The arts are, at their core, about telling stories. Jasmine Pigott, tuba player, is exploring multiple art forms in her program “Visions,” which combines spoken word with composition for solo tuba. Each of the pieces in this 45 minute program tells a story-stories with themes of overcoming adversity, fighting inner-demons in mental health battles, and navigating this world as a Black woman in America.
Jasmine “Jazzie” Pigott is a tuba player, composer, podcaster, and writer based in Baltimore, MD. Believing in the power of representation, Jasmine is a solo performer on a mission to empower the next generation of musicians of color. She has placed in numerous solo competitions, including first place in Peabody’s Yale Gordon Competition and bronze in the Leonard Falcone Tuba Student Competition, and she released her EP, Revolution, in July 2022.
Jasmine is a co-founder and member of the Chromatic Brass Collective. Outside of music, Jasmine ran a podcast Harmony and Healing, centered around health and wellness for musicians from July 2021 to September 2022. She holds degrees from Ithaca College (B.M.) and Michigan State University (M.M.) and is working on her DMA in tuba performance at the Peabody Conservatory at Johns Hopkins.
Colors of Courage: A Guided Painting Class for Veterans (with ArtJamz) For veterans. Register. Looking for a unique way to express yourself and connect with fellow veterans? Consider this veteran-focused guided painting class that offers a chance to connect with other veterans in a supportive and nurturing environment. Enjoy the opportunity to socialize and bond with other veterans, fostering a sense of camaraderie and support. Wed Nov 8 6:30 – 8:30 pm Elkridge
Romare Bearden: Artist, Activist, Veteran by Emily B.
Artist Romare Bearden was born in North Carolina in 1911 and moved to Harlem a few years later as part of the Great Migration, which saw approximately 6 million African Americans leave the southern United States for industrialized areas with less hostility and prejudice. Bearden’s mother Bessye was a prominent civic activist, and their Harlem home hosted notable cultural figures like Duke Ellington and Langston Hughes. This intersection of activism and artistry would prove influential to Bearden and his life’s work, but not before a quick detour into America’s favorite pastime.
While attending college in Boston, Bearden became a baseball star. He pitched for his school’s team and the Boston Tigers, part of the all-black Negro Baseball League. He was offered a spot on Philadelphia Athletics, a Major League team, on the condition that he passed for white. Bearden rejected the offer and returned to New York, uncomfortable with hiding his identity. After graduating college, Bearden became a case worker for the New York Department of Social Services. He would continue in this line of work on and off to support his artistic passions, which he pursued most nights and weekends. He also spent a few years as a political cartoonist for the Baltimore Afro-American, a weekly newspaper (available at hclibrary.org > research).
During this time he joined the Harlem Artists Guild, a collective of Black artists that aimed to encourage young artists and foster an appreciation for art, while creating awareness of the issues faced by the community. Most of Bearden’s art during this period consisted of abstract paintings. Between 1942 and 1945 Bearden was in Europe, serving in the all-Black 372nd Infantry Regiment of the US Army. Bearden returned to Europe in 1950, utilizing the GI Bill to study literature and philosophy and tour museums.
After returning from his studies Europe, painting felt stale to Bearden. He found inspiration in the Civil Rights Movement and mass media. He began creating collages, utilizing magazine clippings to create socially-conscious works of art. This artistic shift was well received, with his collages becoming his most iconic works. Prior to his death in 1988, Bearden created approximately 2,000 works of art across many mediums. While he is most remembered for his collages, his impact extends far beyond the art world.
Framed reproductions of his works “Carolina Blues” and “Jamming at the Savoy” are available to borrow from the Art Education Collection.
Emily is an Instructor & Research Specialist at the Central Branch. She enjoys puzzling, reading, listening to music, and re-watching old seasons of Survivor.
Saturday, November 4 | 11 am – 3 pm Color Burst Park 6000 Merriweather Dr., Columbia
2 pm: Author Steven Paul Judd Performers include: Carly Harvey, Tsalagi and Tuscarora: singer Brett Walking Eagle, Dakota Sioux: flute player and singer Angela Gladue, Cree: hoop dancer Shawn IronMaker, Ft. Belknap: singer Lance Fisher, Northern Cheyenne: singer Chris EagleHawk, Lakota/Pueblo: traditional dancer Four members, Iroquois-St. Regis Mohawk: smoke dancers Misty Nace & Nathan Solorio, Cree: dancers Jennifer Night Bird Miller, Cree: jingle dancer
Interview with Steven Paul Judd:
Steven Paul Judd was a student who loved movies when he decided to apply for a fellowship with ABC Disney. His submission, a speculative script for the television show My Name is Earl, secured him the fellowship and the opportunity to fly to Los Angeles to write. This launched his career which now includes not only screen writing, but also fashion, books, painting, and whatever artistic medium inspires him in the moment. His substantive works often include satire with pop culture themes that lift Native American culture.
