An Examination of Vermeer in American Collections and Beyond

Johannes Vermeer is admired today as one of the greatest and most fascinating masters of the Golden Age of Dutch painting, and he will be the focus of the next Metropolitan Museum lecture at Bernardsville Library on Thursday, May 12 at 7:00 pm. Vivian Gordon from the museum’s Education Department will speak about Vermeer and give an overview of his 36 surviving paintings.

Justly described as “the sphinx of Delft,” Vermeer was almost forgotten after the 17th century. Now, however, any Vermeer exhibition draws huge crowds, and he is the subject of best-selling novels and films. The library talk, illustrated with slides, will examine Vermeer’s paintings and style with emphasis on the sizeable number – even more than in the Netherlands – that can be seen in American collections.

There is no charge to attend the program, but advance sign-up is requested. Register online at www.bernardsvillelibrary.org and follow the link under Adult Programs, or call the library at 908-766-0118 to sign up.

*Photo from The Metropolitan Museum of Art; www.metmuseum.org

Tips for Making a Career Change

If you are considering a change of careers, come to Bernardsville Public Library on Thursday, May 12 at 10:30 am for tips and pointers from Mona Witman, a Career Counselor with The Women’s Center at the County College of Morris.

Sometimes, a career change can be the best decision you ever make! The economy, age and health issues, family pressures, boredom or even a desire to accomplish more can be motivating factors. Ms. Witman will review the process and steps necessary to make a good decision—the necessity of identifying why you are changing careers; what steps are required to achieve your goal; and how to avoid making basic mistakes.

Ms. Witman has been giving career and job search advice for over 30 years, working with college students, displaced homemakers and the general community. She received her master’s degree from Columbia Teachers College, New York and was formerly the director of the Roxbury Career Counseling Center in Succasunna. She has lectured extensively throughout New Jersey on career issues.

There is no charge to attend the program, but advance sign-up is requested. Register online at www.bernardsvillelibrary.org and follow the link under Adult Programs, or call the library at 908-766-0118 to sign up.

Stay Young for the First 100 Years!

Getting and staying healthy takes thought, change, and effort, and local chiropractor Brian Wallace has some tips on how to do just that. Come to Bernardsville Library on Tuesday, May 10 at 7:00 pm to hear him explain how “moving well” will help you move towards the healthiest year of your life.

According to Wallace, the average lifespan today is 77.6 years and increasing which means that by 2050, 800,000 people will be living longer than one hundred years. But long life can also mean health problems after the age of 50 if we don’t do something earlier to avoid potential problems.

One of the most common causes of functional disability is “spinal disorder” and during his presentation, Wallace will discuss how to avoid and prevent spinal disorder to help assure everyone can enjoy their extended lives.

There is no charge to attend the program, but advance sign-up is requested. Register online at www.bernardsvillelibrary.org and follow the link under Adult Programs, or call the library at 908-766-0118 to sign up.

“Art As a Second Language” - May Exhibition at Bernardsville Library

Paintings by Bernardsville resident Keiko Matsuura as well as some by her teacher Mark de Mos, a resident of Morris Township, will be on display in an exhibition titled Art As A Second Language at Bernardsville Public Library during the month of May. The opening reception is Monday, May 9 from 6:00 to 8:00 pm. The public is invited to come and enjoy the exhibition.

A native of Japan, Ms. Matsuura came to the United States in 2004 and moved to Bernardsville in 2006. Since arriving in Bernardsville, she has focused her energies on her art, studying English in Bernardsville Library’s English-As-A-Second-Language program, and sharing her talents as a library volunteer. She took her first watercolor lesson in the fall of 2006 with Mark de Mos, “a wonderful teacher and an award winning artist.” “I was hooked right away on his lesson which showed me how water and color can run freely together on the paper, magically creating exciting colors.” Still under the spell of watercolor magic after the lesson, she couldn’t wait to start painting by herself

One of her first paintings, “Summer Day in Madison”, was accepted into the New Jersey Watercolor Society Juried Exhibition in 2009. In 2010, she received Best of Show in the Annual Juried Art Show at Bernardsville Public Library, the Award of Excellence in the New Jersey Watercolor Society Associate Member Show, and the Century Link Award in the Skylands Juried Art Exhibit. Her recent painting, “Texting in the City,” was accepted into the North East Watercolor Society International Exhibition 2010, and “H&M on 5th” was accepted into the New Jersey Watercolor Juried Exhibition 2010. In 2011, she received the Award of Merit from the Essex Watercolor Club. She was recently accepted as an elected member of the New Jersey Watercolor Society.

