's amazing detail, form and color."

All my life I've been interested in expressing myself through art. I minored in art when I attended the University of New Mexico. Through the years, I drew using graphite and ink, and painted with pastels.

When I lived in California and Oregon throughout the 1990's, I showed and sold my work in several galleries and exhibits. After I moved east, I began painting in oils. In the past 7 years, my work has been accepted in many juried shows in both South Carolina and Georgia. Several of my pieces have received awards at the National Juried Shows.

Glass Inspirations by Lori Schinelli Opens in Display Gallery

The final display gallery exhibit for 2015 opened today - Glass Inspirations by Lori Schinelli. Ms. Schinelli's glass art is on display until January 3. The display gallery is located on the 2nd floor of the Smyrna Library. The display gallery exhibits are sponsored by the Friends of Smyrna Library. 

Artist Statement:

A native of Brooklyn, Lori received her Bachelors degree in Nursing from the State University of New York. She dabbled in glass in the 1970s but left it to work as a nurse and raise her family.

Moving to Georgia in the 1990s, she resumed her artwork, studying painting, ceramics and sculpture at several southeast art centers before rediscovering glass in 2002.

She has since studied with prominent masters in the glass world at The Pilchuck Glass School in Stanwood, Washington; The Corning Glass Museum Studio in Corning, New York; The Pittsburg Glass Center, in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania; and The Oatka Glass School, in Batavia New York. She has also received mentorship at the private studios of some of the masters,while maintaining a teaching studio in Dunwoody, Georgia.

Her work can be found in private collections across the US as well as in Brazil. She is currently represented at the Corning Museum of Glass Glass Market and Gallery in Corning New York, and The Gingerbread Square Gallery in Key West, Florida

Walking Tour of Smyrna's Williams Park Neighborhood Postponed Due to Rain

Today's scheduled Historical and Architectural Walking Tour of Smyrna's Williams Park Neighborhood is being rescheduled to next week due to rain.  Meet next Sunday (November 8) 3PM at the Pergola in Williams Park on Roswell Street.  Do not meet at the library.

Speaker: Casey Clavin

Participants should gather at the pergola in Williams Park on Roswell Street - will be limited to the first 24 people who RSVP to wpmarchione@gmail.com or 857-919-0505.

The Williams Park neighborhood of Smyrna (the streets lying east of Atlanta Road, opposite Market Village) contains the largest concentration of older structures in the city, many dating from the 1885 to 1925 period, a unique architectural ensemble that could well qualify as Smyrna's first National Register Historic District. The area also has a fascinating history. Casey Clavin, who has given much attention to the architectural history of this interesting neighborhood, and local historian Bill Marchione, will co-narrate this walking tour of the city's oldest neighborhood, a tour that will also feature visits to the interiors of some of Williams Park's most interesting residences.

The Williams Park walking tour is being co-sponsored by the Smyrna Arts & Cultural Council (SACC) and the Friends of the Smyrna Library (FOSL), as one of the Smyrna Library's regular "First Sunday" programs.