Arne Nixon Center

Exhibition and Events Recap

noreply@blogger.com (Mila) — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 19:49:00 +0000

Leonard Marcus presentation

ANCA Annual Meeting that was held on Sept. 16 was also the opening reception for Arne Nixon Center's exhibition 'Down the Rabbit Hole with Lewis Carroll and Leonard Weisgard'. Guest speaker Leonard Marcus was excellent in his presentation of Leonard Weisgard's arts and contributions to the children's literature field.

Among the highlights of the evening are special guests Abby and Chrissy Weisgard daughters of Leonard Weisgard, and a rousing presentation as Mad Hatter by Peter McDonald, Henry Madden Library's Dean.

Here are some pictures from the event:

Peter McDonald as Mad Hatter

Leonard Marcus signing session

Abby Weisgard and Angelica Carpenter

Alice in Wonderland-themed cookie

The 'Down the Rabbit Hole with Lewis Carroll and Leonard Weisgard' exhibition in the Henry Madden Library was open to the public from September 16 - October 26, 2011.

More than 4000 people came to visit the exhibit that displayed Lewis Carroll materials from the Arne Nixon Center’s extensive collection, including original art by Leonard Weisgard for his 1949 edition of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass.

Also on display were other materials on loan including original Leonard Weisgard arts on loan from his family, original Alice-themed art by Charles M. Schulz for his “Peanuts” comic strip (loaned by the Charles M. Schulz Museum), anamorphic Alice bronze sculptures loaned by artist Karen Mortillaro, original art loaned by author/illustrator Byron Sewell, and original Lewis Carrol materials loaned by Mark Burstein.

The 9th IBBY Regional Conference: Peace The World Together With Children's Books, held on Oct. 21-23, provides a unique opportunity for teachers, librarians, and other readers to experience the world of international children's and young adult literature and serve as the closing event for our exhibition.

The three day conference was filled with many events including key-note speakers such as Pam Munoz Ryan, Grace Lin, Adwoa Badoe, and many more; discussion groups and post-conference tours to the Shinzen Garden and Yosemite National Park.

To view more photos of these events, visit Arne Nixon Center's web album: http://picasaweb.google.com/arne.nixon.center

Leonard Marcus in Fresno on Sept. 16

noreply@blogger.com (Arne Nixon Center) — Wed, 24 Aug 2011 17:31:00 +0000

The annual meeting of ANCA, the Arne Nixon Center Advocates, will be held Friday, September 16, 2011, with a talk by Leonard Marcus. This event will mark the opening of the Arne Nixon Center’s exhibition “Down the Rabbit Hole with Lewis Carroll and Leonard Weisgard.”

Leonard Marcus

The program, to be held at the Henry Madden Library on the campus of California State University, Fresno, will feature a 6:00 p.m. reception, followed by a talk at 7:00 by Leonard Marcus, entitled “Revolution in 32 Pages: How Leonard Weisgard and Friends Re-Invented the American Picture Book.” Special guests will include Abby and Christina Weisgard, daughters of Leonard Weisgard, who are coming from their homes in Denmark to attend.

Leonard Marcus is a renowned author, children's book expert, and historian. He has written many highly acclaimed books about children's literature and the authors and artists who create it, including Margaret Wise Brown and Ursula Nordstrom. His lavishly illustrated Golden Legacy: How Golden Books Won Children's Hearts, Changed Publishing Forever, and Became an American Icon Along the Way was published to commemorate the 65^th anniversary of Little Golden Books. The author’s books will be available for sale and autographing courtesy of Petunia’s Place bookstore.

Although there is no charge for admission, seating is limited and reservations are required, by calling 559.278.8116 or sending e-mail to mrianto@csufresno.edu.

“Down the Rabbit Hole with Lewis Carroll and Leonard Weisgard”

noreply@blogger.com (Arne Nixon Center) — Thu, 11 Aug 2011 18:25:00 +0000

Alice and Cat
by Leonard Weisgard

The Arne Nixon Center at California State University, Fresno, will offer two coordinating exhibitions in the Henry Madden Library from September 16 - October 26, 2011.

The second-floor Leon S. Peters Ellipse Gallery will display Lewis Carroll materials from the Arne Nixon Center’s extensive collection, including original art by Leonard Weisgard for his 1949 edition of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass. Materials on loan will include original Alice-themed art by Charles M. Schulz for his “Peanuts” comic strip (loaned by the Charles M. Schulz Museum), anamorphic Alice bronze sculptures loaned by artist Karen Mortillaro, and original art loaned by author/illustrator Byron Sewell.

