Join the Friends of the JP Library for music and refreshments to celebrate the holiday season. Featuring music Sulinha’s Trio with Erico Menino and Tom Yates
WINTER
Book Sale
30 South Street
Jamaica Plain, MA, 02130
THURSDAY, DEC. 5: 5:00 PM - 8:00 PM
FRIDAY, DEC. 6: 9:30 AM - 5:00 PM
SATURDAY, DEC. 7: 9:30 AM - 4:00 PM
The Gloucester Hornpipe and Clog Society performs a range of Celtic (Irish and Scottish), maritime, French Canadian, Swedish and original songs and tunes. Hornpipes and Clogs are traditional Celtic dances, and some performances have included traditional Irish dancers. Current band members include co-founder David ("Doc") Rosen on percussion, Nancy Koch on accordion, guitar and tin whistle, Ben Bruno on fiddle and guitar, and Linda Abrams on banjo. The band has performed for decades in New England and twice, by invitation, at an international folk festival in Ireland.
Step into the vibrant world of portraiture with “Friendly Faces,” an exciting exhibition featuring the work of Jamaica Plain artists Sarah Trainer and Katrine Burkitt. Both artists have dedicated themselves to the art of portrait painting, choosing to capture the essence of those they know and love, rather than working on commissioned pieces.
Friendly Faces is on view from November 14, 2024-January 8, 2025, with a public reception to be held on Thursday, November 14, 2024, 5:30-7:30 PM. The library is open Monday-Wednesday 10-6, Thursday 12-8, and Friday and Saturday 9-5 (closed Sundays). The exhibition space is located on the lower level.
Hear a "Year in Review" and vote in Board Members. Via Zoom (link will be sent to members)
Meet Jasdomin Santana, author of children’s books deeply connected with her Dominican heritage. She will be reading her books Besa La Mano and Cinderalys. Limited free copies of Besa La Mano will be available for children to take home. The author will be available to sign books as well. This event is sponsored by: Fundoarcu, City of Boston’s Office of Cultural Affairs, Boston Public Library, and Friends of the JP Branch Library. The event will be in both English and Spanish.
Image by brgfx on Freepik
"In-Visible" explores the interplay between nature and urban life, highlighting Boston landmarks such as the Arnold Arboretum, Franklin Park, the Blue Hills Reservation, and local ponds. Mood uses infrared black and white photography to reveal a spectrum invisible to the human eye, transforming familiar landscapes into dramatic, surreal settings.
Navid Mood: In-Visible is on view from June 27-August 28, 2024, with a reception to be held on Thursday, June 27, 2024, 5:30-7:30 PM. The library is open Monday-Wednesday 10-6, Thursday 12-8, and Friday and Saturday 9-5 (closed Sundays). The exhibition space is located on the lower level.
Listen to local speaker, Muqeedah Salaam, describe the successful and wealthy community of Greenwood, Tulsa, Oklahoma, also know as the “Black Wall Street,” and how it was destroyed in the Tulsa Race Riot of 1921. At that time one of the wealthiest Black communities in the United States, it was sacked in a white supremacist massacre that marked some of the worst racial violence in American history.
Muqeedah Salaam has more than 40 years' experience as an educator and lecturer in the United States and abroad, helping others to improve teaching skills in the area of African American history. Among the subjects she has investigated are the Tuskegee Airmen, Mary Fields (the first female mail carrier), and Black inventors and scientists.
Sponsored by the Friends of the JP Library
Once More with Hurt Feelings, the new musical by award-winning singer/songwriter Terry Kitchen, celebrates the friendship, courage and survival of outcasts amidst the pressures of overwhelming conformity.
The evening will feature songs from the musical performed by actors Brevan Collins, Sarah Robinson Seeber, Luna Abreu-Santana, Rebecca Lynch and Barry Singer.
Once More with Hurt Feelings deftly raises issues of sexual, religious and racial identity in a funny, character-driven riff on a changing America.
Sponsored by: Friends of JP Library
Just in time for summer, find your next reads at our largest sale of the year!
Hours:
Thursday, May 9
5:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Friday, May 10
9:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Saturday, May 11
9:30 AM - 12:00 PM
$2 Hardbacks & $1 Paperbacks
No Scanners and No Saving Books
Have books to donate? You can drop them off during library open hours
The Jamaica Plain Branch Library, in collaboration with The Friends of the Jamaica Plain Branch of the Boston Public Library and Uforge, is thrilled to unveil the latest edition of its annual rotating art program for 2024. The library is proud to feature Gloucester-resident, Jennifer Pinck, and her latest exhibit, "Visual Research,” highlighting Pinck's multifaceted experiences and her profound passion for painting. On view on the lower level of the library from May 2-June 26, 2024.
Join us at the library for food and fun!
JAMAICA PLAIN, MA — The Jamaica Plain Branch Library, in collaboration with The Friends of the Jamaica Plain Branch of the Boston Public Library and Uforge, is thrilled to unveil the latest edition of its annual rotating art program for 2024. The library is excited to showcase "Jane Keddy: Women’s Work".
Hailing from Gloucester, Jane Keddy is a versatile artist with expertise in printmaking and textile art, exploring various mediums such as ecoprinting, shibori, and textile collage. Commencing her artistic journey with batik, she expanded into silkscreen printing on paper and fabric.
