Working up in The Attic, I have the chance to see a lot of different art exhibits come through. This month, our art gallery has been lucky to house a collection of photographs depicting African Americans during the early part of the 1900’s. These images are part of a movement known as the Harlem Renaissance and I thought I’d take a bit of time here to talk about this art movement and the collection itself. 

The Harlem Renaissance was an explosion in African American art, photography, writing, film, theatre and music. This movement lasted from about 1918 to 1937. Though artists would appear from many different midwestern and northern states, Harlem became the center of the movement. This borough of NYC is located on Manhattan Island. Since before the Revolutionary War, it was a safe haven for runaway slaves and a strong center for abolition and African American rights. In fact, Alexander Hamilton lived and worked in Harlem, practicing law. When he was elected a representative of New York, he would go on to write the state’s first petition to ban slavery. 

During the early 1900’s, many black southerners chose to leave the South and move into northern and midwestern cities. Known as the “Great Migration”, Harlem and other urban areas provided also provided many economic opportunities. This allowed black citizens better access to education as well as economic stability. As a result, black artists had the time, money and means to create artwork that would be seen by the rest of the world. 

John Johnson was an amatuer photographer living in Lincoln, Nebraska. He was born the son of an escaped slave and a Civil War veteran. Though Johnson never had a professional career, he was able to take pictures of his fellow neighbors, coworkers and family. Not only was he able to create beautiful images and experimented in this early art form, but his photos also document the changes that were happening in black communities during the Harlem Renaissance.

For one last chance to see Johnson’s photo exhibit before it closes, visit the Attic, located on the 4th floor of the Provo Library today between 4:00 and 9:00 pm.

Warm up with your favorite pumpkin-spice beverage before getting a chill up your spine from these grisly graphic novels. 

MY FRIEND DAHMER
By Derf Backderf
(2012)

Though true crime is usually a little too real for my horror tastes, this comic focuses on both Jeffrey Dahmer and the people who grew up with him. Written by one of the boys who went to high school with Dahmer, the book manages to show the human side of a serial killer, while not shying away from the sadistic qualities that would make him a murder. 

OUTCAST
By Robert Kirkman
Illustrated by Paul Azaceta
(2014)

In this comic, exorcism goes a little differently than in The Exorcist. Best known for his work on the Walking Dead comics, Robert Kirkman writes the chilling tale of a man’s battle against the demonic possessions that plague those anyone he comes in contact with. While supernatural, the comic also manages to explore the effects of real issues like childhood trauma and abuse. The comic was also adapted into a short-lived, but well-received tv series. 

AJIN: DEMI-HUMAN
By Tsuina MiuraI
llustrated by Gamon Sakurai
(2014)

An award-winning manga from Japan, this series takes place in a world where the general populace lives in fear of “ajins”: beings who look and act like normal humans. Just like normal people — except for the fact that they cannot die. One of the most visceral scenes is when, Kei, a normal high-schooler, finds out he is an ajin in the worst way possible — by getting run over by a truck. 

THROUGH THE WOODS
By Emily Carroll
(2014)

While the colors are vibrant, the stories are dark. Each tale in this spooky anthology reads like a dark fairy tale and is illustrated beautifully by the author, Emily Carroll. I have to put down that this is my personal favorite and a comic that I recommend to just about every person I meet.

Looking for a movie to send chills down your spine? While the horror genre has had some great films in recent history—from the Oscar-winning GET OUT, to the John Krasinski breakout, A QUIET PLACE—there have been many classic movies that have scared the pants off audiences. Here are some hits from yesteryear to get you in the mood for Halloween. 

THE INNOCENTS
Directed by Jack Clayton
(1961)

Based on the American novel, THE TURN OF THE SCREW, this British adaptation combines everything you’d want in Victorian horror — haunted estates, women in distress, and creepy children. A woman becomes the governess to a young brother and sister who may be much more than they appear. Are the apparitions she sees real? In this film, you can never really trust what people say—or what they see. If you are a fan of modern gothic films like THE WOMAN IN BLACK or THE OTHERS, check out THE INNOCENTS. 

Fun Fact: The screenplay for this film was worked on by Truman Capote, who took a break from his true crime classic, IN COLD BLOOD, to finish the movie script. 