The third-floor Pete P. Peters Ellipse Balcony will showcase additional illustrations from picture books by Leonard Weisgard, on loan from his family. Leonard Weisgard won the 1947 Caldecott medal for illustration for his pictures for Golden MacDonald’s book The Little Island.

The exhibitions, which are suitable for all ages, will be open:

Monday to Friday from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Saturday from 1:00 to 5:00 p.m.
Sunday 2:00 to 5:00 p.m.

Other viewings may be arranged by calling the Arne Nixon Center at 559.278.8116.

Visit our Facebook page for pre-exhibit sneak peek of the collection (and the unpacking process).

Spring Flurries

noreply@blogger.com (Mila) — Mon, 16 May 2011 22:22:00 +0000

Koko welcomes spring at the Arne Nixon Center with some friends and flowery decorations.
We also have some spring themed books on display in one of the Center's display cases, while our other display cases are loaned out to the Henry Madden Library's Samurai Exhibit.

Library's Dean, Peter McDonald &
ANC's Curator, Angelica Carpenter,
in front of the donation

We started off spring with the excellent news that Alma Flor Ada and Isabel Campoy are donating their collection of (mostly) Spanish language children's books, from various countries, to the Arne Nixon Center.
This collection is a great addition to the Center's foreign language collection, as well as being a complement to the Center's collection of the author's papers of Alma Flor Ada.
When the donation arrived at the Center last week, we filled almost a whole wall of shelving with these wonderful books.

The Center's preparations for hosting the 9th IBBY Regional Conference "Peace the World Together With Children´s Books" on October 21-23, 2011, are also picking up speed.
The conference will feature wonderful programs and speakers, such as Pam Muñoz Ryan, Peter Sís, Grace Lin, Margarita Engle, and so much more! To register for the conference and to get more information about the schedule, click here

It's a Party to Support ANC ~ Secret Garden Party

noreply@blogger.com (Arne Nixon Center) — Mon, 04 Apr 2011 20:10:00 +0000

04.19.2011 UPDATE:
Photos from this year's Secret Garden Party is available for viewing on our Facebook page. Much thanks Lisa Black, Howard Watkins and Angelica Carpenter for capturing the Party moments!

Original Post:
Join us this Sunday, April 10, 2011, to show your support for the Arne Nixon Center and get your tickets to attend the Arne Nixon Center Advocates' 9^th Annual Secret Garden Party.

Individual tickets are available for $50/person. Underwriters packages are still available, too. Contact Kellie at kelliew@csufresno.edu or (559) 278-5790, to reserve tickets or sign-up as an underwriter.

Follow the link to ANC website for more information about the party!

Walter R. Brooks Exhibit

noreply@blogger.com (Mila) — Mon, 28 Feb 2011 19:22:00 +0000

In honor of the Friends of Freddy fan club gathering in Fresno, the Arne Nixon Center will exhibit books and artifacts from the library of the late Walter R. Brooks, author of the Freddy the Pig series.Brooks wrote 25 Freddy books, which were published from 1927 to 1958. He also wrote some 200 short stories for adults, 20 of them featuring Ed the Talking Horse, whose adventures formed the basis of the kitsch classic TV show of the 1960s, “Mr. Ed.”

The exhibition includes two cases of books by Brooks and a third case showcasing books illustrated by Kurt Wiese, who provided pictures for all but the first Freddy book. Two pieces of original Freddy art are also included. Wiese became well-known for his illustrations in Felix Salten’s story of Bambi. He won two Caldecott Honor medals, one in 1946 for his book, You Can Write Chinese and another in 1949 for his book, Fish in the Air. He is also the illustrator of the picture book classic, The Story about Ping by Marjorie Flack.

Two additional cases offer biographical information about Walter R. Brooks, who was born in 1886 in Rome, New York. Orphaned at the age of fifteen, he was sent by his wealthy family to a military boarding school near Peekskill. Later he became a writer for magazines and one of America’s most beloved children’s authors. His Freddy books are still in print, with new paperback editions being published this spring.
The exhibition includes family photos, Brooks’s teenage journal, his scrapbook, beautiful books from his library (he was also a book dealer), and even his typewriter (pictured on the left). All of the exhibition materials were donated by Brooks’s biographer, Michael Cart, a well-known author, librarian, and columnist who is donating his own books and papers to the Center.

