Library Presents Spirit of the Sixties; Considers the Constitution

Library presents Spirit of the Sixties: Then & Now with Francesco Da Vinci

 Santa Monica Public Library presents Spirit of the Sixties: Then & Now, a multimedia presentation with Francesco Da Vinci, on Saturday, January 20, 2018, at 2:00 pm in the Main Library's Martin Luther King, Jr. Auditorium, 601 Santa Monica Blvd. 

Photojournalist and peace activist Francesco Da Vinci offers a multimedia presentation on the changes brought about during the 1960s – from civil rights to the peace movement – and how the lessons of that era can be applied in today's divided America. Francesco will present a short video and slideshow of his photos from that decade, followed by a discussion. A well-established photographer, he is currently producing a documentary promoting diversity and nonviolence.

Santa Monica Public Library presents An Afternoon with the L.A. Harptette

 Santa Monica Public Library presents An Afternoon with the L.A. Harptette on Sunday, January 28, 2018, at 3:00 pm in the Main Library's Martin Luther King, Jr. Auditorium, 601 Santa Monica Blvd. 

The L.A. Harptette – comprised of harpists Mary Dropkin, Paul Baker, Laura Griffin-Casey, and Jillian Risigari-Gai Lopez – presents an afternoon of music originally written for harp quartet by Bernard Andrès, Bruce Broughton and John Wickey, as well as transcriptions of works by Claude Debussy, George Frideric Handel and Scott Joplin. Founded in 2014, the LA Harptette features an uncommon grouping of instruments performing a variety of works, bringing the beauty and versatility of the harp to a wider audience.  LA Harptette's repertoire consists of original works for harp quartet, arrangements of orchestral works well known to audiences, and medleys of show tunes – a repertoire guaranteed to please all audiences!

The Library's Ocean Park Branch will host a group exercise of copying the founding document of the Unites States, the Constitution, on Wednesday, January 17 at 3:30 p.m. Copies of the Constitution, writing utensils and paper will be provided. Adults and Teens are encouraged to attend.

This program is based on a similar group activity that was held at the New York Public Library in January, 2017 and featured in the New York Times Sunday Review, June 30, 2017 (https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2017/06/30/opinion/sunday/the-constitution-by-hand.html). Those participating are encouraged to take part in an exercise that offers a chance to write and reflect on this fundamental document of our nation.

For more information about this event, please contact the Ocean Park Branch Library: (310) 458-8683 or go to the Santa Monica Public Library website: http://www.smpl.org