Exploring Natural Pigments Workshop
Saturday, January 21, 2012 from 2-4pm
Have you ever wondered where color comes from? When you buy tubes of paint in a paint store, what IS that stuff? Most of the paint you buy is from petrochemicals or heavy metals like cadmium, but before synthetic pigments were invented, people used a variety of crushed rocks and plants to make paint. These beautiful colors are still available to us, and are much less toxic than synthetic pigments. You can even make them yourself!
Come give natural pigments a try with artist Tilke Elkins. Do a sketch with walnut ink and then paint it using provided mineral pigments. Because of limited space, pre-registration is required! Call the library at 541-726-3766 to sign up.

Mike Curtis, Author of Memories of a Musician in Mexico
Tuesday, January 31, 2012 at 6:30pm
Popular jazz and klezmer performer Mike Curtis, who taught at OSU and was a longtime member of the Corvallis Symphony, has written a book about his playing days and travels throughout Mexico. Now a member of Eugene Symphony and a well-known composer of woodwind chamber music, Curtis will read from and sign his new book Memories of a Musician in Mexico.
Between tales about working with a Mexican orchestra and his dozens of journeys sharing his favorite places with friends and family, he will play the sax, clarinet and bassoon tunes he wrote while living there.

"On the Road with Rutherford B. Hayes: Oregon's First Presidential Visit, 1880"
Tuesday, February 21, 2012 at 6:30pm
Local historian Kristine Deacon recently published her article on President Hayes's visit to Oregon in the Oregon Historical Quarterly. She will present about this interesting moment in our local history with a question and answer session to follow.