Spring into the Arts

This system-wide, six-week celebration of visual, performing and literary arts continues with free events, workshops, exhibits and performances by Nashville Ballet, jazz percussionist Dann Sherrill, Norwegian classical guitar virtuoso Randall Avers, local novelist Tony Earley, Dollywood’s Imagination Playhouse, award-winning cartoonist Tim Oliphant, artist/educators from Frist Center for the Visual Arts and Watkins College of Art and Design, and much more. Visit www.library.nashville.org or call 862-5800 for a complete program listing.

Chinese Paper Arts by Jomya Lei

Los Angeles native Jomya Lei began studying Chinese paper arts at the age of five, after her mother taught her how to make a paper crane. Teaching herself simple one-sheet paper crafts from books, and learning folding techniques from her paternal grandfather, Lei quickly graduated to more advanced pieces and methods like modular paper-folding, cardmaking, word- or figure-cutting and Chinese knot craft with silk threads, taught by her Californian teacher, Katie Chen. A high-school student now relocated to Nashville, Lei exhibits her recent work April 1-30 atGreen Hills Library, 3701 Benham Ave., 862-5863.

Chinese Brush Painting

Dr. Guanping Zheng is an accomplished painter whose works have been exhibited and collected in China and the U.S. An associate professor of digital imaging and animation at Middle Tennessee State University, Zheng also teaches Chinese arts at Chinese schools in Nashville and study abroad programs. An exhibit of his Chinese brush paintings using traditional and modern techniques, as well as works by his students, will be exhibited April 1-30 at Green Hills Library, 3701 Benham Ave., 862-5863.

Dance from Chinese Poetry

Jen-Jen Lin, founder and director of the Chinese Arts Alliance of Nashville (CAAN), is the former artistic director of the Lan-Yang Chinese Folklore Performing Dance Company, a group that toured internationally with its repertoire of traditional Chinese dances. Lin will give a talk on Dance Theater from Chinese Poetry, the upcoming CAAN theater production presented at Vanderbilt University that features dances choreographed by Lin inspired by modern Chinese poems, at an artists’ reception April 10 from 5:00-6:30 p.m. at Green Hills Library, 3701 Benham Ave., 862-5863.

The New Yorker to Nashville

Tony Earley might live in East Nashville, but the whole world took notice after he was named one of the “twenty best young fiction writers in America” by The New Yorker and one of the “Best of Young American Novelists” by Granta. Currently the Samuel Milton Fleming Chair of English at Vanderbilt, Earley is best known for his stunning debut novel, Jim the Boy (2002). He has also written a collection of short stories, Here We Are in Paradise: Stories and a collection of personal essays, Somehow Form a Family: Stories That Are Mostly True. His stories have also appeared in The New Yorker, Harper's, Esquire, and Best American Short Stories, and have been widely anthologized.Earley discusses the literary life on April 19 at 6:30 p.m., part of the Third Thursday Speaker Series at East Branch Library, 206 Gallatin Road, 862-5860.

Latin Jazz with Dann Sherrill

Afro-Cuban music, with its roots in Spain and West Africa, has influenced many world music styles including salsa, tango and jazz.
Learn about the different Cuban musical styles and how they’ve influenced much of modern American music at this concert featuring Dann Sherrill, a Nashville-based percussionist who has performed with many music greats including Steve Winwood, Engelbert Humperdinck, Mel Tillis, Armando Perazza of Santana, Mose Allison and Arturo Sandoval. Co-sponsored by Nashville Jazz Workshop, Frist Center for the Visual Arts and Nashville Public Library. April 22 at 3 p.m. in the auditorium at Main Library, 615 Church St., 862-5800.

Poets in the Round

In celebration of National Poetry Month, join local poets Alvin Knox, DeAnna Vaughn, Peggy Smith Duke and Tom Kimmel as they read from their work and answer questions in a discussion moderated by novelist River Jordan. April 15 at 2:30 p.m. in the West Reading Room at Main Library, 615 Church St., 862-5853.

