The Williamsburgh Library is participating in North Brooklyn Reads
What book should North Brooklynites read together this year? The Brooklyn Public Library is currently seeking votes to answer that question and has curated a neighborhood-centric list of titles to pick from; you have until Friday (tomorrow) to vote in the “North Brooklyn Reads” poll.
The list of literature to pick from includes works from local authors such as Greenpointers’ Geoff Cobb, whose The Rise and Fall of the Sugar King tells the story of the American sugar industry and the Havemeyer family’s world famous Domino factory. “It is a tale of greed, crime, wealth, power and corruption, but it is also the story of Williamsburg, Brooklyn,” the book’s description reads.
A landmark Grenpoint building makes an appearance on the list with Kate Christensen’s The Astral: A Novel. In the book, poet and Astral (yes, that Astral) resident Harry Quirk attempts to save his failing marriage and win his wife’s heart back amongst a backdrop that is all too familiar for Greenpointers.
Solos by Kitty Burns Florey is set in Williamsburg where a mystery unravels according to the official book description:
Emily Lime and her equally palindromic dog, Otto, live in Williamsburg, Brooklyn (zip code 11211), in a warm community of friends and fellow artists. Her life becomes more complicated when she falls in love with Marcus, a dog-walker and fellow Scrabble nut, whose father is Emily’s shady ex-husband who wants the lovable Emily dead. A mystery unravels, a valuable lost cache of paintings is found, and Emily’s life changes in ways she could not have anticipated.
Hipster Death Rattle by Ritchie Narvaez also set in “uber-hip” Williamsburg, is a gruesome murder mystery:
Murder is trending. Hipsters are getting slashed to pieces in the hippest neighborhood in New York: Williamsburg, Brooklyn. While Detectives Petrosino and Hadid hound local gangbangers, slacker reporter Tony Moran and his ex Magaly Fernandez get caught up in a missing person’s case—one that might just get them hacked to death
The Bushwick, Leonard, Williamsburg and Greenpoint (upon opening this spring) libraries will participate with readings of the chosen literature:
Rendering of the new Greenpoint Library scheduled to open this fall(courtesy of Marble Fairbanks)
Anticipation is building as the summer moves along for fall’s anticipated reopening of the Greenpoint Library (107 Norman Ave.), which closed in July 2017 for demolition, and construction on the new library.
The fall relaunch is on-schedule as of now as explained at the Friends of Greenpoint Library meeting that was held on July 1st.
At the meeting, Sharon Kim, President of FOGL, introduced her new Co-President, Randy Locklair, and they generated ideas with the group for fundraising and outreach this summer. A bar night and book swap in early August is in the planning process.
Whitman was born on 5/21/1819 and worked as a journalist for the Brooklyn Eagle and a local Williamsburg-based newspaper in between publishing his poetry.
The “Whitman Weekend” kicked off last Saturday with events continuing through this week to mark the occasion. Continue reading →
The Greenpoint Library (107 Norman Ave.) closed in July 2017 for demolition, and construction on the new library was estimated to finish in the winter of 2018, but the discovery and removal of asbestos in the former foundation and related delays has pushed the expected completion to this September or October. Earlier this week, the Friends of Greenpoint Library hosted a community forum in Greenpoint to help answer questions on the new library.
(courtesy of Marble Fairbanks)
As far as the construction progress, work is far along: the structure of the new library is in place and steel beams, concrete floors, decking, and roofs have all been installed; electrical, plumbing and HVAC work is in progress.
(courtesy of Marble Fairbanks)
“We’re about doubling the interior size of the old library, and that’s not even counting the garden space…The outdoor plaza will be really nice, instead of having a fence around the library like we did before,” said Ames O’Neil, project manager for the Greenpoint Library. The new library is approximately 15,000 square feet.
Breaking ground on the new Greenpoint Library and Education Center. Photo by Lucie Levine
The Greenpoint community, including students from PS 34, joined Brooklyn Public Library President and CEO Linda Johnson and a host of local elected officials, to break ground on Greenpoint’s new Library and Environmental Education Center this Monday afternoon, October 23rd. The new library will stand on the site of the recently demolished Greenpoint Library (107 Norman Avenue). That location has been home to a library since 1906. The original Greenpoint Library, torn down due to structural damage in the 1970s, was one of Brooklyn’s first Carnegie Libraries, a group of institutions founded “to promote the advancement and diffusion of knowledge and understanding.” The new Library and Environmental Education Center will help further that mission in the 21st century. The new library, designed to exceed the standards for LEED Silver Green Building Certification, will be double the size of the old Greenpoint Library, provide over 300 hours of environmental education per year, and sport a variety of exciting features including an accessible green roof and a public plaza with flexible meeting and event spaces. Continue reading →
Those of you who have ever laid eyes on the public library in Greenpoint know that it is a bit of an eyesore in an otherwise picturesque neighborhood. But not for long. The Greenpoint Library is about to enter a new incarnation to bring residents the modern, sustainable facility that’s increasingly necessary in an age that’s threatening to make books obsolete.
