Take the Edible Book Challenge at Oshkosh Public Library

Books that are good enough to eat will be on the menu at the Oshkosh Public Library’s second annual Edible Book Challenge, Sat., May 19, from noon to 4 p.m. in the library’s lower level meeting room.

The library is currently accepting entries from individuals, families, school or community groups, book clubs - anyone who loves reading and has a flair for the creative can enter this contest that’s a quirky meeting of the literary and the culinary.

The concept is simple: make a representation of a book entirely out of edible ingredients. Contest entries can look like a book, be inspired by a book or even be a pun based on a book title. It could be something elaborate and artistic, such as a cake that looks like the cover of your favorite

Dr. Seuss book. Or it might be as simple and clever as a round loaf of bread with that classic tomato condiment for Ketchup in the Rye.

On Sat., May 19, a group of celebrity judges will choose winners in several categories:

Best Individual Entry

Best Family/Group Entry

Best Pun

People’s Choice (the public will vote during the event)

Entries will be displayed in the library’s lower level meeting room from noon to 4 p.m. during the May 19 event. The public can vote for the People’s Choice Award from noon to 3 p.m. Although they must be edible, entries are for display only and will not be served to the public. Winners will be awarded prizes.

Contest entry forms are due May 17 and are available at the library or at www.oshkoshpubliclibrary.org. For those who need a bit of inspiration, the OPL web site includes photos of 2011 contest entries. For more information visit the web site or call 236-5205.

Oshkosh Public Library presents: The Many Faces of George Washington

The Oshkosh Public Library is proud to present a national traveling exhibition and series of special events that examines the life of George Washington – as a farmer, a general, a visionary entrepreneur and our nation’s first president. The Many Faces of George Washington will be on display March 26-May 7, under the Dome at the library.

The road from Mount Vernon to Oshkosh was paved by Anne Neal Petri, Vice Regent for Wisconsin with the Mount Vernon Ladies’ Association and wife of Congressman Tom Petri. She approached the library in late 2011 to discuss staging the exhibit’s first Wisconsin visit in Oshkosh. Mrs. Petri has a true passion for sharing Washington’s story and showcasing the character and leadership he embodied.

“Washington was our first national hero and his leadership was once our nation’s greatest resource,” she explains. “He should be relevant to each new generation because his most prominent character traits – strong moral values, undaunted courage, solid and consistent judgment, unabashed patriotism and his complete commitment to what was best for his country – never go out of style.”

The Many Faces of George Washington is a large panel display that depicts different aspects of Washington’s life through colorful graphics and photographs. The exhibit goes beyond common knowledge and delves deeper into the experiences, insights and spirit that make Washington such an enduring figure in our nation’s history. The exhibit was produced by the Mount Vernon Ladies’ Association, in conjunction with the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History.

An opening reception for the exhibit will be held on Sunday, March 25, from 2 to 4 p.m. under the Dome at the Oshkosh Public Library. Special guests will include U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson, Congressman and Mrs. Petri, along with state and local leaders. The Friends of the Oshkosh Public Library will provide refreshments. Music and other surprises will add to the colonial flavor of the event. The public is welcome.

As an institution that values preserving and sharing history, the library was honored to be selected as the site for the Washington exhibit.

“We all learned about Washington as children, but when you study his life in more detail, the significant contributions he made during the early days of the republic and as our country’s first president are phenomenal,” says Janice Dibble, the library’s Head of Reference & Adult Services. “It is very exciting to be chosen to share this exhibit with the community.”

To enhance the exhibit experience for visitors, several esteemed scholars, authors and presenters will offer fascinating perspectives on Washington’s life in a series of special programs. In addition, a week of children’s programs will bring colonial times to life for young visitors.

Mon., April 2, 4:30 p.m.

George Washington: A Great and Good Man

Dr. John Kaminski, director, The Center for the Study of the American Constitution, UW-Madison

George Washington was the glue that held the fragile, young American republic together, both in war and peace. He was also viewed as a good man who could be completely trusted in the leadership roles in which he served.

Tues., April 3, 7 p.m.

Stand Up and be Counted: The Federal Census from 1790 to 1940

Mara Munroe, Reference and Genealogy Librarian, Oshkosh Public Library

Learn the expanded uses of the census for genealogy and explore ways to find your ancestors through various indexing tools – just one day after the much-anticipated release of names and personal data of the 1940 census.

Wed., April 11, 6 p.m.  

Movie Night: The Crossing. Starring Jeff Daniels as General George Washington.

Thurs., April 12, 7 p.m.