Herb Happy

Toni Foglesong of the Herb Society of Nashville presents tips for growing and using culinary and decorative herbs at this special gardening talk, April 7 at 10:00 a.m. at Bellevue Branch Library, 650 Colice Jeanne Rd., 862-5854. The first 30 participants will receive a free herb plant to take home.

Waneta Strickert, Tennessee Master Gardener and award-winning member of the Herb Society of America, shares her ideas for using herbs in landscapes and establishing a new herb garden at this spring workshop, part of the Inglewood Gardening Series. April 10 at 6:30 p.m. at Inglewood Branch Library, 4312 Gallatin Rd., 862-5866.

Virtuoso Showcase Concert Series: Randall Avers

Randall Avers is a classical guitar virtuoso and eight-time international music competition prize winner. Starting on guitar at age six, Avers studied at prominent music schools in the U. S., France and Norway including the Oberlin Conservatory, the University of Arizona, the Conservatoire Nationale Superiere de Musique et de Danse in Paris, and the Norges Musikkhøgskole. Now living in Norway and teaching at the Bergen Kulturskole, he appears regularly at festivals and concert series in North America and Europe, and is performing faculty at the Classical Minds Festival in Houston and the Bergen International Guitar Festival in Norway. He gives the final performance in the 2006-2007 Virtuoso Showcase Concert Series, April 10 at 7 p.m. in the auditorium at Main Library, 615 Church St., 862-5753.

Kids/Teens/Family

Cartooning with Mr. Ollie

Award-winning cartoonist Tim Oliphant will teach budding artists how to draw their own cartoons using a few basic shapes and simple techniques in this one-hour workshop for teens and adults. April 14 at 11:00 a.m. & 1:15 p.m. at Goodlettsville Branch Library, 106 Old Brick Church Pike, 862-5862.

Career in Toons

Award-winning artist and National Cartoonists Society member Tim Oliphant discusses the many marketable cartoon styles and how to develop a career as a cartoonist at this one-hour workshop for teens and adults. April 14 at 2:30 p.m. at Goodlettsville Branch Library, 106 Old Brick Church Pike, 862-5862.

Teen Songwriters’ Concert

Hear them now before they hit the big time! Contestants in the Nashville Public Library Teen Songwriting Contest perform in a special spring concert headlined by hit songwriters Steve Dean and Thom Shepherd and local teen singer/songwriter Taylor Braun. April 19 at 6:30 p.m. at Main Library, 615 Church St., 862-5800.

Citywide Teen Poetry Fest

Teens can perform up to three original poems at an open-mic coffeehouse-style “poetry slam” at the downtown Main Library. Share your creative work, win door prizes and impress your friends! All poems must be suitable for public performance. April 22 from 2:30-4:00 p.m. at Main Library, 615 Church St., 862-5800.

Frist Art Trunk Program: Mexico and Modern Printmaking

This series of art history/discovery programs for grades 7-12 begins with a free tour or free tickets to “Mexico and Modern Printmaking,” currently showing at the Frist Center for the Visual Arts. Kids can design and create their own prints at follow-up sessions that cover printmaking techniques and an overview of the history of Mexican printmaking. Registration is suggested.

Mondays, April 16, 23 & 30 at 2:30 p.m. at Goodlettsville Branch Library, 106 Old Brick Church Pike, 862-5862. Frist tour: April 9 at 2:30 p.m. at Frist Center for the Visual Arts, 919 Broadway.

Also: Wednesdays, April 11, 18 and 25 (no tour; free tickets to the exhibit will be provided) at 4:00 p.m. at Southeast Branch Library, 2325 Hickory Highlands Dr., 862-5871.

