Arts & Culture

Library Books at Home

I brought these library books home this week.

Now I finally get to sit down and have a good look at them. 

I put a hold on this book Shoot: Photography of the Moment without knowing much about it. Let's have a look.

We're going to see work by seventeen contemporary photographers who are new to me.

Let's open it at random. Oh, I like these cherry blossoms by Hiromix.

I like these too -- by Jason Nocito. It says Nocito divides his time between New York and Vancouver.

I like this taped-up thing. Another Nocito. Funny. This works for me. Nocito has gotten something out of nothing.

Here's a page by Glynnis McDaris (another New Yorker). What's that at the lower left?

Oh, it's a cat. Pulling some kind of plastic cord? I like this a lot. Those whiskers! Very inspiring!

When I first noticed this McDaris picture I thought it was too pretty and conventional to be interesting. But now that I've seen her picture of the cat I think it looks mysterious and beautuful. 

Let me give you the quickest look at this great collection of Thomas Ruff's photographs. Do you know Thomas Ruff? He's active now, working mostly in Germany.

He's famous for taking formal pictures of his friend's faces and exhibiting then as highly detailed prints seven feet high. He did dozens of these portaits -- all deadpan like these. 

Reproduced in a book without the seven foot high effect they're still fascinating.

I'll finish with two pictures from a series Ruff took at night with infrafed film. I love these.

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Looking at these books made me want to get out my camera and take more pictures.

New & Improved ! Electric Piano Keyboards for practise at the Toronto Reference Library

Come, see and adore them !

The Performing Arts & Languages Department recently acquired two new Yamaha electric piano keyboards and head phones. These replaced older equipment which had done 20 years of stalwart service.

The keyboards are located on the 5th floor of the Toronto Reference Library near the top of the stairs and are already a hit with the public.  The keyboards are well used and available free of charge on an informal booking system - first come first served for 30 minutes (or longer if no one else is waiting).  The two keyboards share a small practice room which is not soundproof and headphones must be used.  A new soundproof practice room is planned as part of the multi-year renovation of the Toronto Reference Library.

Many musicians use the electric keyboards to try out one of the 40,000 music scores the Toronto Reference Library has available - many of which can be borrowed.   You can also bring in your own sheet music/score.  

 

There are pianos available for practice within the Library system at the following branches:

Parliament Library: there is an upright piano in a soundproof practice room - free of charge - it can be booked one hour per day at 416.393.7663 .

North York Central Library, Languages, Literature and Fine Arts Department: there is an upright Baldwin studio piano in a practice room. The room is available for piano playing, score reading or for playing strings, woodwinds or other instruments. Due to minimal soundproofing, percussion or amplified instruments are not allowed.  You can book 2 weeks in advance for 1.5 hours per weekday and 1 hour on weekends at 416.395.5639 .

Parkdale Library: there is a Yamaha baby grand piano in the library auditorium. When the room is not in use, patrons may book free of charge up to one hour per day to a maximum of two hours per week at 416.393.7686 .