A brochure with selected quotes from Brooks’s journal is available for those who come to see this exhibition. The exhibition will run until March 31, located in the Shirley Brinker Gallery and the Arne Nixon Center Reading Room, is open to the public weekdays from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Registration information of Friends of Freddy Convention can be found here.

Planning for 2011 Programs

noreply@blogger.com (Arne Nixon Center) — Mon, 24 Jan 2011 21:48:00 +0000

Save the date, and please plan to come to one (or some, or all!) of our programs this year. We have collaborated with some wonderful people and organizations, on-campus and off-campus, to offer these great programs in 2011.
So, here is a quick run-down of all the programs and exhibitions that the Arne Nixon Center is planning for the first half of this year:

February 3: Exclusive Film Screening
Everyone is invited to see an exclusive Central Valley film screening of The Library of the Early Mind: A Grown-Up Look at the Art of Children's Literature, on Feb. 3 at the Henry Madden Library. This event is free for the public, but space is limited to the first 100 people. To see the trailer (and 'Like' it!) and get more info on the film, click here.
February 10: A Child's Garden of Verses Recital
The public is invited to a recital of Robert Louis Stevenson’s poems set to music and performed by pianist Hatem Nadim and Fresno State vocal students from the Voice Studio of Professor Emerita Helene Joseph-Weil. This event is free for the public, the recital will start at 12:30 pm at the Henry Madden Library. For more info, click here

Exhibit: Walter R. Brooks (February 1 - March 31)
Walter R. Brooks was the author of Freddy the Pig children's books series about the talking animal detective. Brooks was also the author of more than 200 short stories for adults, 20 of them featuring Ed the Talking Horse, whose adventures formed the basis of the kitsch classic TV show of the 60s, "Mr. Ed."
This exhibit will be displayed at the Arne Nixon Center's reading room and gallery. It is open to the public during the Arne Nixon Center's open hours.
March 24: GLBTQ Collection Showcase and Open House
This showcase and open house, in collaboration with the Henry Madden Library's Development Office, will show some of the many GLBTQ themed books from Henry Madden Library and Arne Nixon Center collections. For more information about this event, see flyer (jpg) or visit the event's Facebook page (requires a Facebook account to access).
March 26-27: Friends of Freddy Convention
As we posted on this blog, this group celebrates the writings of Walter R. Brooks (1886-1958) and his literary alter ego, Freddy the Pig. Arne Nixon Center will host its convention at the Henry Madden Library. Registration is free for Friends of Freddy members, and only $25 for non-members, which also includes a two-years membership to the group. For more info, click here.
April 10: Centennial Secret Garden Party
Keeping up with Fresno State's Centennial celebration, our annual Secret Garden Party will have that 'Centennial' feel that you just must see! To reserve or sponsor this year's Secret Garden Party, please contact Kellie Willis at 559.278.5790.

We have more programs and exhibit planned for the second half of this year, including our Arne Nixon Center Advocates annual meeting, the International Board of Books for Young People (IBBY) Regional Conference, and our special Lewis Carroll exhibit.

Ashley Bryan Donates Art

noreply@blogger.com (Mila) — Wed, 20 Oct 2010 19:24:00 +0000

Artist/author Ashley Bryan has donated twelve pieces of original art from his famous picture books to the Arne Nixon Center for the Study of Children’s Literature, a department of the Henry Madden Library. The gift includes bright tempera paintings from The House with No Doors and The Story of the Three Kingdoms and watercolors from The Story of Lightning and Thunder and All Night, All Day. Pen and ink studies and paintings for The Dancing Granny show dancers in motion—their depiction so dynamic that they seem likely to shimmy right off the paper. The gift also includes a crayon pencil sketch from The Cat’s Purr, selected by the artist in honor of the Center’s Helen Monnette Amestoy Collection of Books on Cats.

   Ashley Bryan, who writes most of the books he illustrates, is the winner of three Coretta Scott King awards for illustration. In 2009 he won the American Library Association’s Laura Ingalls Wilder Award, a lifetime achievement award for substantial and lasting donations to children’s literature. In 2010 he won a Golden Kite Award from the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators for the best non-fiction book of the year, for his amazing and unusual picture book autobiography Ashley Bryan: Words to My Life’s Song.

    Ashley Bryan was born in New York in 1923 to parents who had moved there from Antigua, in the British West Indies. Even when he was denied a chance to study art because of the color of his skin, he kept drawing and painting until he found a school (Cooper Union) that was more interested in the colors on his canvases. He lives now on Cranberry Island, off the coast of Maine, in a house filled with art, sea-glass, puppets, and stained glass windows.