What Was Washington Thinking? A Brief Tour of Washington's Mind from the French

and Indian War to his Retirement from the Presidency

Dr. Gabriel Loiacono, Assistant Professor of History, UW-Oshkosh

Trace the evolution of Washington’s mind - his concerns, hopes, and ideals - from his youth as an exceptionally tall and lucky young soldier, to his old age as the widely respected first President of the United States. 

Wed., April 18, 7 p.m.

Author visit: Carla Killough McClafferty, The Many Faces of George Washington: Remaking a Presidential Icon.

Award-winning author McClafferty followed a team of historians and artists, who used everything from photos to 3-D skeletal models, to create three life-size statues of Washington as a young surveyor, the famous general and as the first president. Apple Blossom Books LLC will have the author’s books available for sale and signing at the event.

Sun., April 29, 2 p.m.

Mount Vernon Ladies’ Association: 150 Years of Restoring George Washington’s Home
Anne Neal Petri, Vice Regent-Wisconsin, Mount Vernon Ladies’ Association, offers the compelling story of the rescue and preservation of George Washington’s home by the vibrant organization of women that gave birth to America’s historic preservation movement.

April 9-13

Spring Break “Colonial Style”

Children’s programs at 2 p.m. daily bring Washington’s story to life. Dance the minuet, experience money mania, learn about Farmer George (with live animals) and try colonial crafts.

In addition to events at the Oshkosh Public Library, the Paine Art Center and Gardens will present colonial-themed family programs on March 24 and 31. Visit www.thepaine.org for information. For complete information about the George Washington exhibit and related events, visit http://www.oshkoshpubliclibrary.org/.

Accomplished Wisconsin poet at Oshkosh Public Library for workshop, reading

Ordinary prose will give way to a day of poetry on Tues., Feb. 28, when the Oshkosh Public Library welcomes Wisconsin Poet Laureate, Bruce Dethlefsen, for a special workshop and evening poetry reading.

Local poets and the general public are invited to a reading by Dethlefsen, an award-winning poet, at 6:30 p.m., in the library’s lower level meeting room. An open mic session will follow the reading, offering local writers the opportunity to share their work.

“Poetry readings allow us to celebrate the music of the spoken word, give us pause to reflect, and help us pay creative attention to our lives and our loves,” Dethlefsen says.

He explains the continuing appeal of poetry. “Poets pay attention and ask not only the big questions but help us understand the little celebrations in our lives,” he says. “Poetry, much like music, is artistic expression and it's the arts that make us human.”

Dethlefsen has published two poetry chap books and Breather (Fireweed Press, 2009), a full-length poetry book which received an Outstanding Achievement Award in Poetry from the Wisconsin Library Association. He was nominated for the Pushcart Prize, the prestigious small-press literary award, in 2003 and 2009. His latest book is Unexpected Shiny Things, released in fall 2011 from Cowfeather Press.

Dethlefsen’s poetry has been featured on Garrison Keillor’s "The Writer’s Almanac" and "Your Daily Poem." A retired educator and public library director, he lives in Westfield, WI.

Earlier in the day on Feb. 28, Dethlefsen will conduct a poetry workshop at the library. The workshop is full, but names are being taken for a waiting list at 236-5205. During the workshop, Dethlefsen will lead a conversation about a variety of poems, discuss what makes a good poem and conduct hands-on exercises.

The position of poet laureate was created by Gov. Tommy Thompson in 2000 and is selected based on the recommendation of the Poet Laureate Commission of Wisconsin. The Wisconsin Poet Laureate acts as a statewide emissary for poetry and creativity. The position has been supported by the Wisconsin Academy of Letters, Arts and Science since May 2011, when state support was discontinued.

“We’re lucky in Wisconsin to have a poet laureate, an ambassador for the arts, someone to give people, young and old, permission to be artists and to express themselves,” Dethlefsen says.

Since being appointed by Gov. Jim Doyle in 2010, Dethlefsen has worked to encourage and support local cultural and creative talent by organizing local poetry readings in public libraries, schools and coffee houses throughout the state.

The Feb. 28 event is co-sponsored by the Oshkosh Public Library and the Apple Blossom Poetry Group. Apple Blossom Poets meet the fourth Tuesday of each month at Apple Blossom Books, 200 City Center.

For more information about this event or other library programs and activities, call 236-5205 or visit www.oshkoshpubliclibrary.org.

Celebrate Dr. Seuss’s birthday at Oshkosh Public Library

Calling all Plain-Belly Sneetches and Brown Bar-ba-loots! It’s time to celebrate Dr. Seuss’s birthday at the Oshkosh Public Library.

