Arts & Culture

  • Ralph Steadman: Evocative Frenzy

    I am unceasingly inspired by the artistic wizardry of Ralph Steadman, particularly his knack for evocative frenzy. Though clearly an expert draughtsman, he’s made a career out of twisting conventional imagery with a demented cartoon sensibility. What appears at first in his work to be frayed and chaotic ends up revealing character with a greater… Continue reading

  • Seattle Rep’s DRY POWDER: Beyond the Theater

    Seattle Repertory Theatre presents DRY POWDER by Sarah Burgess from March 17 – April 15, 2017. Set in the top echelons of today’s morally-compromised financial sector, this dark comedy explores the uneasy relationship between being good and doing well. Librarians at Seattle Public Library created this list of books, CDs and films to enhance your experience of the show: Seattle… Continue reading

  • Handling the Material: Art Techniques, Guides and Processes

    In the blink of an eye rubber hits a road, a hand hits the mat, grabs hold of brush or pen as the wrist turns into a twist. Arms do the heavy lifting, the torso pivots. If this were the theater (and it is) the director would shout, “Action!” The whole body is engaged. This… Continue reading

  • Immigration and the Refugee Experience Presented in Comics for Kids and Young Adults

    Comics can be an effective gateway toward empathy and understanding. Both fiction and non-fiction comics can help the reader visualize and develop context for a wide variety of human experience. Here are a few comics which may help younger readers learn about the lives and experiences of refugees and immigrants. Continue reading

  • Lisa Kron’s Well at Seattle Repertory Theatre

    Seattle Repertory Theatre presents Well by Lisa Kron from February 10 to March 5, 2017.  How does an adult child care for a chronically ill parent? Lisa Kron’s Well explores her complicated and loving relationship with her mother, as well as community activism and the nature of illness—all through the lens of deconstructed theatre Continue reading

  • Seattle Rep’s WOODY SEZ: Beyond the Theatre

    Seattle Repertory Theatre presents WOODY SEZ by David M. Lutken from January 6 to 29, 2017. Librarians at The Seattle Public Library created this list of books, CDs and DVDs to enhance your experience of the show: Seattle Rep’s WOODY SEZ: Beyond the Theatre Playwright and musician David Lutken brings a folk legend to life… Continue reading

  • Morrissey and Marr

    If you are a fan of The Smiths, the Manchester, England band together from 1982-1987, known for the indie hits such as “How Soon is Now?” and “This Charming Man,” then you took notice when Morrissey’s Autobiography came out in 2013 (as a Penguin Classic, an auspicious honor). Morrissey has long been an enigmatic yet mysterious musician.… Continue reading

  • Musicians We Lost in 2016

    2016 was a brutal year for musicians and their fans. Things started out badly with David Bowie leaving us in January, then got worse when Prince suddenly died in April, and became seriously heartbreaking with Sharon Jones’ untimely death in November. There’s still 5 days left in 2016, and I’m a little terrified that we… Continue reading

  • hoopla for the holidays

    The holidays are upon us, and for many of us that means non-stop activity with family and friends. If you need to take a break and carve out some time for yourself, grab your smartphone or laptop and go right to hoopla and stream a movie, anytime! Here are ten recent additions to consider. Beetlejuice… Continue reading

  • Seattle Rep’s VIETGONE: Beyond the Theatre

    Seattle Repertory Theatre presents VIETGONE by Qui Nguyen from December 2, 2016 to January 1, 2017. Librarians at Seattle Public Library created this list of books, CDs and films to enhance your experience of the show: Seattle Rep’s VIETGONE: Beyond the Theatre. A raucous rock-and-roll road trip across America in 1975 taken by two Vietnamese teens forms… Continue reading

  • Books to Movies: 2017 and Beyond

    Want to catch up on must-reads books before they become movies? Are you excited to see – or dreading to watch – your favorite characters come to life? Here are some of the most anticipated adaptations coming to a screen near you. Check out the books now, while there’s still time! Continue reading

  • Have you heard of the #LemonadeSyllabus?

    When Beyoncé’s visual album Lemonade was released this past April, it became an internet sensation. But did you hear about the resource, titled the Lemonade Syllabus, which was inspired by it? After many people across the world watched Beyoncé’s visual album, writer and educator Candice Benbow wanted to find a way to continue the conversation… Continue reading

  • Bring Down the House

    Have you heard the latest about William Shakespeare? Oxford University Press recently credited Christopher Marlowe as co-author for Henry VI Parts 1, 2, and 3. NPR has an interesting interview with Gary Taylor, Florida State University professor and one of the general editors of The New Oxford Shakespeare, in which he details the process for… Continue reading

  • Seattle Rep’s KING CHARLES III: Beyond the Theatre

    Seattle Repertory Theatre presents KING CHARLES III by Mike Bartlett from November 11 to December 11, 2016. Librarians at Seattle Public Library created this list of books and DVDs to enhance your experience of the show: Seattle Rep’s KING CHARLES III: Beyond the Theatre Singular in his distinction of being a king-in-waiting, the Prince of… Continue reading

  • Novembeard

    It’s November! And if the beard hasn’t made it’s presence known yet, it will this month! Between No Shave November bringing awareness to prostate cancer and the winter chill filling the air; the hair will grow!! And because we are nerds here are a few books to get you inspired: Beard by Matthew Rainwaters. I… Continue reading

  • Films to inspire you to change the world: Recommended picks from Seattle’s Social Justice Film Festival

    Our guest post today is thanks to Michelle Dillon, librarian for Seattle’s groundbreaking and award-winning Books to Prisoners, a non-profit organization that puts thousands of books into the hands of incarcerated individuals each year. Learn more about the importance of this work in promoting literacy and reducing recidivism in this recent article from The Guardian, and learn about how you… Continue reading

  • Seattle Rep’s ROZ AND RAY: Beyond the Theatre

    Seattle Repertory Theatre presents ROZ + Ray by Karen Hartman from October 14 – November 13, 2016. Librarians at Seattle Public Library created this list of resources to enhance your experience of the show: Seattle Rep’s ROZ AND RAY: Beyond the Theatre I was a small child when the AIDS crisis broke, but I still… Continue reading

  • Bringing Mexico Home

    I finally traveled abroad for the first time last year to Mexico! It was beautiful and rugged, but the best part was the food! I searched and searched the library to track down the food I fell in love with. Here are the recipes I’ve found and the stories attached: Tequila: Myth, Magic & Spirited… Continue reading