Jane Keddy's current passions involve ecoprinting—a technique utilizing live plants, pressure, and steam—and shibori, a Japanese method of dyeing cloth that employs folding, binding, clamping, and other resist methods. She holds esteemed memberships in the Rocky Neck Art Colony, Rockport Art Association, Salted Cod Arthouse Gallery, and the Surface Design Association.
The featured collection, "Women’s Work," comprises fabric panels crafted by Keddy. These panels integrate vintage textiles, photographs, and stitching to depict women in both traditional and non-traditional occupations. Serving as a visual narrative, the collection illustrates the diversity and significance of women’s labor over the past 150 years, offering a poignant homage to the history of working women through textiles and photography.
Jane Keddy: Women’s Work is on view from February 29-May 1, 2024, with a reception to be held on Thursday, February 29, 2024, 5:30-7:30 PM. The library is open Monday-Wednesday 10-6, Thursday 12-8, and Friday and Saturday 9-5 (closed Sundays). The exhibition space is located on the lower level.
The Jamaica Plain Branch Library is proud to announce a new exhibition as part of their rotating art program, supported by The Friends of the Jamaica Plain Branch of the Boston Public Library in partnership with Uforge. For the second show in 2022, the library presents a solo exhibition of Jamaica Plain-based collage artist Marnie Jain returning after her 2020 exhibit was cancelled days before its opening due to the pandemic.
With a steady hand and an incredible eye for detail, Marnie Jain is known for her delightful collage compositions featuring all manner of flora and fauna, with rabbits, frogs, birds, and snakes hidden among flowers and forest greenery. Using bright colors and a range of found imagery, her constructions are playful, textured, and often enlightening. Boasting a selection of primarily new works, In Close Proximity 2.0 highlights insects, reptiles, and animals that inhabit Jamaica Plain, along with some imaginary creatures. The artist elaborates: “This show is a recognition that there is more to our environment and neighborhood than we visibly see, that the natural world is abundant with co-existing species, and that all of it holds beauty.” Though she has exhibited in numerous spaces, including the Attleboro Arts Museum, the Loring-Greenough House, the Concord Center for Visual Arts, and Uforge Gallery, this is Jain’s first solo exhibition.
Marnie Jain: In Close Proximity 2.0 is on view from March 4 through May 4, 2022 with a virtual artist meet-and-greet on Thursday, March 10, 2022 from 6:30-7:30 PM. The library is open Monday-Wednesday 10-6, Thursday 12-8, and Friday-Saturday 9-5 (closed Sundays). The exhibition space is located on the lower level.
Join us to shake off the end-of-winter blues at our annual Tropical Fiesta! The Friends of the JP Branch Library are helping to welcome Spring with delicious food (Coco Verde Vegan) combined with some delicious live music (Jefferey Clayton from the Pan Neubean Steel Band).
Join us for our annual holiday book sale!
You are invited to our Annual Holiday Potluck Party. An evening of food and friends, with great entertainment provided by the Boston Typewriter Orchestra!
Join us for a look back at 2019 and a look forward to 2020.
The Friends of the Jamaica Plain Branch Library host their annual book sale the second weekend of May.
The Gloucester Hornpipe & Clog Society's annual benefit concert for the Friends of the JP Branch Library will feature a range of music to welcome spring at the JP Branch Library, including rousing Celtic songs and tunes, boisterous maritime music, revivals from their long tradition of performances, original tunes, and some delightful surprises. A $10 donation is requested. Snacks will be on sale. The Gloucester Hornpipe & Clog Society are a recipient of the City-Wide Friends of the BPL Inaugural BPL Benefactor Award and have been holding this annual fundraiser for more than 30 years - help them support the Jamaica Plain Branch and treat yourself to a wonderful evening.
Cannot attend but still want to contribute? Please use the Donate button on our website to send in a contribution. Thank you!
Join us to shake off the end-of-winter blues at a Tropical Fiesta. Lots of delicious food (from local Dominican eatery 100% Delicias) will be on hand and there will be music from St Mary’s Heavenly Fire Steel Orchestra to help you shake off the winter blues.
You are invited to our Annual Holiday Potluck Party. An evening of food and friends, with great entertainment provided by our JP neighbors, members of the Footlight Club.
A great way to start off your holiday shopping while also supporting the Jamaica Plain Branch Library. We will offer gently used books and DVDs all with bargain rates (all items just $1 or $2). Books for all ages and in every genre.
Book dealers please note - we ask that you do not use scanners at this December book sale and we will restrict purchases to no more than 20 items at a time.
We are having an open house to let people learn more about the Friends and what we do
All members of the Friends of the Jamaica Plain Branch Library are invited to our annual meeting. The meeting will include a small business section and then we will have a concert by the Pat Loomis Trio.
Refreshments will be served. While this event serves as our annual meeting, all patrons of the JP Branch Library are welcome to attend.
our annual ice cream social celebrates summer and our wonderful library!
We are hosting a summer solstice potluck with a 1st birthday cake celebrating our re-opening anniversary!
The Friends of the Jamaica Plain Branch Library host their annual book sale. A great way to feed your reading habits while also supporting the Jamaica Plain Branch Library. We will offer gently used books and DVDs all with bargain rates (all items just $1 or $2). Books for all ages and in every genre.
We will be open from 9:30 to 5:00 on both Friday, May 11th and Saturday, May 12th. On Saturday from 4:00-5:00pm buy a bag for just $5 and take home all the items you can stuff into it!
Book dealers please note - we ask that you do not use scanners at our book sale and we will restrict purchases to no more than 50 items at a time.