     The artist, who was a longtime friend of Arne Nixon’s, sent a letter with his art to the Center’s curator Angelica Carpenter:

“Dear Angelica, It was a joy meeting you at the SCBWI conference. . . . I have always thought of Arne Nixon and am donating some of my work to his Center. It was the news of my friend Aliki’s donation [of original art] that inspired me to act NOW.”

Earlier this year, author/artist Aliki paid a tribute to Ashley Bryan in her new picture book Push Button. The Arne Nixon Center thanks Ashley Bryan for these wonderful pictures and for the tribute to his friends, Aliki and Arne Nixon.

ARE YOU SCARED YET?

noreply@blogger.com (Mila) — Tue, 28 Sep 2010 18:03:00 +0000

Robert San Souci speaks for the Big Read Program

Everyone is invited to a talk by author Robert D. San Souci at 2 p.m. on Sunday, October 17, at the Woodward Park Library, 944 East Perrin Avenue in northeast Fresno. The program, which is co-sponsored by the Arne Nixon Center, is part of the Fresno County Public Library’s Big Read program. This event is FREE and open to the public.

The Big Read theme this year is the works of Edgar Allan Poe and other scary stories, like Haunted Houses (Are You Scared Yet?) by Robert San Souci. The Big Read will offer more than 100 programs in October and November, including this one, which is suitable for readers of all ages. Refreshments will be served. The author’s books will be available for sale and autographing from Petunia’s Place bookstore.

Click here for more info.

ANCA 2010 Annual Meeting with Virginia Pilegard

noreply@blogger.com (Mila) — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 21:07:00 +0000

Children's book author, Virginia Pilegard

The Arne Nixon Center Advocates invite everyone to their annual meeting, featuring picture book author Virginia Walton Pilegard. The program will be held on Friday, September 17, at the Henry Madden Library, 5200 N. Barton Avenue, Fresno. The evening will begin with a reception, featuring Chinese hors d'oeuvres, wine, and soft drinks at 6 p.m. The meeting will begin at 6:45 p.m.

Virginia Pilegard began writing for children while teaching math to third and fourth graders. Her Warlord series of seven picture books features well researched adventure stories set in ancient China, each demostrating a math concept.

The Warlord's Puzzle and The Warlord's Beads are listed on the state of California's core curriculum literature list for mathematics. Pilegard has traveled to China to do research for the series and for her newest book, The Emperor's Army, a picture book history of the terra-cotta warriors.

To find out how a girl who was raised in the mountains north of Fresno, in a two-room cabin with neither electricity nor plumbing, grew up to be a researcher and writer about ancient China, please join ANCA and Virginia Pilegard on September 17.

This event is open to the public and there is no fee to attend. Free parking is available. Reservations are required by sending email to mrianto@csufresno.edu or by calling (559) 278-8116. Petunia's Place bookstore will sell the author's books at the event for autographing.

Friends of Freddy to flock to Fresno (EVENT UPDATE)

noreply@blogger.com (Mila) — Mon, 16 Aug 2010 19:35:00 +0000

The Friends of Freddy will gather at the Arne Nixon Center from March 26-27, 2011 (date changed from March 19-20), to celebrate that pig o'their hearts, Freddy, the talking animal hero of 25 children's books written by the late Walter R. Brooks and published by Alfred A. Knopf from 1927 to 1958, the year of the author's death.
This gathering is free for members and $25 for non-members (Friends of Freddy membership info: http://www.freddythepig.org/MemOrder.html). RSVP are required by calling 559-278-8116 or email to mrianto@csufresno.edu.

In addition to the Freddy books, Brooks was the author of more than 200 short stories for adults, 20 of them featuring Ed the Talking Horse, whose adventures fromed the basis of the kitsch classic TV show of the 60s, "Mr. Ed."

Founded by Toronto playwright Dave Carley in 1984, this literary fan club has grown from a stalwart three of four to more than 600 members throughout the U.S., Canada, and England. Beginning in 1986, the Club began holding biennial conventions in New York, near Roxbury, where Brooks lived the last ten years of his life. The original whimsical purpose of the club was to "spread the names and fame of Walter R. Brooks and Freddy the Pig throughout the known universe." More seriously the Club was dedicated to seeing the Freddy books back in print and readily available for new generations of readers. Their dream came true in 1998 when The Overlook Press began reissuing the series. As a result, all the Freddy titles are once again in print in beautiful hardvover facsimile editions.

