Frederick County Public Libraries, specifically Urbana and Thurmont Regional Libraries, have formed a partnership with the Delaplaine Visual Arts Education Center to bring the work of local artists into the libraries. Libraries have always provided a place for the community to come together to have access to experiences, and this is a wonderful opportunity for the artists to exhibit their creative work and for our patrons to enhance their library experience.
Virginia Rose Kane of the Delaplaine coordinates with the artists to display their work for a three-month show. Alexandra Zealand, a sculptor who coincidentally works as a social media coordinator at Arlington Public Library, is currently showing her film sculptures in the atrium of the Urbana Library. Using 16 mm film, Zealand creates intricate, unusual and flowing hanging sculptures that throw a lovely shadow when they catch the light. If you haven’t yet seen her work, the show will continue through the rest of the month.
And speaking of February, what better way for kids to celebrate the romance of Valentine’s Day than to dance with their favorite loved ones at the Bring the One You Love Dance. Come dressed to the nines on Feb. 11 at 1 p.m., and be sure to wear your dancing shoes! (Kids ages 3 and up need to be accompanied by an adult). Teens can make and take their own Valentine Jewelry on Feb. 13 at 6 p.m. Supplies are provided, but feel free to bring beads from home if you prefer.
If you enjoyed the PBS series based on the book “A Natural History of the Senses,” you have the opportunity to hear the author, Diane Ackerman speak on Feb. 5 at 2 p.m. at the Weinberg Center for the Arts. Ackerman, an award-winning essayist, naturalist and poet, comes to this area as part of the Frederick Reads program and through the generosity of the C. Burr Artz Trust and the Weinberg Center for the Arts. This is a free event, and no tickets are required.
For more information about the library or any of these programs, please call the library at 301.600.7000 or online at www.fcpl.org.
Editor’s Note: Amy Whitney is director of the Urbana Regional Library. She can be reached at AWhitney@FrederickCountyMD.gov or 301.600.7012.