ABBOT AND COSTELLO MEET FRANKENSTEIN
Directed by Charles Barton
(1948)

If you are looking for some good scares and good laughs, check out Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein. Made after the heyday of monster movies like DRACULA, FRANKENSTEIN and THE WOLFMAN, this movie manages to put all of them into one story. The “Avengers” of Universal horror films, the film manages one of the first “crossover” plotlines, pitting each monster against one another or our protagonists.  

Abbott and Costello both pull off one-liners with their usual skill, poking fun at the monsters while still allowing for some scary moments. The fear factor is helped by the fact that most of the creatures are played by their original actors—who are perfectly happy to howl, bite, and groan amid the jokes. My personal favorite is when Lon Chaney (the Wolfman) attempts to warn Costello over the phone about Dracula’s plot. Instead, Costello quickly becomes more and more irritated with Chaney’s “barking dog.” 

If you enjoy this film, be sure to check out other Abbott and Costello horror crossovers, such as ABBOTT AND COSTELLO MEET THE MUMMY and ABBOTT AND COSTELLO MEET THE INVISIBLE MAN. 

CAPE FEAR
Directed by J. Lee Thompson
(1962)

This film was initially worked on by Alfred Hitchcock, before he passed it onto his colleague, J. Lee Thompson. One of the best thrillers of the 1950’s, it tells the story of how one ex-con terrorizes the family of the lawyer who sent him to prison. Robert Mitchum pits himself against the upright everyman, Gregory Peck—who was known for playing another famous lawyer in TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD.  

Mitchum manages to play both cold, calculating villain and out-of-control maniac. It is his personality that truly makes the audience fear for the lawyer’s family. This film would be made again in 1991 by Martin Scorsese, starring Robert De Niro in the ex-con role. However, if you are interested in other horror films that showcase Robert Mitchum’s talent, I recommend the beautiful and horrifying THE NIGHT OF THE HUNTER. 

THE HAUNTING
Directed by Robert Wise
(1963)

Based on the 1959 book by Shirley Jackson, THE HAUNTING OF HILL HOUSE, which is widely considered to be the scariest book ever written. Both the movie and its classic film adaptation tell the story of four people invited to investigate not a house that is “haunted,” but is rather “diseased,” with a mind of its own. We soon realize the disturbing effect it has on each person who stays there, including the poor, lonely Eleanor.  

This film came out just 4 years after the book’s initial publication and was directed by Robert Wise—who had just come off a successful adaptation of WEST SIDE STORY (and would later go on to direct THE SOUND OF MUSIC). Don’t let the director’s background in musicals fool you, this movie will certainly keep you up at night. This film truly takes to heart the old adage that what you don’t see is scarier than what you do. From great acting, to terrifying sound design, this movie will drag you down into the madness that has enveloped the people staying at Hill House.  

In addition to the 1963 film, The Haunting of Hill House has had plenty of adaptations. These include a recent Netflix adaptation, of the same name, and a 1999 film with Liam Neeson, Owen Wilson, and Catherine Zeta-Jones. (Despite the star-studded cast, please do not subject yourself to this film.)

Book illustration has always been a great love of mine. As I child, I was always taken in by these drawings, especially in the fairy tales I read. As I got older, and the books I read had less and less pictures, but I was still fascinated by the pictures found on the covers of the books I read. To this day, I definitely have a weakness for “judging a book by its cover.” Part of that weakness is because some of my favorite books had covers illustrated by the same artists who created the picture books I read as a child. In celebration of these books, I have compiled a list of the best illustrators whose work is enjoyed by readers of all ages.  

Kinuko Y. Craft

BABA YAGA AND VASILISA THE BRAVE
By Marianna Mayer
(1994) 

WINTER ROSE
By Patricia A. McKillip
(1996)

Also known professionally as K.Y. Craft, Kinuko studied fine arts in Ishikawa, Japan. After graduating in 1962, she moved to Chicago, studying and working at local design studios. Her work is heavily influenced by traditional European masters, as well as 19th century Romanticism and Symbolism. In addition to being published in magazines like Time, her work has also been displayed at the The National Portrait Gallery in Washington, D.C.  

