ADULT PROGRAMS 

Reported by Allie Turrill

Librarian, SouthShore Library

Below is a short article about the No Fuss Foods: Creative Tacos Cooking Program we had on Friday, January 20th.

Twenty-three visitors to the SouthShore Regional Library were treated to a cooking demonstration by Rowena Sjovall. She made samples of delicious tacos created with fresh vegetables. Rowena is passionate about cooking, developing recipes and creating meals that are budget friendly and easy to make.

Kathy Collins, Arts & Entertainment Editor of the Osprey Observer attended the cooking class and said she will be writing an article about the program in an upcoming edition.

Registration our February cooking class with Rowena will feature Chinese foo0. The class is already full. Everyone left the cooking demonstration with a recipe and a taste of something special. 

Special thanks to the Friends of the SouthShore Regional Library for funding this delicious program. Below is a photo of the class of tasty taco creations!

Also in January 2012, we had 56 people attend the Ben Franklin: Bigger Than the Legend program that was held last Friday. Everyone had a great time listening to Dr. Rich Davis, as he portrayed Ben Franklin and shared history and stories about Franklin's life and achievements.

Below is from Laurie Burhop, Art Coordinator at the SouthShore Regional Library, Art Programs in February 2011

I just wanted to share some of the art programs we did this February. We offered six adult classes; Finding Your Zen Through Painting, Drawing, Glazing Pots With Lids (heart shaped photos of some of the student's finished work is shown above) and Glazing Chinese Tea Cups.

There were four teen classes offered; drawing and three Mural Classes.

There were three children's art classes in February.  We learned about the artist Picasso and the students did some cubism drawings. Their was a  picture in the Observer that Roz (thank you!) took; and I hung a display of the some of the student's work by the studio.

The ceramic classes were a huge success and I will offer them again either in the summer or fall.  I really received some nice feedback from the students.  The instructor Stephanie Grimes did a great job.  She spent a good deal of her own time firing the clay at her home. I have enough clay left that I can offer two more classes and I will just need to purchase a little more glaze.

I have been heavier on the adult classes in the winter and spring, because so many of the snowbirds are here.  I lighten the adult load in the summer and increase the children's classes in the summer since they are out of school.

As always I want to thank the Friends of SouthShore Regional Library for their continued support for the John Crawford Studio's art programs.  I really do appreciate it!                         Laurie Burhop, Art Coordinator 

Laurie Burhop, Art Coordinator, Library Services

Art, January 2011 I want to share some pictures on one of the "Chinese Tea Cup" class we held in January. Students constructed their tea cups and then Stephanie Grimes, the instructor, will fire them at her home. At the end of February, the students will come back for a second class to glaze their teacups. They will then re-fired in the kiln. The three classes that we offered (Building With Lids, Corded Pot and Chinese Tea Cups) were well attended, but I am also happy to report that a lot of the people who took these classes were “new faces” in the Art Studio.

I am finding that by offering many different types of art classes, for all ages, we are seeing a new group of people in addition to our "regulars."  I also have some clay left over so I am thinking that over the summer I will offer two more classes of Ceramics.

In January, we had 90 adults and 42 children attend. There will be more children art programs in February and March. We also had 48 people at our January Opening Art Reception. There are many great artists in SouthShore.

Next week we will start our Teen Mural classes for the Ruskin Library. We have good numbers on our teen sign up sheet. I had Michael Parker (the instructor) come to a Teen Advisory Board meeting to talk to the teens about the project.  I have contacted the art teachers at Lennard HS and East Bay HS. Michael has a great rapport with the kids.  I hope that this project will generate good teen interest. 

"Zen Painting" Adult Classes continue in February. There is also an Adult/Teen Drawing class. I will be teaching all the children's art classes in February (Children's WEE, Creative and Expressive classes) as I did in January. I enjoy teaching and it is a way to stretch the dollars!

As always, I appreciate the generosity of the Friends of the Library for the John Crawford Studio. Thanks so much!

Adult Ceramics Class Below

Seniors Having Fun:

Below, Bill Harris from the library staff works with John Donnelly from Sun City Center. John is 103 years old, but still active in table tennis and ball room dancing. He is an inspiration to all of us "couch potatoes".