The Fresno gathering will be held, in part, to celebrate the gift of Michael Cart's collection of Freddy books and related materials as well as both Brooks' personal files and Cart's as well. The latter is Brooks' biographer; his book Talking Animals and Others: The Life and Work of Walter R. Brooks was published by Overlook in 2009. It will also celebrate is the 125th anniversary of Brooks' birth and the 25th anniversary of the first Friends of Freddy convention.

Leo Politi Garden Dedication

noreply@blogger.com (Mila) — Fri, 11 Jun 2010 23:35:00 +0000

The dedication ceremony for Leo Politi Garden were held on June 2. It was a very nice event attended by the Center's community supporters and fans of Leo Politi.

The garden honors the friendship between children's illustrator and author, Leo Politi, and his friend, the late Professor Arne Nixon. Politi, who was born in Fresno, lived most of his adult life in Los Angeles, but returned many times to speak at, and draw and paint at, workshops put on by Nixon.

The garden is funded by ANCA, the Arne Nixon Center Advocates. ANCA is the support group for the Arne Nixon Center for the Study of Children’s Literature.

Guests at the dedication includes Fresno State President John D. Welty, University Provost William Covino, Associate Dean of the Library Dave Tyckoson, Politi Garden's Landscape Architect Robert Boro and Arne Nixon Center Advocates president Denise Sciandra, along with Politi’s children, Paul Leo Politi and Suzanne Politi Bischof, and his granddaughter, Harmony Bischof.

The Arne Nixon Center is currently displaying an exhibit of Leo Politi artworks and books. Another online exhibit of Politi inscriptions on books that the Center have in its collection can be accessed through this link.

For more pictures from the Garden Dedication click here.

Oz: The Books Conference Round Up

noreply@blogger.com (Mila) — Thu, 27 May 2010 17:24:00 +0000

Oz: The Books Conference was held on May 14-16, 2010 at Fresno State Campus, and so-sponsored by the Arne Nixon Center and the International Wizard of Oz Club.
Renowned Oz experts and speakers such as Gregory Maguire, John Fricke, Eric Shanower, and many more, shared their Ozzy experiences.
See some of the photos from the conference at Arne Nixon Center's album.
Thank you to all the speakers, performers, and everyone that helps to make the Conference a success!

Here are some of the press coverage links for the Oz Conference:

Fresno Bee:

KSEE 24 (local NBC affiliate)

Oz Fest at Fresno State (5/13/2010)

ABC 30 (local ABC affiliate)

Wizard of Oz exhibit at Fresno State (5/16/2010)

The Collegian

The Emerald City exhibit (5/10/2010)

940 AM KYNO Radio (The Alan Autry Show)

Conversation with Gregory Maguire

Fresno State News

A Wicked Secret Garden Party

noreply@blogger.com (Mila) — Mon, 22 Mar 2010 21:03:00 +0000

Update 04/14/04: It was a rather rainy party but wonderful nevertheless, with great food, entertainments, awesome decorations, and pretty umbrellas. Thanks to all that came out to support the Center! Some pics from the party can be viewed right now at our Facebook page, the rest of the pics will be up through a link from our website soon...

ANCA, the Arne Nixon Center Advocates, invites everyone to its eighth annual Secret Garden Party, on Sunday, April 11th, from 3 to 5 p.m. There will be no cyclones, flying monkeys, or apple-throwing trees, but you might see a Wicked Witch in this spacious north Fresno garden. The party will feature songs from “Wicked,” the hit Broadway musical, and other Ozzy surprises. The exact location of the garden party will be revealed to underwriters and ticket holders upon registration.

Underwriters are needed; they will receive tickets to the party and acknowledgements in promotional materials. The $1,000 Sponsor fee includes up to eight tickets; Patrons, for a $500 fee, get up to six tickets; Contributors, for $250, receive up to four tickets. Individual tickets are also available for $50. The garden party is ANCA's major annual fundraising event; all profits benefit the Arne Nixon Center, this year helping to support the Center’s programs and collections, including the national Oz conference planned for May 14-16, 2010.

For more information about the secret Garden Party and its underwriting opportunities, or to purchase individual tickets, please call 559.278.5790 or e-mail kwillis@csufresno.edu.

Leo Politi Garden Groundbreaking & Construction

noreply@blogger.com (Mila) — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 17:47:00 +0000

The groundbreaking for the Leo Politi Garden is being planned for Monday morning, March 8, at 10 a.m.