Trina Schart Hyman

HERSHEL AND THE HANUKKAH GOBLINS
By Eric A. Kimmel
(1989) 

A HIDDEN MAGIC
By Vivian Vande Velde
(1985)

One of the most applauded illustrators of her generation, Trina was awarded the Caldecott medal in 1984, the highest achievement for illustration in the U.S. She would go on to win three additional Caldecott awards for her work. Though she would also study at institutes in Boston and Stockholm, she was originally born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Sadly, she passed away in 2004, but not without leaving a legacy of revered work.  

Leo and Diane Dillon

THE PEOPLE COULD FLY
By Virginia Hamilton
(2004) 

ABHORSEN
By Garth Nix
(2003)

This husband and wife have worked together to create award-winning illustrations. Also awarded the Caldecott, they have the distinction of being the only consecutive winners — in 1976 and 1977. Each of their works is a collaboration between their styles. Occasionally, Lee Dillon, their son, a gifted sculptor, painter and craftsman, is also featured in their works.

Missing October? But already hung up the Christmas lights? Here are a few spooky-flavored books on the Christmas season to “chill” you over until December. 

NOS4R2
By Joe Hill
(2013)

You’ll never listen to Christmas songs on the radio the same way again. Joe Hill brings forth one of the most sinister villains to haunt the holiday season. Over many years, Charles Manx has grown into a vampire-like creature -- kidnapping children and bringing them to “Christmas Land” where they truly never grow up. Combining sinister set-up with engaging characters, Joe Hill’s novel stands up with even the best books written by his father, Stephen King.  

HOGFATHER: A NOVEL OF DISCWORLD
By Terry Pratchett
(1996)

Sir Terry Pratchett pens another satire set in his fantastical Discworld, this time for a holiday special! This black comedy tells the story of Death putting down his scythe and donning the big man’s red suit. Think THE NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS, but with more assassins, poker-wielding nannies, hung-over gods and of course, flying swine. 

THE WOMAN IN BLACK
By Susan Hill
(1983)

Many of you may be asking, “THE WOMAN IN BLACK is a Christmas book?” or even, “THE WOMAN IN BLACK is a novel?” But yes, this book/play/movie begins while sitting around a Christmas hearth. This novel continues the old English tradition of telling spooky stories around the holidays, recounting a “true ghost story” that affected the narrator in his youth. 

THE ANNOTATED CHRISTMAS CAROL: A CHRISTMAS CAROL IN PROSE
By Charles Dickens
(2004)

No list would be complete without the most famous Christmas ghost story of all. If you are looking for a bit bigger of a read (the original was only 110 pages) or just want to know more about Charles Dickens’s novel, check out THE ANNOTATED CHRISTMAS CAROL. Filled with copies of the original illustrations, theatre playbills and plenty of footnotes, it tells the history of A CHRISTMAS CAROL in its entirety. Once December rolls around, I also recommend pairing it with THE MAN WHO INVENTED CHRISTMAS, a film about the creation and impact of Dickens’s little book.

Art and drawing can be daunting. When first starting out, there are plenty of blog posts, videos and books on how to start drawing. But some of these tutorials can be pretty simplistic and can even promote bad habits. So I’ve compiled a list of some of the best books for improving your technique. If you want to get better at drawing, start with these! 

DRAWING LESSONS FROM THE GREAT MASTERS
By Robert Beverly Hale
(1964)

It’s always good to start your learning process with a good teacher. Who better to mentor you than some of the best artists of all time? By studying the drawings of Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci, Rembrandt and other masters, readers can better understand the techniques these artists used to create their finished paintings. 

BRIDGMAN’S COMPLETE GUIDE TO DRAWING FROM LIFE
By George Brant Bridgman
(1952)

This book is hands down one of the best ways for artists to understand anatomy and proportion. By exaggerating and breaking down the human body, Bridgman highlights how to draw each feature accurately. George Bridgman himself taught many famous artists. In his forty years of teaching, his students included Jackson Pollock, Will Eisner and Norman Rockwell. 

