Pioneer Library System

In case you didn't know, construction of a new Blanchard Public Library building is currently in full swing.  In the not-so-distant future, the library will move from its current location in an old Methodist church to the new modern building at 205 NE 10th Street.

We have posted several photos of the construction and invite you to check out the Pioneer Library System's Flickr account to keep updated on the building's progress.  Whether you are anxiously awaiting construction to be completed or just curious to see what the new building looks like, take a look at the photos. You can even browse through several other Pioneer Library System event photos while there.

Michelangelo and the Sistine Chapel
by Andrew Graham-Dixon

If you are liked the movie The Agony and the Ecstasy with Charleston Heston and Rex Harrison you may be predisposed to read Michelangelo and the Sistine Chapel, however the book has less of the drama of Michelangelo's life and much more of the art. The book is broken into three major sections. The first part provides a brief biography of Michelangelo and discusses his work prior to undertaking the painting of the Sistine Chapel. This part is particularly interesting in pointing out that Michelangelo considered himself first and foremost to be a sculpture and in fact this first part ends with “The rest of this book is about the paintings created by the man who thought he was no painter.”

Part Two is about the art of the Sistine Chapel Ceiling. Andrew Graham-Dixon, who was the Chief Art Critic at the Independent for twelve years, describes the art in great detail and does an excellent job of interpreting the art and symbology as it would have been seen during Michelangelo's life. It also includes discussion of some of the, to Michelangelo, recent discoveries of ancient art that he may have used for inspiration. Since the Sistine Chapel tells the biblical story up to the time of Noah there are references to biblical text and Michelangelo's interpretation of that text.