Ms. Matsuura also works as a volunteer in the children’s area at Bernardsville Public Library. She loves creating paper art work and uses her talent for their craft programs, including many origami and watercolor classes. Her summer book displays, mostly made out of paper or recyclable materials, have been a big hit at the library for the last three years. She received Volunteer of the Year Award from the library in 2009.

Mark de Mos, whose paintings will round out the show, has worked in pen and ink, etching, watercolor, oil and pastel. His work is influenced by John Singer Sargent, and he strives for a dynamic realism that is painterly and not photo realistic. A signature member of The Allied Artists of America (NYC), Hudson Valley Art Association, New Jersey Watercolor Society; The Garden State Watercolor Society, Pastel Society of New Jersey and North East Watercolor Society, he has appeared as a juror of selection for both the North East Watercolor Society and the New Jersey Watercolor Society, and has received eleven awards from these organizations as well as two awards from the Salmagundi Club (NYC) in national non-member shows. His work has also appeared in two “best of watercolor” books put out by North Light Press, and in “Splash 8” and “Splash 9” as well as “Watercolor Secrets,” selected artists chosen from the Splash series.

In 2005, he was the founding president of the Pastel Society of New Jersey. He teaches watercolor and pastel at the Center for Contemporary Art, for the Livingston Art Association and Lakeland Arts in Denville. He is affiliated with the Studio 7 Fine Art Gallery in Bernardsville

The library show is on view in the Community Room during regular library hours unless a meeting is in progress. For further information, please call the library at 908-766-0118.

*Painting by Keiko Matsuura: "End of Summer: Washington Square"

Behind the Scenes at QVC and HSN: Author to Speak at Bernardsville Library

Basking Ridge resident Nick Romer has mastered the art of selling on television and has written a book about his experiences: How to Make Millions Selling on QVC. The best-selling author will appear at Bernardsville Public Library on Monday, May 2 at 7:00 pm to give a "behind-the-scenes" look at the shopping networks and offer practical advice on how to launch a product and make money in the process. A 16-year veteran of the home shopping industry, he’ll let the audience in on what goes on backstage, what it’s like to appear on one of the few live television channels left, and what it takes to get your product in front of millions. His books will be available for purchase and signing.

When Mr. Romer initially invented the Kreate-a-lope® Envelope Maker—a template system to make an envelope out of any kind of paper in seconds—he wasn’t sure how to market and price his invention. When he discovered the then-fledgling home shopping channel QVC, he watched his product skyrocket in popularity and profitability. In fact, according to his book, he sold 22,020 units, over $400,000 in sales, in the first ten minutes!

Mr. Romer is an award-winning inventor of over one hundred products for crafters and hobbyists. He has appeared on QVC and HSN for many years and his products have been featured on many other shows both here and abroad. He is a recipient of QVC’s Million Dollar Sales Award, a two-time winner of Primedia’s Award of Excellence, and has won the Craft and Hobby Association Buyer’s Choice Award. He now also works as a strategist and consultant, helping people market their products in the home shopping industry via infomercials, traditional sales channels like retail chain stores, and using Internet marketing strategies.

There is no charge to attend the program, but advance sign-up is requested. Register online at www.bernardsvillelibrary.org and follow the link under Adult Programs, or call the library at 908-766-0118 to sign up.

