Dear Bremen Library Patrons,

It’s hard to believe as we are looking out at more snow, but Spring is just around the corner! (Don’t forget to “spring forward” on March 8 ) I am ready to get outside and get new gardens in place. If you are looking for inspiration for your outdoor spaces, the dewey decimal numbers you want to look for on the shelves begin with 635! We have some fun things coming up in the next few months: a speaker from The Frances Perkins Center, an adoption event with the MidCoast Humane Society, as well as artists of the month and our regular groups (BookClub, Knitters and monthly storytime). Your free library card gives you access not only to books and movies at the Bremen Library, but also to interlibrary loan from most of the other libraries in Maine, as well as to the CloudLibrary for audio and ebooks, and even discount passes to area attractions.

Stay safe and be well!

Melissa Chase , Director (207) 529-5572 bremenlibrary.mchase@gmail.com

From Torn Paper to Art: Collage Exhibit

We are pleased to be hosting Katharina Keoughan and other local artists from The Studio in Damariscotta as our March Artists of the Month.

An opening reception will be held on Thursday, March 5 from 5-6:30.

Collage is a piece of textured art created by the design and assemblage of layers of materials, such as printed papers, hand-painted shapes, foil, cloth, lace, ribbons, pieces of text, cut-up photos and small objects. The result is a composition that is new, unusual and visually compelling. The history of collage dates from 10th century Asia and became popular in Europe in the Middle Ages. The practice was popularized in the modern era by Pablo Picasso and Georges Braque, who coined the term “collage,” a French word which means something made by gluing. Full of surprises, collages are particularly effective at creating a sense of nostalgia, whimsy, or an atmosphere of dreaminess or surrealism. Local artists working with Katharina Keoughan at The Studio in Damariscotta have torn, cut, glued, painted and drawn over layered materials to create these two-dimensional works of art. In these collages, the viewer can appreciate how scraps of paper or bits of cloth can become flowers, shadows or even waves. Exhibiting arts include Philippa Beal, Cathy Block, Roz Davis, Katharina Keoughan, Chrissie Lydecker, Pati Nicholson, Kathy Price. “The curse of collage artists is that they can never ever throw a piece of printed paper away, no matter how small,” says Chrissie Lydecker, curator of the show. The exhibit can be enjoyed throughout the month of March during regular library hours

Ongoing Programing

All ongoing programming is free and open to the public, unless otherwise noted

Monthly Book Club: March’s selection is The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store by James McBride

(meeting time is back to 3 pm). April’s book is West With Giraffes by Lynda Rutledge, with a discussion date of April 2. Copies will be available at the desk to check out

Tech Help 10-12 : Saturday March 14 and 28, - Tech helper Caleb Pusey will answer your tech questions at the library

Knit & Stitch Group Thursdays 1-2:30 Bring your current fiber project and meet and support other like minded folks!

FIRST FRIDAY FUN Mixed ages storytime! March 13 from 10:30-12

This mixed-ages storytime will take place on the first Friday of each month. We will start with some stories and songs, and then kids and their caregivers are welcome to stay and play and socialize together in the Big Room until noon. Registration is not necessary, but I’d appreciate a call if you plan to come!

And just a quick note- Melissa will be away the first Friday of March, so March’s storytime will bump up to Friday March 13 at 10:30.