Construction begins Monday, March 8, on the Leo Politi Garden, on the east side of the new Henry Madden Library. The garden honors the friendship between Fresno's most famous children's illustrator and author, Leo Politi, and his dear friend, the late Professor Arne Nixon. Politi, who was born in Fresno, lived most of his adult life in Los Angeles, but returned many times to speak at, and draw and paint at, workshops put on by Nixon.
The garden is funded by ANCA, the Arne Nixon Center Advocates. ANCA is the support group for the Arne Nixon Center for the Study of Children’s Literature, a department of the Library. The Arne Nixon Center was started in 1995, when Professor Nixon donated his personal collection of 22,000 children’s books to the Library. When he passed away in 1997, Professor Nixon left the Library a generous endowment to endow the Center. Today the fast-growing collection stands at 50,000+ books. It also includes the papers of authors and illustrators, and original art by illustrators, including Leo Politi.

ANCA, led by President Denise Sciandra, has 500+ members in 26 states. ANCA has raised the funds, via small donations and an annual fundraising event, the Secret Garden Party, to build the initial stage of the garden. The first round of construction will include the hardscape: walkways and a curving bench, and a fountain like the one in Leo Politi’s 1950 Caldecott-winning picture book Song of the Swallows.

Landscape architect Robert Boro based the garden design on Leo Politi’s art. “He never drew a straight line,” Boro said. The plants Boro chose are typical of Los Angeles home gardens, like Leo Politi’s. Because the garden is in a sheltered niche between the Library’s north and south wings (and directly under Starbucks), it can include delicate plants that need extra protection in Fresno winters.

The garden will include a Bauhinia Forficata, or Orchid Tree, that will be marked with a memorial plaque to honor the late Robert S. Billings, Professor of English on this campus from 1957-1992. The tree was donated by Professor Billings' widow, Bette Peterson, owner of Poppy Lane Press.

With luck, the garden will be completed in time for the Arne Nixon Center’s national Oz conference, “Oz: The Books,” to be held on this campus May 14-16, 2010.

“The garden comes as a nice surprise,” said Arne Nixon Curator Angelica Carpenter. “That is, we knew it was coming, but we didn’t know when.” Carpenter and the ANCA Board are working now to plan a garden dedication, and a Leo Politi exhibition, for sometime this summer, “once we have survived Oz.”

In the meantime, the Arne Nixon Center has prepared on online exhibition of Leo Politi inscriptions, which he drew and painted in books now in the Center’s collection. These may be seen at http://ecollections.lib.csufresno.edu/arne_nixon/collections/politi.php.

“Leo Politi was ahead of his time,” said Carpenter. “His focus on children from many cultures set a standard that changed the nature of children’s literature. We are proud to have this garden as an outward and visible sign of the treasures to be found in the Arne Nixon Center. The garden will stand as a tribute to ANCA, and to all the people who knew and loved Leo Politi and Arne Nixon, or who have been inspired by their work.”

We have winners...(and new display)

noreply@blogger.com (Mila) — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 19:09:00 +0000

WE HAVE WINNERS!
The judges have conferred and made their decisions on the winning entries for the Oz: Writing Contest. We can't really announce who the winners are out here yet, because we want to let thems know first.
We do want to to thank everyone that sent in their entries, or encourage their children/students to participate in this contest. It was very encouraging to see that interest in children's literature are still well and alive in the Central Valley. We received over 100 entries (definitely beyond our expectations...) from cities on the Central Valley, and also a lone entry from the Bay Area.

Right now, the entries are being edited by the Center's curator and will soon be on their way to Prof. Doug Hansen's art students, here at Fresno State, to be embellished with illustrations.
Special thanks to The Fresno Bee, that help co-sponsoring this program with the Arne Nixon Center and the International Wizard of Oz Club.

FIRED UP FOR BIG READ 2010 & AWARD BOOKS
We have a new display up in the Center's reading room. It's a two-in-one themed display! More pics are up in our Facebook page (are you a fan?)
Since the Fresno County Library's Big Read program this year is 'Fahrenheit 451' (there's a Big Read event on March 19 with graphic novelist, Tim Hamilton, more details here), our first theme is dystopian stories like Fahrenheit 451.
The second theme is award winning books that were given out by ALA earlier this year at their mid-winter conference. We're featuring books owned by the Center that won Newbery, Caldecott, and more...
Come see these books at the Center (we'll even take it out of case if you want to read them)!

2010 at the Center

noreply@blogger.com (Mila) — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 00:50:00 +0000

We're busy, busy... here at the Center preparing for our main event of 2010, the "Oz: The Books" conference and our annual 'Secret Garden Party', this year, with a Wicked theme. If you're interested in attending the conference, send in your registration early for discounted price.

