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Throwback Thursday Valentines
Love! It's timeless. jocohistory.org wants to be your Valentine. Discover and fall in love with Johnson County, Kansas history! Follow our hashtag on Twitter.
Now Showing at Lackman: Ken Dela
Currently the Art Director at The Culture House in Olathe, KS, Ken Dela’s main passion, aside from his own art, is mentoring young artists. He experiments with different media and is stylistically versatile. Whether it’s street art or more detailed portrait work, Dela says, “I am always learning and am forever a student. I feel that the minute you stop learning is the minute you stop growing and improving, not just in your craft, but also in your life.” Dela's work will be on display at the Lackman Library through April 21.
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Introduce yourself and describe your work and the genre you work in.
I am a Kansas City Freelance Artist and also the Art Director at The Culture House in Olathe, Kansas where I love to mentor young artists and watch them grow. When I'm not mentoring our youth, I'm a freelance artist who enjoys seeing what combination of mediums he can put together. My goal in art is to share my vision with the world. I enjoy experimenting with different mediums while using a lot of stencils and shaker cans. I am very versatile with what I can do, that’s what keeps things interesting, anywhere from a street art style to more detailed portrait style work.
Talk about the work on view. What would you like people to know about it?
Currently, I am working on a series of paintings which are inspired by quotes, sayings, feelings or advice. With our world today so hectic, crazy, busy and bullyish, I use bright contrasting colors with lines and patterns. I am always hoping to capture the attention of someone racing by; encouraging them to slow down, even if it’s just for a second. I feel if I can touch just one person with one of my paintings, then the painting was successful
What’s the most challenging thing about your creative process?
I am always learning and am a forever student. I feel that the minute you stop learning is the minute you stop growing and improving, not just in your craft, but also in your life. The challenge is too not fall into the trap of complacency but to continue pushing yourself, even on the days you don't want to.
Who are the other artists you look to for inspiration?
I have always been inspired by those who pushed the envelope a bit or figured out how to stand out in the crowd. Some of my influences are Andy Warhol for his ability to take his art, mass produce it and make it affordable for the masses. Romero Britto, who is based out of Miami, for his ability to bring happiness through the big, bright, bold paintings and Rene Magritte for the way he could create these dream like illusion pieces without them looking too over the top.
Your Gift Makes An Impact
The Johnson County Library Foundation’s mission is to build an endowment for the Library’s collection and secure support for life-long learning programs offered at Johnson County Library.
The Foundation does this by securing and managing donations from individuals, businesses, and foundations to support the Library above and beyond what public funding provides. Special thanks to all of you who have made a donation, participated in a fundraising event, or volunteered! The Foundation counts on the financial and in-kind support of individuals, businesses, and charitable foundations to grow to meet the ever-changing needs in Johnson County.
In 2018, more than 500 individuals, couples, corporations and foundations made a point of making a donation to the Foundation to support the Library's programs. Go here to see the impact your gift has made.
Since its establishment in 1996, the Foundation has supported the Library’s lifelong learning programs including:
- Collection and resource enrichment
- 6 by 6 Ready To Read
- Summer Reading
- Homework Help
- Live online tutoring
- elementia Teen Literary Program
- Black & Veatch MakerSpace
- Civic Engagement
- Joan Berkley Writers Fund
Thank you for your continued support. Your gift has the power to change lives!
Central Resource Library's READ Poster Winner
Each of our locations draws a name from the pool of kids who participated in Summer Reading to win a READ poster photoshoot. Here is Central Resource Library's winner!
Central Resource Library hosts many of our Library systems larger events, such as Career and Finance programs, Genealogy events, movie screenings and more »
Music Monday Featured Local Artist
Amy Marcus's music is based in classic roots and folk. While she only recently released her first collection of songs, Marcus has been writing music since the age of four. Marcus, who is also a photographer and mother of three children, uses music as a means to tell her own stories, and the songs on Brave are rich with their own snapshots of life and hard lessons. We are excited to share an interview with Amy Marcus about her new music and creative process, along with her book recommendations.