HOW TO DRAW : DRAWING AND SKETCHING OBJECTS AND ENVIRONMENTS FROM YOUR IMAGINATION
By Scott Robertson
(2013)

For years I tried to find a book that could teach me how to draw a straight line. Not only does this book teach you that, but shows you how to turn that straight line into a building, a car or a spaceship. If you are interested in learning how to draw backgrounds, architecture or simply learning to draw in perspective, check out this great guide. 

THE NATURAL WAY TO DRAW
By Kimon Nicolaïdes
(1969)

While this book is definitely the most effective way to improve your drawing, it also is the most difficult. Working as a manual for artists, Nicolaides outlines exercises that improve not just the way you draw, but how you see your art. However, this means that readers must complete these exercises over the course of an entire year, drawing for 15 hours a week.

And while the library's closed, there are still resources available to you! 

CREATIVEBUG

This new database features hundreds of video tutorials for arts and crafts of all different kinds, including many about drawing and illustration. Their Daily Practice Series offers an especially good way of getting into the habit of drawing every single day, since it features a month's worth of short video activities to get your creative juices flowing.

How to Draw

This video which you can stream via your Overdrive library account, features 18 hours of training. It was created by The Great Courses, so you can trust it to have college instruction level and great information. Be sure to search Overdrive's collection for books on drawing and illustration too!

With numerous book awards, best-selling comics, and multiple screenwriting credits under his belt, Neil Gaiman is one of the most widely recognized writers still living. You may be familiar with his Newbery-award winning THE GRAVEYARD BOOK, or the beloved STARDUST and CORALINE novels. Some may also be familiar with his SANDMAN comics or even his work with Terry Pratchett on GOOD OMENS.

But this prolific author has many wonderful works that often go unnoticed. Here are a few of Neil Gaiman’s hidden gems. 

INSTRUCTIONS
By Neil Gaiman
Illustrated by Charles Vess
(2010)

A fun parody of literary tropes and cliches, walk through this fairy tale with detailed “instructions” on how to get a happily ever after. 

A STUDY IN EMERALD
By Neil Gaiman
(2003)

One of Gaiman’s oddest short stories, it combines the fantastical monsters of H.P. Lovecraft with the logical world of Sherlock Holmes. Solve the murder of a Victorian “gentleman” in a London ruled by something other than human. 

NORSE MYTHOLOGY
By Neil Gaiman
Read by Neil Gaiman
(2017)

I particularly recommend the audiobook version of this collection of myths. While Gaiman reads, he is able to add humor and personality into familiar heros (and villains), like Thor, Odin and Loki. 

THE BOOKS OF MAGIC
By Neil Gaiman (along with John Ney Rieber and Peter Gross)
Illustrated by John Bolton (along with Scott Hampton, Charles Vess, Paul Johnson, Peter Gross and Jason Temujin Minor)
(1993)

An often overlooked addition to Gaiman’s bibliography, this book introduces characters both from superhero comics and Gaiman’s own SANDMAN series. An interesting look at magic, fantasy and growing up. (And the art is great too.) 

UNNATURAL CREATURES
By Neil Gaiman
(2013)

Unlike the others on this list, Neil Gaiman is mainly the curator (rather the author) of these short stories. They represent a wide range of fantasy authors, from new authors to classics, including (of course) one of Neil Gaiman’s own stories. 

Post-Christmas blues? After the 25th, it can be hard to let go of the holidays. Here are a few not quite Christmas movies that still keep that December spirit alive.  

THE CHRONICLES OF NARNIA: THE LION, THE WITCH, AND THE WARDROBE
Directed by Andrew Adamson
(2005)

A great take on the C.S. Lewis book, the wintery setting (and the fact that Santa Claus actually shows up in this film) make it a great pick for Christmas. Though for most of the movie it’s “always winter, but never Christmas” there are plenty of festive characters to enjoy. So sit down with some turkish delight and enjoy this reimagining of an old classic. 

WHILE YOU WERE SLEEPING
Directed by Jon Turteltaub
(1995)

A romantic comedy, this film takes place actually takes place over several holidays. Sandra Bullock pretends to be the fiancee of the comatose man she saved, all while slowing falling for his brother. The fun family dynamics make this a great film to watch any time of the year. 