“On-the-Spot” Children’s Portraits

Mother’s Day is approaching and here’s an idea for a perfect gift: a keepsake sketch which captures a son’s or daughter's appearance. Come to Bernardsville Public Library on Wednesday, May 4 between the hours of 1:00 and 5:00 pm when Harding artist Tine Kirkland Graham will be on hand to draw portraits “on the spot.” Mrs. Graham’s quick pen and ink sketches with watercolor highlights capture the essence of a person’s form and will be available for only $10/figure. (She can also work from a photograph if a child is not available on May 4.) Proceeds from the event will benefit the library.

“I love to sketch people of all ages, all sizes and all shapes,” says Mrs. Graham, “With their colorful garb, their different hair styles and attitudes, they all have a story to tell and I try to get the feel of each person.” She also writes books which she illustrates with her colorful drawings—about dogs and children’s stories with illustrations set in Nantucket, Bay Head and Florida. Her latest book, “Big Bossy Betty,” is an old-fashioned book about manners.

Describing herself as a “late in life artist,” Mrs. Graham is a self-taught artist who took some courses at The Center for Contemporary Art (formerly the Somerset Art Association) and the Summit Art Center. She began with pastel portraits of children and then moved on to large, wild beach and ocean scenes. Her work is represented in two galleries in Nantucket, as well as one in Bay Head, New Jersey and one in Florida.

Call the library at 908-766-0118 to reserve a timeslot or request further information.

Fifty Book Challenge Group to Meet

Reading fifty books in fifty-two weeks may seem daunting, but if you share the goal with a supportive group, it can be a lot of fun. Community members are invited to come to the next meeting of the 50 Book Challenge, which is led, prodded and encouraged by Reference Librarian Karen Vaias. The meeting, which will include snacks, a free book, reading logs and more, will take place on Saturday, April 30 at 3:00 pm in the library’s Community Room. There, ambitious readers will trade notes on their progress and get book recommendations as well as instructions on how to set up their own online reading logs and post reviews to the library’s “Book News and More” blog. New members are welcome at any time during the year and will be invited to additional events in the coming months.

“The goal of the program is to provide support for those readers who wish to challenge themselves,” said Ms. Vaias. “We also hope to provide a forum for readers who would like the opportunity to discuss books with others in a less formal environment than the traditional book group. One reader told us that through the discussion she discovered new books in Spanish and English that she really enjoyed, while several challenge participants found Young Adult literature to be very appealing, and others enjoyed listening to recorded books (for the narrators as much as for the stories.)”

The fifty books in fifty weeks are suggested, not required, for participation in the program. Each reader will choose which reading “counts” as part of the total. There are no limitations as to which formats can be read: downloaded books, audio books, e-books and graphic books are all acceptable.

There is no charge to attend the on-going programs, but advance sign-up is requested. Sign up online at www.bernardsvillelibrary.org and follow the link under Adult Programs, or by phone at 908-766-0118. If you are unable to attend the April meeting, but would like to enroll in the 50 Book Challenge, contact Karen Vaias at kvaias@bernardsvillelibrary.org or (908-766-0118).

Introduction to e-Readers @ Bernardsville Library

With the popularity of e-Books rising, many people would like to know more about the e-Readers available on the market on which they can read a huge variety of electronic books. On Thursday, April 28 at 10:30 am, Pat Kennedy-Grant, Readers’ Services Coordinator at Bernardsville Library, will offer an introduction to the Kindle, the Nook and the Sony e-Reader in the library’s Community Room.

“While it won’t be a hands-on class,” said Ms. Kennedy-Grant, “participants will get a good idea of the strong points and differences among these three devices.”

There is no charge to attend the program, but advance sign-up is requested. Register online at www.bernardsvillelibrary.org and follow the link under Adult Programs, or call the library at 908-766-0118 to sign up.

Where Does My Resume Go? An Inside View of the Corporate Hiring Process

Where does your resume go when you click the “Submit” button? Find out at a free workshop for job seekers which is designed to provide insight and tips for navigating today’s tight job market. For those who missed the first session, the program will be offered again at Bernardsville Public Library on Wednesday, April 27 at 7:00 pm.