The original Greenpoint Library was constructed in 1906 and only replaced once in the 1970s due to deterioration. The current building will be replaced by a larger, more modern green building with an added environmental education center that’s due to open in the spring of 2018.
The project is being funded by a $5 million grant from the Greenpoint Community Environmental Fund and a $6,030,300 matching contribution from the Brooklyn Public Library. GCEF is a $19.5 million grant program established with the settlement funds from the ExxonMobil oil spill in Newtown Creek.
It may be too late to look, but it’s not too late to read on in horror. Here’s a closer look at what motivates the man who got up close and personal with Newtown Creek’s cesspool of puke.
The votes are in and the funds are allocated. Here’s the next batch of projects that will be funded by the Greenpoint Community Environmental Fund (also known as ExxonMobil hush money). Here’s a closer look at one of them: the Greenpoint Monitor Museum, which celebrates the history of a Civil War ship built and launched from West Street in 1862. Continue reading →
THE GREENPOINT 100 is a small works show and art benefit for the Greenpoint branch of the Brooklyn Public Library, where all the work will be sold to benefit the branch’s programs. We’re looking for artists who live or work in GREENPOINT, BROOKLYN, to donate work- it’s a very worthwhile cause, and as added incentive we’re bringing in some great gallerists and critics to jury the show and award a cash prize, so it’s great exposure for artists who do decide to donate. All the info is in the artist call below.
If you’re not an artist living or working in Greenpoint, please forward this to anyone you know that is!
******************** CALL FOR ARTISTS:
The Greenpoint 100: Friends of the Greenpoint Library Artists’ Benefit September 15th, 2007 11:00am – 2:30pm Brooklyn Public Library Greenpoint Branch 107 Norman Avenue at Leonard Street, Brooklyn NY 11222
The Friends of the Brooklyn Public Library’s Greenpoint Branch invites 100 Greenpoint artists to participate in a juried, one-day exhibition of small works which will be sold to benefit the branch. This is a worthwhile opportunity for our local emerging artists to display their work and have it reviewed by arts professionals. The proceeds from the sale will be used for community-requested improvements like children’s area maintenance, as well as the acquisition of much-needed, up-to-date new materials.
Grand Prize: $100 cash (2) Runner-up prizes to be announced
Jurors:
Leah Stuhltrager: Founder and co-director, Dam Stuhltrager Gallery – Dam Stuhltrager, founded in 1998, is an original charter member of the Williamsburg Gallery Association and one of the most ascendant galleries in the area. Its artists have been featured in major exhibitions including Art Basel, Contemporary Istanbul, and the Museum of Art and Design. Dam Stuhltrager has had extensive coverage in both mainstream and contemporary art publications such as Artforum, NPR, The Village Voice, Rhizome.org and Esquire.
James Wagner and Barry Hoggard: Critics, curators and editors of ArtCal (www.ArtCal.net) – Well-respected art and political bloggers James Wagner ( jameswagner.com) and Barry Hoggard (bloggy.com) publish ArtCal, an unabashedly opinionated openings and exhibitions guide focusing on underknown galleries and artists. James and Barry are often integral to the exposure of new talent and have been featured in Art and America, ArtKrush, The Brooklyn Rail, Art+Auction, and more.
SUBMISSION PROCEDURES:
As we are focusing on the community, *YOU MUST BE AN ARTIST LIVING OR WORKING IN GREENPOINT* to participate. There is no fee to submit, however please be aware that your work is a donation to raise funds for the library.
We are looking for 2-dimensional works in all mediums (MAX SIZE 11×14 inches), and some small freestanding sculpture. All work will be sold for $25 each.
WE ARE ONLY ACCEPTING THE FIRST 100 ARTISTS WHO MEET THE CRITERIA, so soon as possible, please email us your:
NAME ADDRESS EMAIL ADDRESS PHONE NUMBER and a small jpeg of the work, (or a similar representative work if you plan on making a specific piece for the sale)
– If you are one of the first 100 qualified artists to respond to the call, you will receive a reply with an ID number from 1-100, and the address of where your work must be mailed or delivered. – Your work must be labeled on the back (or bottom of sculptures) with your ID number and contact information. – Accepted artists’ work must be received by FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 14th to be included in the exhibit. – All unsold work must be picked up in person at the close of the event, by 3pm on Saturday, September 15th. – Although the utmost care will be taken with the pieces on exhibit, The Brooklyn Public Library and the Friends Group will not be held responsible for the damage to, or loss of, any artwork donated to the branch and/or remaining on the premises after the event.