We are also encouraging students on 4th -12th grade to submit their writing for the 'Oz Writing Contest' which will have $600 total cash prize and other prizes as well.

On the first week of January, an aspiring librarian/artist/illustrator, Dora Mitchell, volunteered at the Center and work on our Oz theme display. So, come on over to the Center to see it in person! So far, we have the L. Frank Baum display case and the Oz: The Books Conference Speaker display case. We would have more Oz-themed display cases as we're getting closer to the main event dates.

Many thanks to Michael Cart, who sent us donation of 40+ boxes, containing 1100+ YA themed books at the end of December 2009. We finally finished unpacking the boxes and here are a glimpse of what 1100+ books looks like on our shelf!

Have a Great Holiday!

noreply@blogger.com (Mila) — Fri, 25 Dec 2009 18:36:00 +0000

A few holiday season characters around the Center

Koko with Santa hat greets you near our guess-what-book-inspire-this-ornament Christmas tree...

..a reading bear among our stacks and an elf perched near our entrance door..

... and of course, an homage to the celebration of Hannukah...

Have a great holiday season everyone, see you in 2010

Oz Conference Registration Info

noreply@blogger.com (Mila) — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 21:29:00 +0000

At last...the registration information for Oz: The Books Conference (May 14-16, 2010) is now available! Go to Arne Nixon Center's website to download the form, read about the marvelous line-up of speakers, or to see the conference schedule.

Register Early! Discounted prices available for early registration, ANCA members, IWOC members, and students. Call 559.278.8116 for more information.

Lodging Information:
The Piccadilly Inn-University offers an “Oz Conference” rate of $98, per night, per room (includes tax and continental breakfast). Reserve early because room rate will increase after 4/14/2009. Call (800) HOTEL-US (468-3587) or (559) 224-4200

Oz: The Writing Contest

noreply@blogger.com (Mila) — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 20:58:00 +0000

Calling all young writers!

Write your way to Oz!

Create an original story based on The Wonderful Wizard of Oz and the other Oz books by America’s foremost author of fairy tales, L. Frank Baum.

Rules:

Contest open to all students, grades 4–12, residing in California.
Submission must be accompanied by the Entry form and Permission form. (Find entry forms and rules at www.arnenixoncenter.org, call us at 559.278.8116, or visit your nearest Fresno County Public Library branch)
Complete rules available at the www.arnenixoncenter.org

Division A 4th – 7th grade (500 words)

Division B: 8th – 12th grade (1500 words)

Awards for each Division:

1st Place: $150
2nd Place: $100
3rd Place: $50

All winners will receive ten copies of their stories, embellished with illustrations provided by art students at Fresno State. Winners will be honored at the “Oz: The Books” conference on Sunday morning, May 16th, at Fresno State. Their families will also be invited as special guests.

Submission Deadline:

Entries must be postmarked by January 29, 2010, or delivered by 5 p.m. on that date to:

Oz Writing Contest

Arne Nixon Center, Henry Madden Library

California State University, Fresno

5200 N. Barton Ave. M/S ML34

Fresno, CA 93740-8014

Winners will be notified by February 26, 2010.

Sponsors:

Follow the Yellow Brick Road to Fresno

noreply@blogger.com (Mila) — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 23:17:00 +0000

The Arne Nixon Center and The International Wizard of Oz Club invite everyone to a national Oz conference, “Oz: The Books,” May 14-16, 2010, on the Fresno State campus.

Featured speakers will include Gregory Maguire, author of Wicked; Michael Patrick Hearn, author of The Annotated Wizard of Oz; John Fricke, co-author of The Wizard of Oz: An Illustrated Companion to the Timeless Movie Classic; Kathleen Krull, author of The Road to Oz: Twists, Bumps, and Triumphs in the Life of L. Frank Baum; and graphic novelist Eric Shanower, author/artist of Adventures in Oz.

The conference will feature a musical, “Time Again in Oz,” produced by the Fresno State Theatre Arts Department and directed by J. Daniel Herring. Playwright Suzan L. Zeder, who based this play on the third Oz book, Ozma of Oz, will also be a speaker.

ANCA, the Arne Nixon Center Advocates, will sponsor the conference reception. The Fresno Metropolitan Museum of Art, History, and Science will offer a special Ozzy exhibition. Other community sponsors include Fresno Pacific University and The Fresno County Public Library. Planning is still underway; some projects are dependant on the future generosity of donors. As plans progress, information will be posted on the Center’s Web site at www.arnenixoncenter.org. The Center’s phone number is (559) 278-8116.

