Special Projects

Americana Showcase: March 7 - May 16, 2010  Showtimes at 7:30 p.m.
Tickets: $20

With Exhibits Development Group, The Friends is proud to be a sponsor of:

Americana Showcase Next up, May 16:  Allison Scott and Kevin Bowe,
Daniel Ferraro, Aaron Wessel
Darren Jackson of Kid Dakota and The Hopefuls
Brandon Sampson,
and the one and only Adam Levy !

Join us in celebrating the "America the Beautiful" exhibition in Saint Paul with an extraordinary 'Made in Minnesota' music series. PLEASE NOTE: THE PHOTO EXHIBIT IS NOW CLOSED, BUT THE CONCERTS WILL CONTINUE THROUGH MAY 16.

This innovative concert series is a unique celebration of American heritage, combining the extraordinary photographic exhibition America the Beautiful: The Monumental Landscape of Clyde Butcher with Americana Showcase, a Southern Minnesota-based music series that honors the rich musical heritage of the American Midwest. Americana Showcase sponsorsThe celebration includes a series of five music concerts performed in the reading room of the historic James J. Hill Reference Library amidst 37 of Butcher's epic photographic images echoing his love of the American landscape. Concerts will be held through May 16, and will include performances by singers and songwriters from across the Midwest. For more information on the music series and performers, please visit: www.americanashowcase.com.  For tickets, visit EDG.

America the Beautiful: The Monumental Landscape of Clyde Butcher
January 28 through April 15, 2010

Mariposa GroveIn a pioneering project among neighbors, The Saint Paul Public Library and James J. Hill Reference Library, with the Metropolitan Library Service Agency (MELSA) and The Friends of the Saint Paul Public Library, present the extraordinary black and white photographs of the acclaimed photographer Clyde Butcher for an exhibit in both libraries - America the Beautiful: The Monumental Landscape of Clyde Butcher, organized by Exhibits Development Group (EDG). The exhibit opens January 28, 2010.

Clyde Butcher's photographs celebrate the beauty of the American landscape. Their monumental scale and extraordinary clarity set them apart as exceptional works of art. Butcher composes his works at pristine and untarnished locations across the United States, creating arresting compositions that distinctly mark him as the foremost landscape photographer in America today.

America the Beautiful will consist of 50 large-scale black and white photographs of the American landscape, spanning beautiful sites across the United States, from the coast of Maine, to the Badlands, to Hawaii. The beauty of Butcher's photographs is further emphasized by the epic size of his works. The exceptional size of his compositions - the largest being 5 by 9 feet - allows viewers to experience the beauty of the site from an almost first-hand perspective. The photographs in this exhibition majestically capture the great public lands of the United States which Butcher, an avid conservationist, aims to preserve through his art.

The exhibition will open at the James J. Hill and St. Paul Central Libraries, downtown Saint Paul, on January 28, 2010 and run through April 15, 2010. For details about the exhibit hours and related programming around the Twin Cities metropolitan area, click here.

The exhibit and associated programming is funded in part with money from the vote of the people of Minnesota on November 4, 2008 which dedicated funding to preserve Minnesota's arts and cultural heritage.

America the Beautiful: The Monumental Landscape of Clyde Butcher was organized by the Muscarelle Museum of Art at the College of William & Mary. For more images, see www.clydebutcher.com.

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Soul of a PeopleSoul of a People: Writing America's Story

Soul of a People: Writing America’s Story is a major documentary television program about the Federal Writers’ Project produced by Spark Media, Washington, D.C., and broadcast on the Smithsonian Channel HD.

In conjunction with the broadcast premier of the documentary and in celebration of the 75th anniversary of the Federal Writers Project, diverse and creative Soul of a People programs in select libraries around the country were presented, sponsored by the American Library Association Public Programs Office with the support of the National Endowment for the Humanities: great ideas brought to life. The Saint Paul Public Library and the Friends of the Saint Paul Public Library were proud to be selected to participate in this prestigious event.

The Saint Paul Public Library's Soul of a People series, comprising several special events and book discussions led by scholars and experts in their fields, was sponsored locally by: The Friends of the Saint Paul Public Library; Central High School Theater Department, Macalester College; Minnesota Historical Society; Saint Agnes Baking Company; and The Saint Paul Public Library.

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Twelve Branches: Stories from St. Paul

It first began as The Friends’ Library Book Project and the result is Twelve Branches: Stories from St. Paul, published by Coffee House Press.

The idea was to write a novel about Saint Paul told by the very people who live here. After a long and careful search, four talented writers were chosen to gather memories and anecdotes from Saint Paulites.

    Twelve Branches Book Cover
    		  
    Nora
    Murphy
    		  

    Josie
    Rawson
    		  

    Julia Klatt
    Singer
    		  

    Diego
    Vázquez
    For six months, the writers—Nora Murphy, Josie Rawson, Julia Klatt Singer and Diego Vázquez—visited each of Saint Paul’s twelve library branches. Folks of all ages were invited to share stories in their library and their experiences in Saint Paul. By the end of the six months, nearly 500 stories or ideas were collected.

    The writers faced the difficult task of sifting through these memories and forming them into stories. Facts blurred into fiction, truths were bent into tales, and soon the writers had a completed book on their hands. The end result is Twelve Branches: Stories from St. Paul—rich, vibrant chapters that capture the spirit of the very different neighborhoods of Saint Paul.

    The Friends hosted an exciting opening reception for the debut of Twelve Branches on April 2 at the Highland Park Branch Library. The four writers read excerpts from the book, and autographed copies for everyone.

    Pictured: Attendees at the launch get their copies of Twelve Branches signed by authors Nora Murphy, Julia Klatt Singer, Josie Rawson and Diego Vázquez, Jr.

Funding for the project was provided by The Friends, Target Foundation, and Anna M. Heilmaier Charitable Foundation. The Pioneer Press provided additional support for the project. For more information on Twelve Branches, or if you’d like to order a copy, please contact The Friends at 651-222-3242.

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F. SCOTT FITZGERALD BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION!

September 24, 2004

In partnership with the Saint Paul Public Library, Friends of Libraries USA, the Minnesota Historical Society Press and the Saint Paul Pioneer Press, The Friends celebrated the 1896 birthday of Saint Paul's most famous literary son, F. Scott Fitzgerald.

The celebrations were marked by:

  • Designation of Fitzgerald's birthplace at 481 Laurel Avenue as an National Literary Landmark
  • Creation of a new Fitzgerald Alcove on the third floor of Central Library
  • Celebratory readings from the Minnesota Historical Society's new book, The Saint Paul Stories of F. Scott Fitzgerald
  • Publication of a small brochure of F. Scott Fitzgerald sites in Saint Paul, and
  • The addition of Fitzgerald reference materials to the Saint Paul Public Library's website (www.sppl.org)

Contact The Friends for more information on these or future Friends-sponsored Fitzgerald events in Saint Paul.

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