Judd, who is of Kiowa and Choctaw heritage, talks about his work at the fifth annual Native American Heritage Month Celebration on Saturday, November 4. Judd says these types of events are important, “because when people think about Native Americans and Native American heritage, they obviously think of the past, but we are also doing things today. Like, I’m a writer. It’s a perfect opportunity to broaden people’s awareness about Native Americans in the arts.”
When asked about the inspiration for his bestselling Rez Detectives series, Judd says he did it for his childhood self, who saw little representation of Native culture in books. “I would have loved to have something like this when I was a kid! I loved comic books,” he says. The book was co-authored with his friend Tvli Jacob.
Things have changed considerably since 2011 when he first hit the Hollywood scene, Judd says. “There wasn’t a lot of indigenous representation in the (television) industry. Now you see a lot more. There’s Reservation Dogs, Rutherford Falls, and of course, Dark Wind, which I write on.”
In his spare time, when he’s not creating, Judd pursues his passion for securing Indigenous treaty rights. “It’s a pet project,” he says. “No one is going to right the wrongs of the past for moral reasons…you have to prove things legally.”
“Dig it if you can,” a catch phrase used by Judd, is the title of an award-winning documentary on his life created by filmmaker Kyle Bell. Catch it on Vimeo.
9/30/23 – Longest Table 2023 event held at Howard Community College.
by Katie DiSalvo-Thronson
On September 30, Howard County Library System held the Longest Table, an annual event to help people form new relationships, build community, learn, and enjoy themselves in the process. A randomized mix of more than 185 participants enjoyed a facilitated conversation with new friends during dinner. Every year we take a snapshot of one big question. This year, it was: “How do you wish we could learn, grow, or progress as a community?”
People responded that they want MORE community! They wish they knew more neighbors and saw more people coming together for cultural celebrations or to address a community problem. They said they wished there was a little (or a lot) more empathy out there in the world!
If you also want to see more community connections in our community, we’d love to hear from you at an upcoming Idea Session. We plan to talk about how the library, community groups, and community members like you might build more community connections in our county:
Virtual Idea Session, Mon October 23, 12 – 1 pm (please register) online.
In-person Idea Session, Wed October 25, 7 – 8 pm, HCLS Savage Branch (please register).
Both sessions cover the same material.
So, what are some of the details we heard in response to, “How do you wish we could learn, grow, or progress as a community?”
The biggest group of people, about sixty-five, wanted more social ties and connection. For some, this was aspirational: “We need spaces and opportunities to DREAM together,” or “honor the concept of ‘it takes a village’.” Other comments focused on the basics of building more community, like the person who said we need “relationship building – getting to know your neighbor. Intentional interaction.” One participant said, “We need to come together in groups to have courage to come out. Too easy to just go home.”
Other people want individuals in our community to connect with people who are different from them, including across generations. Forty-four people wanted our community to have more social and emotional skills or strengths, with an emphasis on listening, empathy, and care. These included:
“Listen to different perspectives. Really listen!”
“Ability to see our issues through a lens of what is best for our whole community, not just me and mine (a girl can dream).”
“More radical inclusion of people with disabilities.”
“Lessening the fear other people have towards Black people.”
Another subset of people identified specific problems for our community to address. Affordable housing was the most frequently mentioned challenge, along with food, medical care, and finding resources. The need for more opportunities for young people was also a common theme, with an understanding that, “things are not free and accessible in the community for high school students.” A few people brought up improving transportation and wealth disparities in our county.
Some ideas were sharp:
“To measure community volunteer rate like we do employment and education.”
“The issues of non-connection are systemic so the ‘solutions’ should aim to counter on all levels; ground-up and top-down – individual, communal, strategic.”
Others were delightfully mysterious! According to one participant, our community needs: “the more.”
We’re all needed for “the more!” We want to thank everyone who worked on, volunteered for, and participated in the Longest Table. We hope you can join these efforts to build more connections in our community, whether through next year’s Longest Table, the upcoming ideas sessions (register at links above), or another community-building HCLS class.
Katie is the Community Engagement and Partnerships Manager for HCLS. She loves people, the big questions, the woods, and chocolate.
Thursday, November 9 4 – 6 pm Registration required. HCLS East Columbia Branch 410.313.7700
Dear Nic,
During the pandemic when the world seemed especially grim, I attended a virtual conference where you served as a guest speaker. You stood out to me with your bold avocado earrings and the backstory of how you started writing for teens. Your appearance lifted me up during a time when all I wanted was to return to work in person with my teen library customers.
