AAU Library Blog

Check out the new words that made it into the Merriam-Webster Dictionary this year!

http://tinyurl.com/6r85f5

(The article was on SFGate.com in case the link expires.)

The library is currently trying out some terrific databases on a short term basis. Find a biography of someone, search for articles on technology and science, get an image of an artwork, or do all of the above with one search. (For you library geeks, it even has library literature!) Go to the databases tab on the library website and click on Wilson Web to access this rich resource. (From off campus, just enter your name and ID.) Once in Wilson, select the database(s) you’d like to search by checking the boxes. Happy hunting!

http://elmo.academyart.edu/research/index.html

Our cataloging maven Abby D. created this summer’s book display. The three tiered book display orbits around the concept of quilting: political quilting, quilting patterns, psychology of ordered patterns as well as other two-dimensional designs. Abby explains:

“Quilting is an artform that utilizes principles of visual communication by combining textile art, fine art, and graphic design. The books displayed offer insight into the many ways that quilts can be interpreted conceptually. There are examples of early quilts used for household decoration and political purposes, as well as modern mixed media pieces and bona fide abstract art.”

This display can be seen in as you walk into the library, on your right side. These books are available for checkout.  

Checkout the National Palace Images and the Japanese Historical Map Collections now on the AAU Library Website. You will find these new resources under the Digital Images Webpage.

The National Palace Images Collection contains over 5,000, high-resolution images from the National Palace Museum in Taipei (Taipei is the capital city of Taiwan). “The scope of these works spans seven millennia of Chinese history and pre-history” and features impressive artworks such as bronzes, calligraphy, ceramics, paintings, sculptures, and jades.

Image: Yellow jar with beast-handles. Qian-long reign, late 18th century.

The Japanese Historical Map Collection contains over 1,500 maps and related cartographic materials from the East Asian Library at UC Berkeley. “The maps were selected by Yuki Ishimatsu, Head of Japanese Collections at the East Asian Library at U.C. Berkeley, and scanned and put online by David Rumsey and Cartography Associates.” The collection’s dates range from 1600 to 1970.

Image: Tokaido Gyoretsu sugoroku. “Covers Tokaido Highway from Tokyo to Kyodo with 53 stations. Shows points of interest,” by Sadahide Gountei, Tetsuya Tanaka, and Ushinosuke Tanaka, 1860.

April has been National Poetry Month and it’s almost over, but here are some interesting things you can check out anytime.

A poet and soldier from Michigan who is stationed in Iraq has begun a blog describing his experiences. It’s well written and is fascinating to read. It’s part memoir, part travelogue, part life-during-wartime. Highly recommended.

http://poetadrianmassey.blogspot.com/

You might also want to check out the library’s holdings in poetry. There are books on all kinds of poetry topics, including haiku, children’s poetry, limericks, and poetry collections. The best way to discover them is to use the advanced search button on the library catalog, under the search box. Select subject in the dropdown menu and then put in the word poetry. You might be surprised by all that’s there.

One amazing example is the 3 volume Dante’s Inferno by the artist Sandow Birk and Marcus Sanders. It’s a reimagining of the story originally written in the 13th century about a pilgrim who travels through the underworld with the aid of the Roman poet from ancient times, Virgil. The Birk version is set in gritty urban LA - his detailed pen and ink drawings feature freeways and graffiti - and the text is adapted to contemporary, slangy English. It’s a wild journey. Call number PS3602 I745 in the Circulating Stacks.

Here’s an easy way you can do your part for Earth Day (and everyday) in the library:

Don’t print or photocopy more than you need to- remember, paper comes from trees.

Here’s a tip:

Print preview your documents before you press print- see how many pages you are actually printing out. Reduce the font size of your document, and get rid of extra spacing.

Want some other tips for around your house and while you are out and about?

Check out the EPA website’s tips for earth day.

image credit 

The Samek Art Gallery image collection is one of many free collections that the Academy of Art University library includes in its directory of digital images collections. The Samek collection has over 1,200 images with a large collection of prints such as lithographs, etchings, color woodcuts on paper, and engravings.