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A Library for Lovers
Atabong and Dada, February is a month about LOVE!!! And, the Library is for lovers.
Wait! Before reading the rest of this post, let’s set the mood with some silky-smooth jazz from our Naxos Music Library. Now, please, continue reading.
Don't forget that Valentine's Day is right around the corner. It's a celebration of love. It’s recognizing and appreciating all the hard work that goes into achieving and maintaining a successful relationship. You love each other. You are committed to each other. Attraction? Oh yeah! Yet, that’s not enough is it? Some say you’ve got to work at a relationship. Why? Because you have to love each other enough to get past those moments you don’t like each other!
That’s where we come in. Your Library Card can be more powerful than a box of chocolates and definitely better than a Dear John letter.
Our idea of a good date? Believe it or not, a Librarian is better than eHarmony. True! Trust us, the Library has what you need to create a summer of love:
- Do your research. There’s some good stuff in those steamy romance novels. Get some “informal” learning with eBooks and eAudiobooks from Axis 360.
- Get “scentual.” No, we didn’t misspell “sensual.” We’re talkin’ aromatherapy! Learn olfactory optimization with a Universal Class.
- Greet your partner with “Je t'aime,” “Te amo,” “Abdi bogoh ka anjeun” and a kiss! Where did you get so worldly? That’s right, Mango Languages.
- If they don’t get the hint, look for inspiration together from magazines like Cosmopolitan with eMagazines from RBdigital.
- In the end, entertainment. Stream independent films, shorts and documentaries from around the world. IndieFlix and chill.
Good luck! ;)
Lenexa City Center
The new Lenexa City Center Library is taking shape! Interior and exterior work progresses. When it opens in the second quarter of 2019, the two-story Lenexa City Center Library will house a collection slightly larger than the current Lackman Library.
The Lenexa City Center Library features two entrances – the Lenexa Commons (Garage level) providing easy paths to the Civic Plaza, Lenexa Recreation Center and City Hall; and the Lower Commons (Market level) entrance right across from the Public Market.
Features will include:
- Convenient Holds area right inside the Garage level entrance – patrons can also choose to pick up their holds during “extended holds hours”
- A drive-thru service point in the adjacent parking garage for convenient holds pick-up and material drop-off
- Kids’ area on the Garage level, with convenient access from the adjacent parking garage
- Adults and Teens sections on Market level, featuring a cultural commons area, tech bar, and public art
- Study and conference rooms in a variety of sizes
In collaboration with Holzman Moss Bottino Architecture, Hollis + Miller Architects designed the roughly 40,000 sq. ft. facility to seamlessly fit into the Lenexa City Center plaza and public market while still providing a distinct image for Johnson County Library.
The exterior of the Library will feature textured walls with deep stone ledges that will engage patrons and the community by allowing for seating within the public plaza. The large roof is designed with an overhang that caps the building – to not only provide shade but also visual prominence. Limestone terrace seating will also be built into the exterior landscaping.
For updates on the progress of Lenexa City Center Library, visit jocolibrary.org/lenexa.
Ad Astra per Aspera!
Ad astra per aspera is a Latin phrase meaning "through hardships to the stars." It's on our state flag and, perhaps, a feeling deeply ingrained in each of us who call Kansas home. January 29 is when we celebrate Kansas Day each year. Today commemorates our state's admission into the Union in 1861. Originally it was Native American land, then a territory created by the Kansas-Nebraska Act and finally statehood. Kansas has surely seen hardships. Perhaps it is the optimism and aspiration to rise above during tough times that makes us unique as Kansans. On this day, we salute our state and all who chose a home on the range.
Projecting Some Laziness Into Your Music Monday
Lazy Projector's lead singer and songwriter Aaron Shinn describes the band's music as indie rock "with an affinity for folk." While listeners may find their tunes more danceable and hooky than folk-based, Shinn's description isn't too far off the map. After all, the songs for the band's upcoming debut album evoco began as "acoustic-based folk songs". Descriptors aside, Lazy Projector small handful of recent singles point toward an album that promises to be your higher caliber indie pop.