Wrap-up and Pics from 2009 ANCA Annual Meeting with Margarita Engle

noreply@blogger.com (Arne Nixon Center) — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 19:10:00 +0000

The 2009 ANCA Annual Meeting was a great fun! We had about 140 people RSVPd, and perhaps a bit more attended that day.

Thank you so much for everyone that joined us last Friday for some delicious Cuban-themed food and wonderful presentation from both Margarita Engle and WILPF's Jane Addams award.

Here are some more pics, courtesy of Howard Watkins, from the event. If you missed this one -- just remember to join us next time!

Margarita Engle (right) with ANCA President, Denise Sciandra, posing in front of original art of 'Poet Slave of Cuba' book cover that is part of the Center's art collection.

From left to right: Sandy Silver (WILPF), Denise Sciandra (ANCA), Margarita Engle, Angelica Carpenter (ANC Curator), and Ellie Bluestein (WILPF)

Margarita Engle

Attendees enjoying scrumptious Cuban-themed food

Attendees listening to Margarita Engle's presentation

Award winning author, Margarita Engle, to guest speak at ANCA 2009 Annual Meeting

noreply@blogger.com (Mila) — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 19:22:00 +0000

Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month with author Margarita Engle at the annual meeting of ANCA, the Arne Nixon Center Advocates. The meeting will be held at 6:00 p.m. on Friday, September 25, at the ~~Henry Madden Library~~ Unitarian Universalist Church of Fresno (location change due to mandatory furlough at CSU Fresno campus). Following a reception at 6:00 p.m., the program will begin at 6:45 p.m.

Margarita Engle, who lives in Clovis, CA, is the Cuban-American author of three novels, written in free verse, for young people:

The Poet Slave of Cuba: A Biography of Juan Francisco Manzano, won the 2008 Pura Belpré Award (honors Latino authors whose work best portrays, affirms and celebrates the Latino cultural experience in children’s literature), the Americas Award, and many other national awards.
The Surrender Tree, about a freed slave who treated the wounded from both sides in Cuba’s 19th-century struggle for independence, won the 2009 Pura Belpré Award, the Americas Award, the Lee Bennett Hopkins Poetry Award, and it is a 2009 Newbery Honor book.
Tropical Secrets: Holocaust Refugees in Cuba, published in April 2009, is already winning rave reviews

This event is open to the public and there is no fee to attend. Free parking is available. Reservations are required by sending email to mrianto@csufresno.edu or by calling (559) 278-8116. The author’s books will be available for sale and autographing.

For more information about the program: http://bit.ly/1zkhiD

The Search for Leo Politi Early Work

noreply@blogger.com (Arne Nixon Center) — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 23:01:00 +0000

The family of the late author/artist, Leo Politi, along with collectors of Politi’s works, are searching for photographs of Politi’s early work, especially some panels that first hung in the Old Administration Building at what is now Fresno City College.

In 1930 the young artist Leo Politi returned to California from Europe, where he had attended art school. He was invited to decorate the panels of the new “Green Room Theatre” (a name never formally adopted) in the Old Administration Building. His gray and black panel designs used Art Deco style, combining abstract, cubist, and futurist elements. At least one panel was later moved to the current Fresno State campus, but it can no longer be found.

HELP!

Out there somewhere in a drawer or a chest may be pictures of these panels, or maybe even an actual panel. At Fresno City College, the Old Administration Building is being restored, and there is interest in recreating the original designs.

If you have information or photos of these panels, please contact the Arne Nixon Center at (559) 278-8116 or mrianto@csufresno.edu.

'Stories of Our Lives' with Katherine Paterson

noreply@blogger.com (Mila) — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 18:22:00 +0000

Two-time Newbery Medalist, Katherine Paterson, will speak on 'The Stories of Our Lives' at Fresno State Campus on April 17, 2009. Lecture will begin at 7:30 pm at the John Wright Theatre. This event is free and open to the public, however reservations are required at 559.278.8116 or mrianto@csufresno.edu.

Paterson won the Newbery for Jacob Have I Loved and Bridge to Terabithia. Her other best-selling titles include The Great Gilly Hopkins, The Same Stuff as Stars, and many other children and young adult books.

Katherine Paterson’s books will be available for sale and signing at the event. Her books are also available before the event from Petunia's Place bookstore.