Arts & the Library

Yes, there is a connection between the upcoming Fredericksburg Welsh Poetry Contest, the library, and your personal ancestors. Although it seems a tad far-fetched, it really is easy to see how the library can connect you to anything and anyone. Here’s how this connection works: since the library is a community center and encourages local groups to keep us informed as to their upcoming public events, we discovered that the Welsh Society of Fredericksburg is sponsoring a poetry contest as part of their upcoming annual festival this September 21. The deadline for entries is September 1.

Each January the Atrium Gallery welcomes an exhibit of works by the students of Johnny Johnson's Watercolor Workshop.

View this slideshow for selected works or view on Flickr.

Taking Victor Hugo's novel, Les Misérables, and transforming it first into a play and then into a movie is like selecting from among the finest of crown jewels and crafting them into a beautiful brooch.  Having seen the stage play many years ago and having read the book many, many years ago, I found the movie eminently satisfying, indeed beautifully done.

I had misgivings.  They had, I thought, studded it with Hollywood stars just to draw the audiences.  Nevertheless, it is very well cast.  It was some time before I recognized Hugh Jackman since his first appearance was as the imprisoned Jean Valjean with grubby face and closely-cropped hair.  It was not until he emerged as the respectable Mayor and beneficent factory owner that he was easily recognizable.  Valjean's crimes had been the stealing of a loaf of bread and the subsequent breaking of his parole for which he is relentlessly pursued by the dogged Inspector Javert, played by Russell Crowe. 

This interview airs beginning December 5.
Spending time with Dan Finnegan gave us the opportunity to talk about his work as a potter and learn about the creation of one of the largest art centers in this area, the LibertyTown Arts Workshop.  Debby Klein talks with Dan about the diverse artists whose studios occupy LibertyTown and the many opportunities available to all who visit there on CRRL Presents, a Central Rappahannock Regional Library production. This interview was recorded in 2008.