"Old Crack Story" Pantings by Chinemerem Omeh Opens at Smyrna Public Library Art Gallery

The March/April 2023 Art Gallery exhibit has opened – Paintings - Old Crack Story by Chinemerem Omeh.  Mr Omeh’s 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.

Biography:

Omeh Chinemerem is a Nigerian artist, born in Enugu, Nigeria. He holds a BA in fine and applied arts from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka where he majored as a painter. Currently based in Atlanta, Georgia, US.

Omeh started drawing and painting at the age of five. Unable to fully read and write, drawing naturally became a means to express himself. He found a voice and identity in drawing and painting.

His yearning for change amidst harsh realities makes expressing pain, peace, depression, hope, deception, and love inevitable in his work. His artistic dispositions were met with dissuasion from peers, teachers, and his parent because to become an artist was an impossible way to earn a decent living. That dissuasion only made his love of art stronger and has informed it.

Omeh has since, been in numerous group shows in Nigeria. In 2016, his work "Nma Ndu" won, best painting in a group exhibition, themed "Dream's alive" Enugu state in Nigeria.

In 2019, he participated in a group show in New York represented by Agora Gallery, where he introduced his body of work "Crack story" to the world. With the show, "Crack story" the artist informed us of his basic philosophy. Inspired by the crack texture of the earth during the harmattan season in his hometown, he used them through the body of work(crack story) as metaphors speaking to a desire for restoration and hope for better days. His technique involved a rough and heavy application of dead caked color mixed with linseed oil. The cracks, however, have become an identity in his works.

Exhibitions

• Solo exhibition "Old Crack Story" Smyrna public Library 2023

• ArtFields 2023 South Carolina

• N'Namdi contemporary Fine Art group show Miami, FL 2023

• Collectors and Cocktail ACA Galleries New York 2023

• Mason Fine art group show, Miami Circle, Atlanta Georgia 2023

• "Reflection in time" collaborative show Carther Fine Arts New Jersey 2022

• "Senses", a collaborative group show Peters St. Atlanta Georgia 2022.

• "Reflection in Time" Carther Fine arts, a collaborative show New Jersey 2022.

• Black Art in America head quarter opening exhibition Atlanta Georgia 2022.

• ''All the world's stage'' International juried exhibition Cape Cod Museum of Art Massachusetts 2022.

• 15th Figurative show Hillard gallery Kansas city Missouri 2022.

• ''Surface'' Highlighting the use of textures held D'Art Center Norfolk Virginia 2022.

• "Red dot Miami" represented by Agora gallery Mana Wynwood Miami FL 2021

• Summer showcase Agora gallery 2019

https://www.chinemeremomeh.com/

Reclaimed Wood by Richard Herklotz Opens at Smyrna Public Library Display Gallery

The March/April 2023 Display Gallery exhibit has opened – Reclaimed Wood by Richard Herklotz.  Mr. Omeh’s 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

Paper Arts Workshop Series

Smyrna Public Library is offering an adult paper arts course taught by the staff of the Robert Williams Museum of Papermaking.

Thank You, Mayor Derek Norton

Special thanks to Derek Norton - Mayor, City of Smyrna for hosting a special story time at Smyrna Library on Thursday. The Mayor's Book Club promotes literacy and civic engagement among our young people. After a story, Mayor Norton and the kids built a Tiny Town! If you would like to add to Tiny Town visit Smyrna Library this weekend.

Mixed Media Art Workshop Hosted at Smyrna Public Library

Smyrna Library hosted a free mixed media art workshop on Friday, February 10, in celebration of Valentine's Day. 

The combined technique of paint and embroidery on canvas was developed and presented by Smyrna Library patron, Bihter Guler. 

Thank you, Bihter, for a fabulous workshop!

Thank You, Nicholas Wallingford Chapter of the Colonial Dames XVII Century

New genealogy books are on the way! Representatives from the Nicholas Wallingford Chapter of the Colonial Dames XVII Century stopped by the library to drop off a donation today. The funds will be used to purchase books about the history of heraldry.

Friends of Smyrna Library Spring Book Sale Announced

SAVE THE DATES!!! Join us for our Annual Spring Book Sale!

We will have a large selection of Hardbacks, Paperbacks, Books on CD, Puzzles, Movie DVDs for Adults, Teens, and Kids priced from $1 to $5.

Check our Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter feeds for more info leading up to the sale as we organize and price everything.

Proceeds will benefit the 2023 Summer Reading Program.

Cash, Check, Venmo, and PayPal are accepted for payment.

Smyrna Public Library Downstairs Meeting Room

FRI May 19

10:30 am - 4 pm

SAT May 20

10:30 am - to 4 pm

SUN May 21

1 pm - 4 pm

Volunteer Sign-Up https://www.signupgenius.com/go/4090e4dacad2aa0fc1-2023#/