Frist Center Art Trunk Program: Matisse, Picasso and the School of Paris

This series of art history/discovery programs designed for school-age children introduces “Matisse, Picasso and the School of Paris,” currently showing at the Frist Center for the Visual Arts. Sessions include art activities involving drawing, painting and collage, and the program ends with a tour of the exhibit. Registration is suggested.

Thursdays, April 5, 12 and 19 (Frist tour: April 21) at 6:30 p.m. at Inglewood Branch Library, 4312 Gallatin Road, 862-5866.

Thursdays, April 19, 26 and May 3 (Frist tour: May 10) at 4:30 p.m. at Edmondson Pike Branch Library, 5501 Edmondson Pk., 880-3957.

Frist Family Night with Shaun Giles

Shaun Giles of the Frist Center for the Visual Arts presents a two-part family program discussing “Matisse, Picasso, and School of Paris,” the current exhibit at the Frist Center for the Visual Arts. Families will make an art-related craft with materials provided, and take a free tour of the exhibit. Tuesday, April 3 at 6:00 p.m. at Thompson Lane Branch Library, 380 Thompson Ln.; Thursday, April 12 at 6:00 p.m. at Frist Center for the Visual Arts, 919 Broadway. Families must attend the first session to go on the tour. Reservations are suggested; call 862-5873.

Hansel and Gretel

The classic Brothers Grimm tale is told with the library’s charming Peeko Puppets in this production also featuring Danke, a handmade wooden marionette gifted to the library by the Magdeburg Puppet Theater of Germany. Fridays and Saturdays, April 27-May 26 at 9:30, 10:30 & 11:30 a.m. in the Children’s Theater at Main Library, 615 Church St., 862-5800.

My Lucky Day

A clever pig foils the scheming fox that wants to turn him into lunch in this high-spirited musical for preschoolers and school-age children, based on the popular Keiko Kasza book and presented by Dollywood’s Imagination Playhouse. The production features an original song by Dolly Parton. April 6-7 at 9:30, 10:30 & 11:30 a.m. in the Children’s Theater at Main Library, 615 Church St., 862-5800.

Additional performances:
Monday, April 2 at 10:30 a.m. at Pruitt Branch Library, 117 Charles E. Davis Blvd., 862-5985, and 3:30 p.m. at Edgehill Branch Library, 1409 12th Ave. S., 862-5861; Tuesday, April 3 at 10:30 a.m. at Bordeaux Branch Library, 4000 Clarksville Pike, 862-5856, and 6:30 p.m. at Edmondson Pike Branch Library, 5501 Edmondson Pk., 880-3957; Wednesday, April 4 at 10:30 a.m. at Madison Branch Library, 610 Gallatin Pike, 862-5868; Thursday, April 5 at 10:00 a.m. at North Branch Library, 1001 Monroe Street, 862-5858 and 2:00 p.m. at Hermitage Branch Library, 3700 James Kay Ln., 880-3951.

Wiley and the Hairy Man

Wiley the young boy-hero must confront the coal-eyed hairy thing in the dark swamps of Alabama in this magical folk tale told with full-scale shadow puppets and live music. April 7 at 2:00 p.m. in the Children’s Theater at Main Library, 615 Church St., 862-5800.

Aesop’s Fables

This children’s production from Nashville Ballet features four famous fairy tales by the storyteller including The Tortoise and the Hare and The Ants and the Grasshopper. Children can join the dancers on stage after the performance to learn some steps. April 14 at 10:30 & 11:30 a.m. in the auditorium at Main Library, 615 Church St., 862-5800.

Scenes and Songs

Scenes from Wishing Chair Productions’ best-loved marionette shows will be presented at this special “snippets” show featuring puppetry and juggling. April 20 at 9:30, 10:30 & 11:30 in the Children’s Theater at Main Library, 615 Church St., 862-5800.

Polynesian Dance with the Global Education Center

Learn exotic moves with Polynesian dancers from the Global Education Center in this special interactive family dance performance.
April 17 at 6:00 p.m. at Thompson Lane Branch Library, 380 Thompson Ln., 862-5873.

