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New Exhibit & Events: Westward Bound: African-American Country Music History & Cowboy Lore

Contact: Tess Mayer
Director of Library Services
Berkeley Public Library
510-981-6195
tmayer@berkeleyca.gov 

New Exhibit & Events at Berkeley Public Library:

Westward Bound: African-American Country Music History & Cowboy Lore 
 

Berkeley, California (October 17, 2024) – Come to the Central Library (2090 Kittredge) to view the Westward Bound: African-American Country Music History & Cowboy Lore exhibit, a partnership between curator Vania Kinard, Grammy-award winning musician Dom Flemons, the Library and the Freight & Salvage. The exhibit is on the 5th floor of Central as well as in the historic lobby.

The exhibit includes Western and music memorabilia, photographs of contemporary Black cowboys by Ron Tarver, records of African-American country music singers from the last several decades, and more. 

Curator Kinard notes, “The exhibit is a glimpse into a larger part of American culture that has often been overlooked but has recently gained national attention. I hope visitors will appreciate the variety of items, books, photographs, stories, and additional educational resources throughout the Library.”

A keynote address and reception at the Central library on Saturday, October 26, at 2pm with music historian Mark Montgomery French will include a banjo performance by musician Hannah Mayree of the Black Banjo Reclamation Project.

A curator’s talk with Vania Kinard will be held virtually at 2pm on Saturday, November, 2.

Additional programs that celebrate the culture and contributions of African-Americans in American Western culture will be hosted at the Library from October to December and include musical performances, music history lectures, cowboy crafts for youth, and film screenings.

The Westward Bound exhibit and related Library events culminate in the Deford Bailey Legacy Music Festival held at the Freight & Salvage in mid-December, which honors the first Black Grand Ole Opry performer and harmonica virtuoso. 

 “Two years ago, someone from Freight & Salvage walked into the Library and said essentially, ‘Can we work together to host an exhibit celebrating Black cowboy culture and African-American country music at the Library?’” explains Heather Cummins, Supervising Librarian. “It felt like serendipity to me because I had just been admiring Gabriela Hasbun’s book, The New Black West. I was thrilled with the potential for partnership and to extend the Library’s access to information on a subject that has been marginalized.” 

For questions regarding this program, call Heather Cummins at (510) 981-6124. 

For questions about additional Library events, services, hours and locations, please call (510) 981-6100 or visit the Library’s website www.berkeleypubliclibrary.org.
 

Wheelchair accessible. For questions, to request a sign language interpreter or other accommodations for library events, please call (510) 981-6195 (voice) or (510) 548-1240 (TTY) at least five working days in advance to help ensure availability. Please refrain from wearing scented products to public programs. 

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October Library Happenings

New Library Cards - Designed by Your Neighbors!

"Kindness" was the theme of the Library's recent library card design contest. We received over 60 submissions! Thank you to all the Berkeley patrons who sent in their incredible art and congratulations to the finalists.

Stop by any Berkeley Public Library location and pick out your new card:

drawing of library building with people all aroundContest Winner: Marissa Wu (they)

“I was inspired by the theme of "kindness" to imagine what Berkeley might look like if life was centered around the public library, reflecting the library's values of community care, diversity, and joy. I believe that a society that prioritizes kindness would be a place where multigenerational community can flourish, affordable housing and clean transportation are abundant, and all neighbors take care of each other. Additionally, as public libraries around the country are facing disinvestment, I wanted to depict a world in which the opposite was true, and our public institutions were fully supported and thriving.”

drawing of cat and dog helping each other return a library bookFinalist: Andra Weber 

"I was inspired by all the little kids I see visiting the North Berkeley Library where they flip joyfully through books, play in the atrium, and soak in all the library goodness. I noticed the library didn't have a card design that might appeal to kids. So I created the design to remind children of all ages, that the library is for everyone, kindness can be as simple as helping each other return library books and everyone deserves space to enjoy a good story...even cats and dogs!"
 

drawing of black and white hands touching a globeFinalist: Abigail Mullen 

“I was going through a unit in school where we were learning about the cruelness committed to our First People throughout the United States. I had been thinking about what to submit regarding kindness when I came across an article in my school binder about First People. I wanted to submit an art piece that represented kindness no matter heritage or skin color, global kindness. I have been so inspired by all activists that work so hard to make the world a better place and hope I represented that in my submission. Love and kindness on a global level.”

colorized photo of people sitting outside the library buildingFinalist: Alejandra Martínez

“My inspiration for the mixed media artwork is to show that humanity is kindness. We all come in difference shapes and colors. Displaying unity and kindness in color.”

 



 

Finalist: Ronald Chung

“I decided to communicate the word and meaning of "kindness" by utilizing both symbols and letters.  I settled on my interpretation of the Berkeley Public Library building covered with kindness symbols graffiti and an Aesop quote (emanating from inside the Library).

Ultimately, I imagined the user action of going to the library, selecting a book and then pulling out the library card to check out.  During the check out process, I want the user to be strongly reminded to be kind the rest of the day.”

October Event Highlights

Storytime for Adults flyerSeries: Story Time for Adults

North Berkeley Senior Center
Thursdays

11am

 

center picture of a man handling a snake with a long pole. Other smaller pictures include various reptilesDon't Know Much About... Herpetology

Central
Mon, Oct 7

6pm

 

Photo of author and images of two book coversTeen-Moderated Author Visit: Dashka Slater

North

Tues, Oct 8
6pm

This will be a teen-moderated event, with members of Berkeley High School's Right Writers club interviewing Dashka, author of The 57 Bus and Accountable: The True Story of a Racist Social Media Account and the Teenagers Whose Lives It Changed. Following the discussion,there will be an audience Q+A and book signing. Books will be for sale at the event from Mrs. Dalloway's.

