Thank you, Police Chief Lee

Thank you, Chief David Lee of the Smyrna Police Department for being our Mystery Reader today at the library. Chief Lee read us a book, talked about police work in Smyrna, and arrested the Children's Librarian (just kidding).

Make Your Own Slime

 

The Life and Times of Leila Ross Wilburn: Atlanta’s Pioneering Woman Architect (1885-1967)

First Sunday Lecture
The Life and Times of Leila Ross Wilburn: Atlanta’s Pioneering Woman Architect (1885-1967)
A Women's History Month Event

Author Susan Hunter discussed the life of a famous Atlanta architect, Leila Ross Wilburn, this afternoon.  This lecture was also the kick-off celebration of Women's History Month at the Smyrna Public Library. 

A booksigning followed the presentation and books were available for purchase, courtesy of Bookmiser: A Booklover's Boutique. Light refreshments were provided by the Friends of Smyrna Library.

Presenter, Susan M. Hunter, co-author, Southern Homes & Plan Books: The Architectural Legacy of Leila Ross Wilburn

This presentation introduced Wilburn as one of the state’s most influential designers of vernacular housing in the first half of the 20th century. From the opening of her architectural practice in 1908 in Atlanta through the following five decades, and through a series of 9 plan books, Wilburn’s work defined changing home design in the South from early craftsman, four square, colonial adaptations, and eclectic offerings through ranch and split level designs in the 1950s and 1960s.

Speaker Bio: Susan Hunter has been a freelance writer for over 30 years, working for clients in higher education, business, and nonprofit organizations. Previously, she taught art history at the Atlanta College of Art and Mercer University in Atlanta, and she worked as an architectural surveyor for the Historic Preservation Division of Georgia. She completed doctoral coursework in American Studies and Art History at Emory University, and she holds an M.A. from American University and a B.A in Art History from Vassar College.

The First Sunday Lecture series is sponsored by the Friends of Smyrna Library and Smyrna Library.

Fiber Arts by Judy Alexander Opens in Smyrna Public Library Art Gallery

The March/April 2019 Art Gallery exhibit has opened – Fiber Arts by Judy Alexander.  The exhibit is on display through April 30. The Art Gallery is located on the 2nd floor of the Smyrna Public Library.

Art Gallery exhibits are organized by the Friends of Smyrna Library.

Artist Statement

Judy is a fiber artist who lives in the Atlanta area. Inspired by the beauty of nature, she loves creating landscape quilts. Her work has appeared in many shows, including the Paducah show of the American Quilter's Society and the International Quilt Festival in Houston, and she has won awards for her quilts around the country. Judy's work has also been featured in the "Quilting Arts" 2009 calendar and in "QUILT Magazine."

Wood Turning by Richard Herklotz Opens in Smyrna Public Library Display Gallery

The March/April 2019 Display Gallery exhibit has opened – Wood Turning by Richard Herklotz.  The exhibit is on display through April 30. The Display Gallery is located on the 2nd floor of the Smyrna Public Library.

Display Gallery exhibits are organized by the Friends of Smyrna Library.

Artist Statement

I was born in Glen Ridge N.J. and grew up in the small town of Basking Ridge, N.J. I graduated from Ridge High School in 1966, attended Davis and Elkins College in Elkins W.V. for 2 ½ years. I entered the Air Force in April of 1969, after basic training at Lackland AFB, Texas, I served at Travis AFB, California and Yokota AFB, Japan, during the Vietnam conflict. I was stationed at Dobbins AFB in 1971 and met Elaine in 1972 while there. We married in July of 1973 and remained in Georgia.

I have always enjoyed working with wood, building several items for our first house. I inherited most of my father’s power tools. Among those tools was a Sears lathe and a few turning chisels. I experimented with the lathe and was able to turn some nice pieces from wood found in the firewood pile or limbs fallen from trees in the yard. I now have a much better Poolewood lathe and am able to turn larger and more intricate pieces.

Turning has become a joy for me. It is fascinating to watch as an ugly piece of log becomes a thing of beauty as spins on the lathe. Most of the wood (90%) I use comes from the Cobb county area. Many pieces are where I have seen a pile of limbs left by the road for the city or county to get. Friends and co-workers have brought me pieces of eastern red cedar, wild cherry, crab apple and other woods from the North Atlanta area, Tennessee, South Georgia and even Oregon. I still have a few pieces of black walnut from my father-in-laws farm in Tallapoosa, Ga.

You can reach him at herkit@bellsouth.net