Fast forward to May 2023, my friend Amanda and I proposed that we host you at HCLS and learned you were indeed coming to my branch, East Columbia, on November 9.
Most people will have read Dear Martin, one of your most powerful works. In this novel, we learn about the life of college-bound Justyce McCallister and his letters to the late Martin Luther King, Jr., written as reflections on being young, black, and escaping the ongoing violence toward unarmed black boys and men. In Dear Martin’s follow-up Dear Justyce, we read about Quan, his circumstances far different than his friend Justyce who helps him while he is incarcerated in a juvenile detention center. Quan sees up close the shortcomings and racial disparities in our flawed criminal justice system.
Two more of my favorite titles are Clean Getawayand Odd One Out. In Clean Getaway, we see the connection between G’ma (a grandmother) and her grandson “Scoob,” as they go on a road trip exposing family secrets and a lesson in the beauty of intergenerational family ties. While in Odd One Out, we follow Jupe, a gay teen girl and her best guy friend Coop (who may be in love with her). In comes Rae, the new girl in town who may or may not be straight. The love triangle takes Jupe on a journey of self-discovery, exploring gender and sexual identity, and the strength of friendships.
Nic, you write about characters facing hard truths about our society and inspire young people to keep pressing forward, even when it seems impossible to do so.
My hope is your visit will continue to inspire our young people, those turning your pages and seeing themselves and making the world better.
Sincerely, Carmen
Bauder Book Talks by Howard County Library System is made possible by a generous gift from Dr. Lillian Bauder, a community leader and Columbia resident. Howard County Library System will present an annual endowed author event, known as Bauder Book Talks, for under-served students in grades 6-8 attending public middle schools in Columbia with high percentages of African American and BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) students. Authors and titles selected are high-interest and high-quality on topics of social issues, equity, and related matters. Student participants have the opportunity to hear from and engage the author and receive a copy of the author’s book. The event honors the memory of Don Bauder, late husband of Dr. Lillian Bauder and a champion of civil rights and social justice causes.
This year, meet famed young adult author Nic Stone as she shares the inspiration behind her critically-acclaimed novel Dear Martinand other featured works.
“Our ability to reach unity in diversity will be the beauty and the test of our civilization.” Mahatma Gandhi
In Howard County, we are blessed to live in a community where our neighbors come from various parts of the world. They bring their culture, food, and traditions to enrich our lives and expand our horizons. We, at Howard County Library System, celebrate our diversity and highlight the rich culture and art of the countries where our neighbors come from to foster better understanding of each other and create a more cohesive community.
Join us in celebrating the contributions of one of Howard County’s largest demographics, India, on Sunday, October 29 from 2 to 4 pm at Miller Branch. India is indeed a land of diversity. With 22 recognized languages, innumerable dialects, vastly different and unique cultures and traditions in 28 states, it is not easy to encompass the rich diversity of India in a mere two hours. We provide a glimpse of the arts from a few regions of India to whet your appetite to explore more. We invite you to enjoy traditional Indian music, Indian regional dances, dhak (Indian drum), recitation, Bollywood dance, Indian classical dance and henna application.
Award-winning author Ned Tillman discusses his new book, Good Endeavor, and how historical fiction provides perspective on the challenges we face today.
In this historical novel full of colorful characters, Ned Tillman conjures up five generations of his family in an engaging look at how they might have dealt with the critical social, economic, and political issues of their time. Centered on the 300-year-old Good Endeavor homestead (where the author grew up), the book incorporates a slew of family stories, unusual family traits, and artifacts passed down through time.
The protagonist discovers artifacts which incites a desire to know more about the past. The book takes the reader through the lives, loves, and losses of five generations, right up to the present day. Along the way the family members encounter vigilante justice, piracy, bounty hunters, abolitionists, suffragettes, land conservationists, barnstorming, union strikes, integration, and war and climate protests.
Tillman is the author of four books — two nonfiction and two fiction. He discusses the value of both genres for telling the stories of our past and how they can be used to get a sense of how life really was like over the centuries. For this book, he considers (per his comments on Amazon):
* What was life really like over the past 300 years? * How have our key moral issues changed through time? * How to tell our stories while breathing life and humanity into all of our ancestors.
by Sahana C. There has been a lot of controversy around artificial intelligence floating around in the public subconscious this year, good news and bad working in tandem. On one hand, AI could be used to clean the ocean! On the other, writers and actors alike have been striking because of strange clauses in studio contracts involving AI. This tangle, this never-ending back and forth, coupled with fearmongering from generations of sci-fi media like Ex Machina, is exhausting after a certain point. And I understand that for a lot of people it’s frightening. The thought that we’re creating something so quickly that forefathers of the industry are asking to slow it down, that we are launching something we don’t fully understand the implications of or the ethical implications of, it all compounds. But the easiest way to fight fear of an unknown thing is to be informed, and it seems like AI is here to stay. So we need to be learning about it and using it too.
