First Family: Under the Microscope

Before:

After:

Amazingly, micro sculptor, Willard Wigan does his sculpting under a microscope to create these miniature works of art. He said it took about 7-8 weeks to complete the first family but has found various challenges in completing a micro sculpture. Even cell phones can be a hazard. When one unexpectedly rang, he inhaled his Alice sculpture from his Alice in Wonderland creation. He had to start over but said he didn’t mind, as his second Alice turned out even better than the first. His work is so meticulous and fragile that he has had to literally learn to do his delicate work in-between heartbeats. Don’t even ask what he does when he gets the hiccups!

Below is an interview with this amazing artist:

Find many great books about Obama and his family at the Burlington Public Library

The Art of Trash

Artist, Brandon Jay Blommeart has created an amazing landscape where the creatures are made from recycled items that would have otherwise been thrown away. Have you made any “altered” or “trashy” art lately? Remember, “Express Yourself” this summer – we’ve got the books to show you how!

Where’s Waldo?

Where’s Waldo might be the question you think of first when looking at these pictures but China’s scorching heat wave recently, with temperatures near triple digits, have sent people rushing to the beach. Here are some photos of people cooling off at Chinese beaches as they try to find relief.

For us, this type of crowding is not a problem but we do only have 42 days until school starts, so get out there, grab a good book, some sunscreen and enjoy!

 

Here are a few guarenteed good reads for the beach:

All Decked Out

Whether you skateboard or snowboard, you undoubtedly have a favorite board. Part of the reason for your love of that board has got to do, at least a little bit or a lot, with the graphic design. Take a look at the upcoming events calendar where we will be discussing Sean Cliver’s book, Disposable on July 30 from 5-7 PM at the Burlington Library. Priority will be given to those in attendance for the Paint Your Own Skateboard Deck on August 13, so plan on joining us for both.

In the meantime, check out these photos of some great graphics at a show called “Decked Out” and another new book on skateboard graphics.

Wanted: Computer Animation Assistants

Do you have experience with computer animation? Do you need community service hours? Well, we have the thing for you! On Tuesday, August 11 and Thursday, August 13 from 9-10:30 am we will have an assistant’s training session in our computer lab at the Burlington Library with Computer Animation expert, Mark Kuo. With this training you will be prepared to assist during the animation camp taking place the following week, August 17 – August 21 at either the 9 am session or the 10 am session. Scheduling is flexible and we are more than happy to work with your schedule.

So, it’s really easy; get further training in something that you love, help others learn how, and receive credit and recognition for your assistance – it’s what we call a win-win!

Mark your calendar and call us today! 360-755-0760.

Want to see the classic fairy-tale, Little Red Riding Hood 2.0 retold with a modern twist?

Check it out!

8 Deadly Words

Local author, Alma Alexander shared that among science fiction authors, there are Eight Deadly Words; “I don’t care what happens to those people“. These words indicate the failure to engage the reader through a lack of intersting characters. Alma then shared different stories from her personal experience of having lived in Africa and going to school in England at a recent teen fantasy writer’s workshop at the Burlington Library. She recommended that writers not get hung up on the reality of objects when writing because they can be whatever you’d like them to be.

                                      Participants from Teen Fantasy Writing Workshop July 2009 @ BPL

She brought all of the participants a notebook with the ABC’s of Writing that gave helpful hints for writing. One participant explained his theory of writing fantasy by saying, “Fantasy is about taking the ordinary and making it extraordinary.” Alma agreed whole-heartedly. She said, “You’re exactly right, by changing the familiar into the unfamiliar allows you to go into a mind that’s not your own and play a what-if game.” 

She shared that her Worldweaver trilogy was inspired by a 2002 Young Adult Literature panel discussion in which someone brought up Harry Potter and the lack of adventure for any of the female characters. From that point on in the discussion she does not remember a single word, as she began mentally writing Worldweavers. Alma ended the workshop by saying, “Writing fantasy is the art of aiming for a goal and taking a sharp right turn.”

 

Check out Alma’s trilogy at the Burlington Library today!