HARRY POTTER AND THE SORCERER'S STONE
Directed by Chris Columbus
(2001)

This movie takes place, of course, throughout an entire school year. But some of its most memorable scenes take place over the holiday break: from the delicious Christmas feasts, to Harry discovering his invisibility cloak and the Mirror of Erised. It also helps that television networks have made the movie a Christmas staple over the past few years. 

LITTLE WOMEN
Directed by Gillian Armstrong
(1994)

Though this takes place over several years, its most enduring moments happen during Christmas. Enjoy this heartwarming, and sometimes heartbreaking, story of an American family as they experience life during and after the Civil War.

The past few years has seen the rise of podcasts. From solving cold cases, to chronicling every episode of the Gilmore Girls, there’s a show out there for everyone. And while it’s great to sit down and listen to an episode, sometimes I’m in the mood for a book. Lucky for me, some of my favorite podcasters have turned their creations into great reads. Here are a few great podcasts that just happen to be written down. 

THE WORLD OF LORE: MONSTROUS CREATURES
By Aaron Mahnke
(2017)

Aaron Mahnke self-published several books before creating his breakout podcast, “Lore”. This book chronicles the strange, spooky, and absolutely true stories that made “Lore” not only a popular podcast, but tv series as well. Read through the real supernatural stories that haunt the chronicles of history. For more spine-tingling tales, check out the sequels, DREADFUL PLACES and WICKED MORTALS. 

THE ADVENTURE ZONE. HERE THERE BE GERBLINS
By Clint McElroy

The family that podcasts together, stays together. At least, that seems to be the case with Clint McElroy and his brothers, hosts and creators of such popular podcasts as “My Brother, My Brother and Me”, “Sawbones”, and many, many other shows. In this comic book adaptation of “The Adventure Zone”, the brothers join their father for a magical journey through a Dungeons and Dragons campaign. Laugh, gasp and giggle as the family wades through a fantasy world filled with evil sorcerers, tea-drinking werewolves and goblin mines with terrible workplace comp. 

ALICE ISN’T DEAD 
By Joseph Fink
(2018)

Though Joseph Fink is known as the co-creator of the surreal, supernatural, “Welcome to Nightvale”, it’s his second go at podcasting that really shows off his storytelling skills. It chronicles the story of Keisha as she drives her semi truck cross-country, looking for her signs of her missing wife, Alice. As she drives she encounters strange and unusual happenings, which may or may not connect with Alice’s disappearance

One of the hallmarks of African-American literature in the “slave narrative.” These are true biographical accounts of slaves who lived in the American South. Mostly they are written by the slaves themselves (such as NARRATIVE OF THE LIFE OF FREDERICK DOUGLASS or INCIDENTS IN THE LIFE OF A SLAVE GIRL) giving a personal touch to each story. This, along with their experiences, make the storytelling distinctive and recognizable. Following the abolition of slavery, many African Americans have continued to write in this genre, calling it the “neo-slave narrative.” Mostly these new stories are fictional novels, but they take inspiration from real slave accounts, exploring the racial tensions and anxieties of this time period. Here are a few of the best in the genre: 

KINDRED 
By Octavia Butler
(1979)

A black woman spontaneously travels back in forth in time: from her apartment in 1970’s Los Angeles to a slave-holding plantation in the early 1800’s. Things do not go well. Despite its fantastic premise, Butler did extensive research to prepare for this novel. From reading personal accounts, to actually visiting the plantations, her writing is based as much as possible on the historical experience of slaves. 

BELOVED 
By Toni Morrison
(1987)

This story was initially inspired by an article printed in a 1865, titled "A Visit to the Slave Mother who Killed Her Child.” Half-poem, half ghost-story, Morrison’s novel includes the hardest-hitting parts of slavery. This book won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 1988 and was even made into a film starring Oprah Winfrey. 

THE UNDERGROUND RAILROAD 
By Colson Whitehead
(2016)

One of the oddest takes on “historical fiction” that I’ve ever read. In this story, the “Underground Railroad” is just that, literally an underground train riding through the Antebellum South. Another Pulitzer Prize winner, this novel purposefully drifts away from reality, mixing facts with fantastical reimagings. Despite the intentional inaccuracies, the work still rings true, highlighting the terrible atrocities that did occur.