M. T. Anderson to speak on October 5, 2012

The public is invited to a talk by award-winning author M. T. Anderson. Anderson will speak for the Arne Nixon Center Advocates (ANCA) annual meeting on Friday, October 5, at the Woodward Park Branch Library, 944 East Perrin Avenue, in northeast Fresno. A catered reception for the author will begin at 6:00 p.m. with the talk to follow at 7:00 p.m.

Anderson has written many books for young people, including picture books for children, series books for middle grade readers, and novels for teens and adults. His science fiction satire Feed was a finalist for the National Book Award and was the winner of the L.A. Times Book Prize.  Set in a futuristic dystopian society where consumers receive internet advertising and entertainment programming wired directly into their brains, Feed provides a thought-provoking look at a consumer society where addled minds and inarticulate tongues are the norm.  

Anderson received additional accolades for his two-part historical fiction series “The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation.”  Volume one, The Pox Party, won the National Book Award and The Boston Globe—Horn Book Prize. That volume and the second, The Kingdom on the Waves, were Printz Honor Books.

ANCA supports the work of the Center, including its many projects, events, and exhibits through its fund raising efforts. ANCA President Denise Sciandra will preside over a brief business meeting before the talk. If you would like to become an ANCA member, please see our electronic membership form at www.arnenixoncenter.org/help/helpform.shtml or email the Center at arne.nixon.center@gmail.com.

Anderson’s books will be available for purchase and signing at the meeting. Parking for the event is free. There is no charge for admission, but reservations are required by calling 559.278.8116 or by emailing jcrow@csufresno.edu by October 1.

The World of Costume Dolls and Wooden Toys

On behalf of the Arne Nixon Center, we thank Karin and Robert Larka for their generous donation of Russian costume dolls and wood carved toys.

Viewhere:Karin and Robert Larka Collection

Invitational visits to the Soviet Union offered Arne Nixon the opportunity to enrich lives of those around the world. He shared stories to children and made presentations to university groups, Soviet Publishers, editors, and others who worked with children’s literature. These items were purchased by the Larka family while traveling with Arne Nixon and Karin Sabul. Ms. Sabul, from Tallinn, Estonia, was their tour guide during a trip to Russia in 1987.

Included in this donation are 21 Bogorodskoe Wood Carved Toys.

Bogorodskoe Wood Carving is a folk craft of carved toys and sculpture from soft wood—linden, alder, and aspen. It has existed in the village of Bogorodskoe (presently located in Zagorsk Raion, Moscow Oblast, Russian Federation) probably since the 16th or 17th century. In the beginning of the 20th century the master craftsmen united into an artel known as the Bogorodskoe Engraver from 1923; in 1960 it was transformed into the Bogorodskoe Factory of Artistic Wood Carving. There is a professional technical school. Until the end of the 19th century Bogorodskoe wood carving preserved the traditional technique of shallow cuts, which revealed only the necessary details for the characterization of personages in the figurines of people and animals and moving toys (“bobbers,” “blacksmiths,” and so on). These details were often emphasized with bright painting. At the turn of the 20th century, the technique of cutting was replaced by more detailed working of the figures, which are then assembled into compositions and daily scenes on themes from fables, fairy tales, popular prints, poems, and, in Soviet times, from contemporary events and history as well.

Masters of Bogorodskoe wood carving include F. S. Balaev, A. G. Chushkin, V. S. Zinin, I. K. Stulov, M. A. Pronin, and M. F. Barinov.

Vasilenko, V. M. Russkaia narodnaia rez’ba i ros’pis po derevu XVIII-XX vv. Moscow, 1960.

The Great Soviet Encyclopedia, 3rd Edition (1970-1979). © 2010 The Gale Group, Inc. All rights reserve

Leonard Marcus in Fresno on Sept. 16

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”

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

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

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!