Nashville Ballet Storytime

Join the White Swan as the Nashville Ballet presents a special interactive storytime based on the famous ballet Swan Lake. Children will learn the story and join the fun with movement, mime and music.

Wednesday, April 4 at 11:00 a.m. at Bellevue Branch Library, 650 Colice Jeanne Rd. 862-5854; Thursday, April 5 at
10:30 a.m. at Edgehill Branch Library, 1409 12th Ave. S., 862-5861; Monday, April 9 at 10:30 a.m. at Hadley Park Branch Library, 1039 28th Avenue N., 862-5865; Wednesday, April 11 at 10:00 a.m. & 11:00 a.m. at Hermitage Branch Library, 3700 James Kay Ln., 880-3951, and 10:30 a.m. at Goodlettsville Branch Library, 106 Old Brick Church Pike, 862-5862; Thursday, April 12 at 4:00 p.m. at Watkins Park Branch Library, 612 17th Ave. N., 862-5872; Saturday, April 14 at 10:00 a.m. at East Branch Library, 206 Gallatin Rd., 862-5860; Tuesday, April 17 at 10:30 a.m. at Bordeaux Branch Library, 4000 Clarksville Pike, 862-5856; Thursday, April 19 at 4:30 p.m. at Donelson Branch Library, 2315 Lebanon Rd., 862-5859; Saturday, April 21 at 10:30 a.m. at Edmondson Pike Branch Library, 5501 Edmondson Pk., 880-3957; Tuesday, April 24 at 5:30 p.m. at North Branch Library, 1001 Monroe Street, 862-5858; Wednesday, April 25 at 10:30 a.m. at North Branch Library, 1001 Monroe Street, 862-5858, and 10:30 a.m. at Thompson Lane Branch Library, 380 Thompson Ln., 862-5873; Thursday, April 26 at 6:30 p.m. at Inglewood Branch Library, 4312 Gallatin Road, 862-5866; Saturday, April 28 at 10:30 a.m. at Richland Park Branch Library, 4711 Charlotte Ave., 862-5870; Monday, April 30 at 2:00 p.m. at Looby Branch Library, 2301 Metro Center Blvd., 862-5867.

String Fling

The student winners of the violin and viola competition sponsored by Metro schools string teachers play in a special concert, April 20 at 1:00 p.m. in the Courtyard Gallery of Main Library, 615 Church St., 862-5800.

Mixed-Media Painting

Kids can develop their drawing and design skills while creating landscape collage art using oil pastels, pencils, brushes and more in this class taught by an instructor from the Watkins College of Art and Design. Class size is limited and reservations are suggested; call 862-5867. April 10 at 4:00 p.m. at Looby Branch Library, 2301 Metro Center Blvd.

Bilingual Story Time: Cuentos Bilingües

This interactive literacy hour features Spanish/English stories, games and songs, led by volunteers from Book ‘Em. April 14 at 11:00 a.m. at Edmondson Pike Branch Library, 5501 Edmondson Pk., 880-3957.

Interpreted Story Hour

The stories and adventures of the Professor, Library Pete, and Mary Mary and the residents of the Puppet House will be interpreted for deaf and hard-of-hearing preschoolers and school-age children at a special story hour, April 17 at 12:15 p.m. in the Children’s Theater at Main Library, 615 Church St., 862-5750.

Recycle Your Reads

Donate gently used books, CDs and DVDs to “Recycle Your Reads,” a special sale to benefit the free programs and events hosted by Friends of the East Branch Library. April 21 from 9:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m. at East Branch Library, 206 Gallatin Rd., 862-5860. Book donations accepted until Apr. 19 at the library. A Friends Book Sale will also be held Apr. 21 from 9:00 a.m.-noon at Southeast Branch Library, 2325 Hickory Highlands Dr., 862-5871.