The Samek collection holds many humorous etchings of the British artist, James Gillray, which stand out to me in particular because of their satirical depiction of everyday life as well as the wonderful caricaturist quality that reminds me of the works of graphic novelists today.

Another interesting series of prints featured in the Samek collection is the “Jackleg Testament” by Ohioan artist Jack Bolotin. These woodcuts have recently been turned into a “woodcut motion picture”. To learn more about Bolotin and his film, visit the Bucknell University exhibit Website.

The Samek also holds a large collection of Japanese inrō.

These lacquered boxes were suspended from the traditional Japanese kimono in order to hold seals and inks (inrō literally means “seal basket”). Check out, “Japanese Inrō”, a wonderful book that includes the history and many beautiful color photographs of these boxes.

The Cherry Blossom Festival Grand Parade is happening this Sunday, April 20th in Japantown.

You can check out all of the festival events at the Northern California Cherry Blossom Festival website: http://nccbf.org

This is their description of the Grand Parade:

“The parade begins at the Civic Center at 1:00p.m., proceeding up Polk to Post Street, and ending in Japantown at Post and Fillmore streets. A number of performers from Japan will also grace us with their presence. Japanese classical (Buyo) and folk dance (Minyo) groups representing the Bay Area will perform throughout the parade route like a myriad of floating butterflies.

Highly honored Boy Scout Troops from the Japanese American communities will march proudly along the streets. Streams of colorful floats will be carrying young women representing Japanese American and other Asian communities.World renowned San Francisco Taiko Dojo will keep the parade upbeat with the thundering sound of the taiko, and this year’s Queen and her Court will cascade their way to Japantown. Anchoring the parade is the exciting Taru Mikoshi, that will be hoisted by over one hundred strong individuals from throughout the Bay Area. It is a spectacle not to be missed.”

Too busy this weekend to attend the festival? Come on in to the library and check out our books on Japanese Art and Culture. You can search the online catalog using the keyword search “Art, Japanese” or “Culture, Japanese” or browse the painting and photography sections for Japanese artists. We just ordered a copy of Hokusai’s Mount Fuji: The Complete Views in Color. This complete collection of Hokusai’s famous views of Mount Fuji is the only high-quality reproduction of these engravings, long considered the Japanese masters greatest works. Look for it on the “New Books” shelf next week.

Pop-up books always elicit a WOW reaction from kids and adults alike, and our collection has samples from two wildly successful pop-up book designers.

Robert Sabuda creates a new book for every Christmas season. One of his most spectacular is The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. Sabuda adopted the style and palette of the first Oz book from over 100 years ago, but this book is 3-D, as well. Open the book and a cyclone pops up, whirling. Dorothy’s house squashes the Wicked Witch of the East and you can see her feet sticking out from under the house (in the story the slippers are silver, not the ruby red of the movie). And when viewing the Emerald City, put on your magic green spectacles (included) to see the hidden message. (Z1033. T68 B38 200, Desk Reference)

David A. Carter’s One Red Dot is a delightful counting book that encourages children (and US) to find and count the “four flip-flop flaps and one red dot.” This book pops up, twirls, wiggles, flips, bounces, dangles, and coils. Although it doesn’t actually talk to you, the “six fluttering flicker clickers” do make noise. (Z1033.T68 C38 2005,Desk Reference)

Ready to try your hand at your own pop-up creation? David Carter has kindly produced a how-to book for beginners: The Elements of Pop-Up: A Pop-Up Book For Aspiring Paper Engineers. (Z1033. T68C37 1999)

The Yerba Buena Center for the Arts is showing six stylish Japanese films beginning Thursday, April 10.  The films are from the Nikkatsu film studio and are full of gangsters, mystery, and romance.  Price is $6 for students and teachers.  Go here for more information:http://www.ybca.org/tickets/production.aspx?performanceNumber=4876