Reflecting, Sharing, Learning

Shifting Shapes: Collaborations with Nature
Sculpture by Barbara Odil

Athens-Clarke County Library
Appleton Auditorium/Quiet Gallery
2025 Baxter Street
Athens, Georgia
706 613 3650

Artist Talk/Reception Sunday, November 18 • 2 pm
Exhibition November 18, 2018 - January 12, 2019

Barbara Odil is a respected local artist, and we are proud to show her work here in the Quiet Galley. The exhibition will run from November 18 through January 12, 2019, and Barbara will give a talk in the auditorium on Sunday, November 18 at 2 pm. A reception will follow.

The sculptures of Barbara Odil are created from fallen wood gathered from forests, deserts, seashores and gardens. The shape of the wood inspires her, and she enters into a creative collaboration with the organic form she finds in nature. After the initial cleaning and curing process, Barbara intuitively responds to each piece of wood, often spending several days holding, examining, and silently communicating with it. When the vision for the sculpture has become clear, the materials and the artist begin the creative dance.

Odil's work and her spiritual practice both deeply honor and celebrate the Earth and all her inhabitants. As her life and spiritual practice evolve, her work continues to grow and change. Her intention and inspiration remain constant, love and respect for all of life. She strives to honor that in her work and the way she lives.

Listening in The Dark on Haunted Hill

Donna O’Kelley Butler • Jacqueline Elsner

David Oates • Joy Ovington • Eddie Whitlock

Athens-Clarke County Library 

2025 Baxter Street • Athens, Georgia • 706 613 3650 x343

Monday, October 29, 7:00 pm

Listening in the Dark rises once again from the grave to celebrate its fifth birthday at the library on Monday, October 29 at 7:00 pm!

Listening in the Dark on Haunted Hill: An Evening of Spooky Stories for Grownups will take place on Monday, October 29 at 7 p.m. in the Appleton Auditorium. Join us... if you dare! A quartet of librarians will chill your blood with original and traditional horror stories: Bogart Librarian Donna Butler will be on hand, Athens-Clarke County Library volunteer Coordinator Eddie Whitlock will read an original short story, ACCL Operations Manager Joy Ovington returns, and retired librarian Jackie Elsner will have you on the edge of your seat. Library friend David Oates regales us this year, and others may join the throng.

Donna O'Kelley Butler has been telling stories of one sort or another her whole life. Currently, she serves as the Branch Supervisor of the Bogart Library, where she entertains and enlightens hundreds of patrons, school children and teachers with her renditions of folktales, legends, myths and historical tales. One or two of them MIGHT just be true!

Jacqueline Elsner enjoyed over forty years of library storytelling before her retirement from the Athens Regional Library System in 2014. Occasionally she now tells Appalachian and Cherokee stories  and sings ballads to guests at the Len Foote Hike Inn in Amicalola Falls State Park, GA. Her CD Ballad of The Bones: Byron Herbert Reece Poems Sung as Ballads helps preserve and promote the legacy of Georgia's mountain poet.

David Oates has 30 years experience teaching writing, has had three books published, and his work has appeared in many magazines He is the host and producer of “Wordland” on WUGA FM. Oates received his master’s in creative writing from the University of Illinois—Chicago.

Joy Ovington has enjoyed a lifetime of working in all aspects of performing and holds an MFA from the Florida State University/Asolo Conservatory for Professional Actor Training. Favorite roles include Witch #3 in MacBeth and Nurse Ratched in One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest. While not working in Library Administration, she enjoys choir singing and working with theatre companies around town.

Eddie Whitlock manages the Library Store and coordinates volunteers for the Athens-Clarke County Library.  He is the author of two books: Evil is Always Human (2012) and POTUS of the Living Dead (2014). He is currently working on a sequel to his first novel.

The event is free and open to the public.

Attacking Within: A Case of Emotional Abuse

A One-act Play by Carol Nimmons and Panel Discussion

Athens-Clarke County Library • Appleton Auditorium

2025 Baxter Street • Athens, Georgia • 706 613 3650 x343

Sunday, October 28 • 2:30 pm

On Sunday afternoon, October 28, at 2:30, the Athens-Clarke County Library is proud to present a new one-act play, Attacking Within: A Case of Emotional Abuse by Oconee County playwright Carol Nimmons. The actors are Lorraine Thompson, Drama Department Head at Athens Academy, and Ralph Stephens, the President of Friends of Athens Creative Theatre.

This play is based upon the real-life experiences of a mother as she struggles to overcome her feelings of inadequacy, and illuminates the long-term effects of emotional abuse upon the victim and those closely associated with the victim. The play developed as a result of a mother witnessing the effects emotional abuse had upon her daughter, the victim; her grandchildren and herself through a period of 10 years. The husband, whom the daughter later divorced, was the instigator. Many parties, including governmental agencies, were involved, some very willing to help, some quite indifferent. The play will be followed by a panel discussion/question-and-answer session with Pat Peterson of Project Safe; Yvonne Davenport, author & former DFACS worker; and psychologist Carolyn Barnes.

This program is free and open to the public.

The Solar System: Providing Solar Energy for your Home

Warren McPherson with Gerd Schroth & Joel Huff

Athens-Clarke County Library

Appleton Auditorium

2025 Baxter Street • Athens, Georgia

706 613 3650 x343

Wednesday, September 19 • 7 pm

Have you had enough of stratospheric power bills? Perhaps you’ve thought about gathering your own energy from the sun or the wind, cutting your costs, and going a bit green in the bargain. Is it time to cut the cord?

Wednesday evening, September 19 at 7:00 pm, Warren McPherson, Director of Athens Montessori School, will talk about how he added solar arrays to the school, achieving significant savings and breaking even in a short period of time; he will also give you advice on how to do this to your own home. Solar experts, Gerd Schroth and Joel Huff, will be on hand to give hard info on what you need to do to make your own house more energy effective.

Warren McPherson founded Athens Montessori School over 40 years ago. Warren is a graduate of Cornell University and the Washington Montessori Institute where he received his Montessori certification. More recently he received a Masters of Early Childhood Education from Kennesaw State University. He has served as President of the Morton Theatre, Arts Oglethorpe Trustees, and Athens Area Arts Council. Warren is passionate about creativity in education, theater and organic gardening.

Athens Montessori School is a Clarke County Green School and has received awards and recognition from many organizations, including: National Wildlife Federation Schoolyard Habitat, Odum Greenfest Awards, Home Depot Youth Garden Grant, Garden Earth Naturalist Grant, Keep Athens Clarke County Beautiful Grant, Friends of Barnett Shoals Award, Hands on Athens, Agribility, and Rivers Alive.

Athens-Clarke County Library is the recipient of a grant from EBSCO Industries which allowed us to install the new solar array next to the building, which you can see from our parking lot.

Come on by the library Saturday from 2 to 4 and meet Alex Burns, James Burns, Patrick Dean, Abby Kacen, Missy Kulik, David Mack, Scott Stripling, Devlin Thompson & Klon Waldrip; have some punch & cookies and peruse some original art & zines!