In the Stax Concert Series Continues:


in the stax logoNyree: Singer-Songwriter & CIIS Certified Therapeutic Sound Practitioner
Tarea Hall Pittman South

Thurs, Oct 10
6pm

Jim Carter: Songwriter & long-time M.C. at Freight & Salvage open mics
West

Thurs, Oct 17
6:30pm

Popping the Science Bubble: Cal Scientists Research Talks

Central or via Zoom

Tues, Oct 15
5:30pm


This month's topics: 

  • Light-bending black holes
  • Light-sensitive proteins outside of the eye: can we use them to restore vision? 

SlayerFest '24: A Buffy Event

Tarea Hall Pittman South

Thurs, Oct 17
3:00-7:30pm

The Library's first-ever SlayerFest will have with Buffy-themed crafts and swag, trivia and costume contests with prizes, virtual guest star visits and of course, we'll take Spike's advice... finishing with a big group sing-a-long and getting our kum-ba-yayas you!

Tea Tour & Tasting

Tarea Hall Pittman South

Wed, Oct 16
6pm

Fermenting Veggies

North

Sat, Oct 19
12pm

Kids' Author Talk: Why Does Voting Even Matter?

Central

Sat, Oct 19
12pm

 

Laura and Peter Limata – famous from Storytime with Mr. Limata - will help young readers (3rd-6th graders) understand what voting is and why it’s important. Kids will have a chance to talk about issues they care about, and make a poster to share their ideas.

Local Poet Reading & Discussion: Norma Smith

Claremont
Sat, Oct 19
2pm

 

Smith has lived in the East Bay since 1969. She has worked as a hospital clerk, union shop steward, radio producer, translator-interpreter (Spanish-English), and as a poet/writer and curator in the Bay Area literary community. She will read from her collection, Home Remedy. 

Kids' Author Visit + "Draw Off"

Central
Sat, Oct 26
11:30am

 

Join author-illustrator Rachel Michelle Wilson as she celebrates her debut picture book, How to Pee Your Pants: the Right Way. Following a reading and Q&A, she will challenge picture book creators Bo Lu (Bao's Doll) and Eugenia Yoh (This is Not My Home) to a good, old-fashioned DRAW OFF. Audience members will have the chance to share suggestions and ultimately tell these creators what to do! 

Halloween-Themed Events

Trick-or-Treat at all of our library branches on Thursday, October 31 from 3:30-7:30pm!

Plus, there are a bunch of Halloween-themed events happening at our libraries all month long...

Every Day is Halloween: A Goth (Vinyl) Listening Session

Central
Tues, Oct 8

6pm

This is the inaugural session of the Berkeley Record Club!

More October Events

Homeschool Weekly Fun Club

West
Mondays

2pm

Tweens: (Make) Beads for Every Body

West
1st Tuesdays

3:30-5pm

Free! Online News Subscriptions How-Tos (NY Times, Washing Post & More)

Central
Thurs, Oct 3
1pm

Community Wellness Dance Classes

North
1st & 3rd Fridays

2pm

Central

2nd & 4th Fridays

2pm

Introduction to U.S. Citizenship Process

via zoom
1st Thursdays (Oct 3)
2pm

Papel Picado Craft

Central
Sat, Oct 5

3pm

10 Warning Signs of Alzheimer's

Claremont
Mon, Oct 7

12pm

Watercolor for Kids

Tarea Hall Pittman South
Mon, Oct 7
3:30pm

Biking After Dark Workshop

Tarea Hall Pittman South
Sat, Oct 12

1pm

Knit-teen Circle and Chill

Claremont
Every Wednesday, beginning Oct 16
4pm

Intro to Ancestry.com

West
Sat, Oct 19

11am

Berkeley Rep Docent Talk: The Matchbox Magic Flute

Tarea Hall Pittman South
Tues, Oct 22

6pm

LGBTQIA+ Strawberry Creek Stroll

West
Wed, Oct 30

4pm

mak-'amham/Cafe Ohlone

Cafe Ohlone @ Hearst Anthropology Museum
Wed, Oct 30

3pm

There is so much more happening at the Library!

Events

Thank you to the Friends of the Berkeley Public Library for all you do to provide funding for Library programs & events!

Día de los Muertos Community Altar for Pets

Día de los Muertos is a two-day Mexican holiday honoring loved ones who have passed away.

This year North branch will create an ofrenda (altar) for pets who have passed away. Photos can be emailed to areeder@berkeleyca.gov or dropped off at library service desks through October 27. 

Reading Buddies are Back!

Reading Buddies build confidence in young readers and makes reading fun! Kids in kindergarten through third grade are paired with a teen mentor to read together and play word games.

Register

Reminder: Sunday Hours

Two branches are open on Sundays from 10am-6pm.

  • Tarea Hall Pittman South - 1901 Russell Street (on MLK, near the Ashby Bart station)
  • North - 1170 The Alameda

We love serving you, all weekend long!

 

Hours

Save the Date: Comic-Con 2024

Berkeley Public Library's 2nd Comic Con will be held November 9th, 2024 from 10:30am-4:30pm.

 
Join for an amazing day of speakers, artists, and more. Can you spot some of the guests in this poster? 


Stay tuned for all the details on 
www.berkeleypubliclibrary.org/events/bpl-comic-con-2024
 

Tremendous thank you to Eisner-winner Thien Pham for designing this year’s image!

 

Please Note:

All Library locations will be closed Monday, October 14 for Indigenous People's Day.

For more event info,
book recommendations and other fun things...

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Berkeley Public Library
2090 Kittredge Street
Berkeley, California 94704
510-981-6100
berkeleypubliclibrary.org