Artificial intelligence is utterly pervasive, showing up through things like ChatGPT, and while it can be used for writing papers (though it usually doesn’t do the best job and is fairly obvious), it can also be used as an editor, as a practice interviewer, as a summary tool. Google has started to introduce it slowly into its Drive suite. Adobe has introduced it into Lightroom and Photoshop to help photographers and editors make their edits in a much timelier fashion. There are countless uses, all of which can help us make more polished versions of our crafts.
We have to be careful about overstepping in the arts; it’s not acceptable that AI compiles works from artists to create art, and it should not be used to replace creatives. Artificial intelligence isn’t a creative force and while it can perhaps produce a result, a person is almost always going to make better art.
AI is a tool, one that we can use. It doesn’t have to be scary robot overlords of lore. It’s something to be aware of, and most importantly, to combat disinformation. It’s something to explore, just so we know enough to be educated.
October 9-14 is World AI Week, hosted in Amsterdam this year, where they will be making announcements about innovation in AI. We’ll hear about the ways industry is hoping to use artificial intelligence, and some of the leaders in this field will be able to interface directly with the users. It’s an important week for learning, and we’ll be paying close attention.
If you are interested in learning more about AI more generally, you can go to Gale Courses with your library card and take “Introduction to Artificial Intelligence” for free. At Byte-sized Intelligence: Lunch and Learn on October 10 (see box), we debrief you about the basics of artificial intelligence and any updates we’ve learned on the first day of World AI Week. And of course, if you, like me, process the world most effectively through literature, our collection has plenty for you to sink your teeth into.
Byte-Sized AI: Lunch & Learn Tuesday, Oct 10 | 12 – 1 pm Savage Branch For adults. Register at bit.ly/HCLS_bytesized Explore one of the most exciting and rapidly evolving fields in technology! Anyone who is interested in learning about AI, regardless of technical background or experience, can join the discussion about recent advancements.
Sahana is an Instructor and Research Specialist at the Savage Branch. They enjoy adding books to their “want to read” list despite having a mountain of books waiting for them already.
Freedom To Read Roundtable Sunday, October 15 2:30 – 4 pm In person at Miller Branch – register online session – register
“Tikkun olam,” the Hebrew expression for “repairing the world,” is woven throughout the novel. Why? – asks Sydney Page of The Washington Post, as she interviews James McBride about his new novel The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store.*
I just love it; I love the innocence of it, I love the purity of it and I love that it works. “Heal the world” is a big phrase. How do you heal the world? You start right where you are. – says James McBride
*The Washington Post, September 23, 2023.
James McBride goes on to elaborate that our commonalities outweigh our differences and how we need to celebrate our common ground rather than fight over differences. Eschewing cynicism, he believes that we’re driven by kindness, and there’s a moral sense which underpins the American dream. McBride is, without question, one of America’s great storytellers and an essential voice in the literary landscape. This summer he returns with his signature hope, humor, and humanity in The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store, which begins in 1972 when workers in Pottstown, Pennsylvania find a skeleton at the bottom of a well. Long-held secrets emerge in Chicken Hill, a neighborhood where immigrant Jews and African Americans have lived side by side for decades.
Hear more from National Book Award-winning author, musician, and screenwriter James McBride at the Freedom To Read Roundtable happening on Sunday, October 15 from 2:30 – 4 pm. Join with librarians, publishers, poets, authors, and your community in supporting the essential right to read at the Freedom to Read Roundtable.
The Roundtable also features a distinguished panel of speakers:
Emily Drabinski is the current President of the American Library Association (ALA) and Associate Professor at the Queens College Graduate School of Library and Information Studies.
Alexandra Petri is a humorist and columnist for The Washington Post. She studied English and classics at Harvard and has received the National Press Club Angele Gingras Award for Humor Writing and the Shorty Award. She has been recognized in Forbes 30 Under 30 and in the Fifty Funniest People Right Now (Rolling Stone).
Erica C. is in her dream role as the Enchanted Garden Instructor at the Miller Library. When she’s not tending to the garden, you can find her cycling along the C & O Canal, experimenting with new recipes from around the world, or curled up with her coffee and a good read.
CHAPTER CHATS 