In this interactive presentation, Tiffany Elliott, SPHR, MBA, will share insight gained from 15 years of human resources leadership at global 500 corporations. Her program will include an overview of the typical hiring process, what applicants should expect at each stage, and suggested preparation tips and strategies to help get noticed in the sea of competition. It is designed for job seekers in every phase of their careers—new college graduates, people entering the workforce after raising a family, and current working professionals looking for their next assignment or desiring a career change.

Ms. Elliott’s career has included extensive experience across a spectrum of industries including pharmaceutical, global commerce, telecommunications, electronics manufacturing, healthcare and aerospace. This year she established her own consulting firm to focus her experience and interest in the area of career coaching.

There is no charge to attend the program, but advance sign-up is requested. Register online at www.bernardsvillelibrary.org and follow the link under Adult Programs, or call the library at 908-766-0118 to sign up.

Memoirs & Coffee Book Group to Meet

The next meeting of Bernardsville Library’s book discussion group, Memoirs and Coffee, will be held on Tuesday, April 26 at 10:30 am in the library’s Community Room. Pat Kennedy-Grant, Readers’ Services Coordinator for the library, will lead the discussion of The Good Soldiers (2009) by David Finkel. [The author will not be present.]

Finkel is a Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter for the Washington Post who was embedded with US Army soldiers in Battalion 2-16 during the Iraq “surge” in 2007 and 2008. His book is an memorable work of reportage in which he tells the story of the “good soldiers” of the Battalion—the heroes and the ruined—during the surge and when they returned home. His goal, he said, was to write an “on the ground” report, and Steve Coll, an author and writer for The New Yorker, said of the book, “This is the finest book yet written on platoon-level combat in the Iraq War. Unforgettable—raw, moving and rendered with literary control.” Another writer, Thomas E. Ricks wrote, “This is the best account I have read of the life of one unit in the Iraq War. It is closely observed, carefully recorded and beautifully written.”

Finkel is the National Enterprise Editor of The Washington Post. He won the 2006 Pulitzer Prize for Explanatory Reporting for his series of stories about US-funded democracy efforts in Yemen. He lives in Maryland.

There is no charge to attend the book discussion, and no sign-up is needed. For further information, call the library at 908-766-0118.

Author of “Exercise and the Mind” to Speak at Bernardsville Library

Dr. Paul J. Kiell, a psychiatrist who lives in Far Hills, will speak about his book, Exercise and the Mind: The Possibilities for Mind-Body-Spirit Unity (2010), at Bernardsville Public Library on Tuesday, April 26 at 7:00 pm.

In the book, which is both a literary and scientific look at the notion of "a healthy mind in a healthy body," Dr. Kiell explores the transcendent value of sport and exercise. “My quest is to demonstrate how the exercise habits of philosophers, poets, musicians, artists, writers and statesmen affected their minds and their work,” he writes in the Author’s Note. He believes that exercise improves mood, heightens intellectual faculties, and stimulates creativity, while also decreasing anxiety, fear and anger. Dr. Kiell is also the author of American Miler, a biography of the runner Glenn Cunningham. He is an active masters swimmer, and has participated in marathon running as well as long-distance swimming.

There is no charge to attend the program, but advance sign-up is requested. Register online at http://www.bernardsvillelibrary.org/ and follow the link under Adult Programs, or call the library at 908-766-0118 to sign up.

Moms Mentoring Moms

Bring a bag lunch and your thoughts as Bernardsville Public Library hosts the third meeting of “Moms Mentoring Moms” on Wednesday, April 20 at 12 noon. Designed for parents of high school students, this program seeks to provide a forum in which parents can come together for an opportunity to interact with other parents to provide support and insight as they wade through the high school years with their children. Both Moms and Dads are welcome. The group will meet monthly with the next meeting scheduled for May 18 at 12:00 pm. There is no charge to attend the program, but advance sign-up is requested. Register online at www.bernardsvillelibrary.org and follow the link under Adult Programs, or call the library at 908-766-0118 to sign up.