Holiday Mail for Heroes

Maitland Public Library is proud to participate in the Red Cross' initiative Holiday Mail for Heroes.  At Storytime Tuesday morning, 10:30 a.m, please drop by and make a card for our men and women serving in the armed forces overseas.  While we are enjoying our peace, the comfort of our homes, and the loved ones around us, please take a moment to remember the servicemen and women - our friends and neighbors - who will be away from their loved ones this holiday season.  All materials will be provided.  You do not need to be a library card holder to participate.  And thank you!

If you can't make it tomorrow, the Holiday Mail for Heroes program will continue from now until Thursday, December 9th, during normal library hours.

National Gaming Day at the Library, Saturday, November 13th, 2 - 6 p.m! Two awesome events!

Join us Saturday, November 13th from 2 - 6 p.m. for two incredible events! First, as seen on TV, The Game Dudes are coming from 2 - 4 p.m. with their mobile gaming theater!

And if that's still not enough! From 4 - 6 p.m, join us for Live Clue! in the Multipurpose Room where YOU become one of the characaters of the popular board game. Solve the mystery and win some prizes! Everyone attending gets to join in the pizza grabbing, soda-chugging fun!

Be there or be really silly!

All of these events are totally FREE! and open to the public. You do not need to be a library card holder to attend. See you there!

Talk and Painting Workshop by Doreen and Robert Butler about Florida Highwaymen

  The evening on October 16th opened with Doreen Butler answering questions and talking of her quite artistic family of painters, their styles of painting, and who, exactly, the Florida Highwaymen were... and are.

  www.floridahighwaymenpaintings.com sums up the movement this way: "In the early 1950’s through the 1980’s a group of twenty-six African-American artists known as the "Florida Highwaymen" used vivid and bright colors to display the beautiful untouched Florida landscape. The Florida Highwaymen painted wind-bent palm trees, serene sunsets, churning oceans and bright red Poinciana trees. They painted from their garages and back yards on inexpensive Upson board and then on the weekends they would travel and sell their Highwaymen paintings to hotels, offices, businesses and individuals who appreciated the artwork for around $25 a piece."

Then Doreen introduced her father, Robert Butler, who eloquently described how he became a Highwayman painter,his love of Florida's natural beauty, and what he does now.

Meanwhile, Doreen painted a breath-taking Florida landscape, which Robert Butler put the finishing touches on.

This was signed, auctioned off, and a portion of the proceeds generously donated to the Maitland Library. Those in the audience had the priviledge of talking to Doreen and Robert Butler one-on-one during refreshments afterward. 

Thank you to Doreen and Robert Butler for the stellar presentation and generous donation; to Mark Shumard for the wonderful photography of the event; and to everone who attended.

We look forward to having another Florida Highwaymen event again soon!

You can see more about these painters at the Orlando History Center:

Against All Odds: The Art of the Highwaymen

A History Center Special 10th Anniversary Exhibit

September 25, 2010 thru January 2, 2011

www.theHistoryCenter.org/highwaymen

National Gaming Day at the Library, Saturday, November 13th, 1 - 6 p.m! Three awesome events!

Join us Saturday, November 13th from 1 - 6 p.m. for three incredible events!  First, READing Paws will be here from 1 - 3 p.m; reading, reinforcement and fun for kids of all ages.

Then!  The Game Dudes are coming from 2 - 4 p.m. with their mobile gaming theater!

And if that's still not enough!  From 4 - 6 p.m, join us for Live Clue! in the Multipurpose Room where YOU become one of the characaters of the popular board game.  Solve the mystery and win some prizes!  Everyone attending gets to join in the pizza grabbing, soda-chugging fun!

Be there or be really silly!

All of these events are totally FREE! and open to the public.  You do not need to be a library card holder to attend.  See you there!

Live Clue at the Library! 4pm, Saturday November 13th. Be there! Win prizes! Eat pizza! Kids 8 and up. 100% FREE!