MCMA Library Events in May

First Friday Art Walk May 7th will feature Annie Finch reading from her poetry from 5-8pm.

Julie Langella's "CAT POWERS" exhibit of cats in chalk and photo will continue during May in the library.

Thursday May 13th Noon Time Book Talk, Nancy Pizzo Boucher will give a reading with discussion from her book "Getting My Night Vision". She will share her personal and poignant notes, essays and poetry about raising a child with a mental disorder. Bring your lunch, refreshments will be available.

MCMA member Ken Thompson, historian and local author has donated four of his books to the Mechanics' library.

- Portland Headlight and Fort Williams

- Civil War Commodores and Admirals

- Deceive to Win-The Maine-New Hampshire Border Controversy

- Civil War Maine Hall of Fame

APRIL EVENTS UPDATE,PORTLAND LIBRARY OPENING,MONDAY LECTURE AND POETRY READING

Thursday April 15th(tax day) the Portland Public library will be holding their grand opening after all of the rework that has been going on inside. I think people will be pleased with the exhibit of the MCMA inside the Portland room that will be on display for around 6 months, Librarian and archiver Abraham Schechter has done a wonderful job putting this display together and I hope you take the time to see it and the great improvements in the building. The watering girl will have a much deserved spot to greet people in the entrance from Market Square. Monday, April 19, the last lecture of the spring will be Portland photographer Doug Bruns. Photo journal stories and photo documentary from Portland and around the world. Doug will tell us"how to get a good photo and what does it take to get a good picture". It should be very interesting and different from past travel lectures. April is National poetry month and the library is fortunate to have Portland's Poet Laureate Steve Luttrell give a reading from his latest book"Home Movies". On Thursday April 22nd at noon, refreshments will be served ,bring your own lunch.

April events,MCMA Quarterly meeting,First Friday, and the next lecture

Thursday April 1st(no fooling) MCMA Quarterly meeting at 9:00 am in the Mechanic's hall Library. April 2nd is our First Friday artist in the library-"Julie's Cat Powers"-Cats in Chalk. April 5th brings our 7th lecture of the series "Barbados;Island in the Sun"by Steve Gonser, who last year showed us around the Caribbean.Barbados was under British rule uninterrupted for 340 years until its independence in 1966. Endless white beaches and a rich West Indian tradition . More info on the lecture can be found on the MCMA web site. Also Monday evening will be the first showing of Mahala Bishop's book talk interview with Lesley Mac Vane at 7:00 pm on channel 5, if you miss it by going to the lecture, the interview will air later also, I will try and list the times when I find out.The Exhibit of the MCMA in the Portland Room of the Public Library is on going and hopefully will open in

Thursday April 15th.

March news updates and Lecture

Mahala Bishop's "Book Talk" was well attended with about 24 interested Library patrons, Polly(Mahala Bishop) and her companion and friend Pascal(a friendly and well behaved yellow lab), she answered questions about Bipolar Disorder and gave us her personal insight to this disorder.It was filmed and recorded by Leslie MacVane and crew from across the street for Channel 5 public broadcasting.Leslie said that it would air on April 5 at 7:00 and will also air many other time but not sure of the schedule as of now.The picture is of Lesley's interview with Polly.Monday March 22,2010 is the MCMA lecture "Natural Wonders of the Northeast Coast" at 7:30 in the McAuley high school auditorium,a description of the lecture below.Hope to see you there,the last lecture about Iran today was very interesting and one not to have missed, but the video should be in the Mechanics' Library. I am posting some pictures of the book talk on our web site.

When you think of the Northeast Coast, you usually think of big cities and crowded beaches, but there are many ‘Natural Wonders” to explore. John returns to take us on a 1500 mile adventure, beginning in busy Virginia Beach and ending at the Maine/Canadian border. Along the way we observe many animals, birds, and endangered species. We also will be experiencing Kayaking, sailing, aerial tours, lobstering,crabbing and over 30 lighthouses. This will be a true adventure for all ! We also have a chance to welcome to Maine Jodie Ginter,co-producer of John Holod Productions

March 8,2010, first spring travel lecture-"Inside IRAN Today" and other events

Book Talk Lunch Break with MCMA member Mahala B Bishop,Thurs. March 11,@noon,Mahala will discuss her book"Sunshine & Shadows,my battle with bipolar disorder". Bring your lunch, Drinks and dessert provided.FMI you can call Pat during library hours@773-8396,snow date will be Thursday March 18,2010'

First Friday artist on March 5th will be -Jill Cournoyer, showing her Water Impressions and Photography.

Some more info on the Paintings of Stacy Tolman that hang in the stairwells, and a big thanks to Maureen O'Brien from the Museum of Art in Rhode Island who responded to our inquiry.

The two murals by Stacy Tolman were, interestingly, based on work by two other artists. His patron must have requested these to set the tone for his dance studio.

The first is a version of a painting by the 19th century Spanish painter Palmaroli, the second by the American painter Toby Rosenthal who studied in Munich. Both seem to represent dancing "in olden times" -- a type of nostalgic realist subject that was very popular in the 19th century, even though it depicts earlier eras.

I am attaching jpegs of the "sources" that Tolman copied.

Maureen C. O'Brien

Curator of Painting and Sculpture

Museum of Art, Rhode Island School of Design

Providence, RI 02903

Work continues on the exhibit in the Portland room of the Portland Public library featuring the history of the MCMA.Abraham hopes to have it done in time for the library opening in the second week of April.

FEBRUARY NEWS IN THE MECHANICS LIBRARY

First Friday February 5th Crystal Erickson will be exhibiting her Photography between 5::00-8:00 pm in the Mechanics Hall Library and during Library hrs. the rest of the month.We have been researching artist Stacy Tolman(1860-1935) who painted two large mural(5'x8') that are now hanging in the stairwell leading up to the library on the second floor and Studio 1 photography on the third floor.We believe that they used to decorate the walls of the third floor Ballroom, beginning with Melvin B. Gilbert's Dance Academy in 1890.Gilbert also has a painting that stills hangs on the wall in Studio 1,the former ballroom which is dated 1892.The Tolman paintings probably also date from this era and has not been confirmed yet.Information that has been found on these two artists can be found in our library.We are gathering pictures and artifacts to embellish the Portland Room's collection for an exhibit on our Mechanics Hall in the Portland Public library.It should be ready by April1st in time for reopening of the remodeling work that is now going on phase one.Stop by and see Pat and check out the latest news and books in the library and maybe a cookie.

The picture on the left is looking east on Congress St. at Mechanics Hall ca.1878 and the one on the right is ca. 1872

MCMA QUARTERLY MEETING OF THE ASSOCIATION

A quarterly meeting of the Association will be held in the library at 9:00 am on January 7,2010.

Member and library patron, Nancy Noble has written a great article in the Portland Monthly magazine-"Secret Gardens-Visit hidden enclaves where reading is sexy".some extra pictures that do not appear in the magazine can be viewed in the Portland Magazine web site-http://www.portlandmonthly.com/portmag/2009/11/december-2009/