Bathers Library Newsletter #6

I can’t believe it’s March! Though, at the same time, February already feels like a blur. A drop of rain rolling off the speeding windshield that is… the inevitable passage of time? I’m a little loopy right now. Feeling a bit behind and kinda like everything is happening all at once. Bring it on, I guess? Yikes! Anyway, February was busy—we hosted a couple of readings, a drawing night, our first residents’ workshop, an interactive event on the joys and tribulations of connecting offline, a queer/trans book club, and our usual slate of reading groups (some ending, some still just getting started). Our March slate feels a bit leaner than last month, but maybe that’s just me adjusting to the general vibration? You be the judge?

FIRST FRIDAY

First (Friday) things first! we’ll be open late this Friday (tomorrow) for Oakland’s First Friday art walk/street sale! We have some gorgeous new art and design books in the shop (including a few copies of the SF Review of Whatever!)—and of course, Bathers Library shirts and artists’ games. I’ll be hanging out until 9 at least—later if it’s busy! Come thru!

PROPOSE A READING GROUP

Proposals are now open for reading groups! Which are the best! Read and think and grow with others!

Bathers Library Reading Groups are like brief, thematic book clubs created by our community. Reading groups can be based on a topic, theme, author, or whatever other interesting organizing principle you'd like to suggest. Reading groups should be structured to last about 6 weeks, and to be able to have between 8-15 or so people.

There’s no need to be an expert to submit a proposal or to lead a group. The one thing that maybe would be helpful would be to focus your topic—so, not necessarily going for a big overview (like: “art history” for example), but a more specific (artist, timeframe, concept, location, etc) within that concept would probably be most successful. See more details and submit your proposal at the link below!

Deadline for submission is March 17th at midnight. Accepted groups will be confirmed soon after. Accepted groups will start at various times between mid-April and mid-June.

WELCOME SPRING ARTIST RESIDENTS

March also marks the changing of the residency guard—with two new residents moving in! We are excited to welcome leena joshi and Robin Milliken for the spring term.

About our Spring residents:
Robin Milliken is an artist based in Oakland CA. Themes in her work include the stillness of night time, windows as a frame for contemplation, and thresholds. Drawn to many forms of creativity, she works primarily in colored pencil these days. 

leena joshi is an artist, poet, and facilitator. They are interested in gay + revolutionary love poems, cement sculpture, eating together, films, and moving slowly. They work designing youth video + media making programs at the Bay Area Video Coalition, and were formerly the digital media arts facilitator at Creative Growth Art Center.

UPCOMING EVENTS

About Fruit Salon: Fruit Salon is a wandering still life event series for all who like to looking, snacking, and chatting. Your hosts, Gracie Schatz and Erica Dixon, will arrange a still life around a theme and artists of all mediums are invited to come respond. (Attendees are invited to bring an on-theme object to add to the still life.) Pleasurable chatting during the drawing sessions is invited. During breaks we will enjoy an on-theme snack and share what we’ve created.

No drawing instruction or critique here, though there will be space to share. Some art supplies provided, and please bring your own if you have. No large setups (big easels) or oil based mediums.

That’s it for this month! Hope to see y’all around soon!
—Justin