On Sat., March 3, families are invited to Dr. Seuss's Birthday Open House & Film Festival from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the library’s lower level. This fun-filled day will include Dr. Seuss films, birthday cake, a book zoo, prizes, a giant birthday card to sign and plenty of songs.

“We’ve got a day of fun planned to honor one of our most beloved children’s authors,” explains Valerie Mattair, Head of Children’s & Family Outreach Services. “Children and parents alike have fond memories of learning to read with Dr. Seuss so this is an event that the whole family can enjoy.”

Children are invited to visit the “book zoo,” – an area with plenty of cozy cushions and favorite

Dr. Seuss books. Those who stay long enough to read a book (or have one read to them) will receive a small Cat in the Hat plush toy. Throughout the day, activities will come to a halt for a rousing chorus of “Happy Birthday” for Dr. Seuss. Each child receives a bookmark and can enter the drawing to win a copy of the book The Cat in the Hat Knows a Lot about That: I Love the Nightlife!

The work of Theodore Seuss Geisel, better known to millions as Dr. Seuss, includes many familiar titles such as Green Eggs and Ham, The Cat in the Hat and How the Grinch Stole Christmas. He is widely regarded as one of the most influential children’s writers of all time. His sing-song rhymes and seemingly silly creatures draw young readers into engaging stories that teach basic reading skills in a way that is fun.

Families are invited to “celebrate Seuss” all year long by visiting the Oshkosh Public Library and checking out some titles from the library’s impressive Dr. Seuss collection. Besides traditional books, the library has Spanish-language versions, Dr. Seuss books on CD, downloadable audio books, read-along book-and-CD sets and DVDs.

Registration is not required for the Dr. Seuss birthday celebration. For more information about resources, programs and events for children and families, call 236-5208 or visit www.oshkoshpubliclibrary.org.

Local artists share Views from the Petrified Forest at Oshkosh Public Library

Feb. 20, 2012 – Two weeks in the Petrified Forest has left its mark on local photographer Erv Schroeder and Oshkosh artist Jill Thurk. The pair will share a taste of their adventure in this land of scenic wonders on Sat., Feb. 25, at the Oshkosh Public Library.

The program, Views from the Petrified Forest, begins at 1 p.m. in the library’s lower level meeting room. Thurk and Schroeder will share some of the work inspired during their time as artists in residence at Petrified Forest National Park in July of 2011. They also will present a slide show including stunning images and art from their time in the park.

Thurk and Schroeder had driven through the park previously, but the residency afforded the pair the opportunity to take their park experience to another level. “We could just strike out on our own – it was fantastic,” Schroeder said. “There’s so much to see. It’s like three parks in one.”

Thurk and Schroeder were at the park during the rainy season and he described the way the clouds would amass in the afternoons in advance of spectacular thunderstorms. At night, the sky was amazingly clear. “The Milky Way was unbelievable,” Schroeder said.

Schroeder has a BFA in photography from the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh and an MFA in photography from the Rochester Institute of Technology. While he has not made a career of photography, it obviously is a passion for him. His black and white photos from the residency continue a body of work about stones, which he began in 1995.

“Stones held an attraction for me. They bear witness to the primordial forces of the Earth,” he explains. “In my photographs, I try to capture the feelings experienced while in these timeless places of nature's power.”

Thurk has an MA in art education and teaches art at St. John Neumann Middle School in Oshkosh. She took hundreds of photographs during the residency and worked with several media, including pencil, pastel and watercolors. She was amazed at the beauty and range of colors in the petrified wood, and marveled at the way the shifting clouds altered light and changed the colors of the landscape in a matter of moments.

“In my work I show the beauty and harmony I find in nature, and strive to evoke in others the same feelings that moved me to create the work,” Thurk explains. “My drawings are a visual record of my residency at the park. I want it to show the peace and solitude, as well as the celebration of color and light that this magnificent park offers.”

Thurk lauded park staff as welcoming and helpful. She and Schroeder even had the opportunity to visit a dig where scientists unearthed a newly discovered Metoposaur fossil. “It was so magical to be in the middle of the Painted Desert and see the skull of this creature as the layers of time were being dusted away from its enormous skull,” she says.

Both Schroeder and Thurk say they would participate in another park residency. “You wouldn’t have to ask me twice,” Schroeder says. Thurk adds, “It has been a joy to share this experience with my students at St. John Neumann.”

For links to some of Schroeder’s work and more about Views from the Petrified Forest and other library events, visit www.oshkoshpubliclibrary.org. More information is also available at 236-5205.