“Big Magic: How to Live a Creative Life, and Let Go of Your Fear,” by author Elizabeth Gilbert, has been selected by the Santa Barbara Public Library for this fall’s Santa Barbara Reads community program, called SB Reads: Create!
Free copies of “Big Magic,” in English and Spanish, will be available to pick up at the library’s Book Browsing program starting Saturday, Oct. 31. A virtual visit with Gilbert will be held at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 11. The author visit is funded by the Santa Barbara Public Library Foundation, which supports large-scale library initiatives.
In its 19th year, the SB Reads program encourages the community to read together to spark conversations and share connections.
SB Reads: Create! will explore the creative process, and, as Gilbert suggests in “Big Magic,” urge community members to embrace “a life that is driven more strongly by curiosity than by fear.”
In addition to book discussions and conversation with Gilbert, the library will offer participants the opportunity to engage in creative workshops, through the support of California Humanities, a nonprofit partner of the National Endowment for the Humanities.
“We’re thrilled to be able to provide the opportunity for community members to read, reflect, and exercise their creativity,” said library director Jessica Cadiente. “The library has always been a source of inspiration for those seeking a creative life.
“Santa Barbara Public Library is not only committed to being a repository for culture and ideas, but actively supporting content creation is also central to our mission.”
The library is working with five local artists to offer participatory virtual workshops via Zoom for teens and adults, including one in Spanish. Themes include printmaking, music, and creative writing. Registration, which is limited, opens at 10 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 27.
All supplies needed for the workshops will be provided via kits available for pickup at the Central Library. Details can be found on the library website and events calendar.
Create! workshops include:
» Art-Making Exploration for Teens with FoundCreate’s Emily Summers and Jason Summers — 5 p.m. Nov. 17, 18, 19.
» Journaling to Uncover Our Own Big Magic with Christina Gessler — 10 a.m. Nov, 7, 14, 21, Dec. 5.
» The DNA of Rock ’n Roll with Darrell McNeill — 5:30 p.m. Nov. 9, 16, 23, 30.
» Relief Printmaking for Beginners with Oliver Murray — 4 p.m. Nov. 6, 10, 13.
» Nichos Workshop with Bany Vargas, presented in English and Spanish — Date and time TBA.
In addition to the virtual workshops, the library has partnered with Connecting Thru Sign Language (CTSL), an organization working to bridge the communication gap between the deaf and hearing communities in Santa Barbara since 2013.
The library and CTSL will produce video recordings of original works written and performed by deaf storytellers Hugo Martinez, Tirzah Farley, Jonathan Reyes and Emily Grigor. The films will be almost entirely signed with captioning.
This project highlights the work of deaf artists in the community and increases accessibility to the arts for the deaf and hard-of-hearing communities.
Videos will premiere on the library’s YouTube channel throughout November and into December, and the library will host a storytelling hour on Facebook Live where artists will share their stories of creativity in the style of Moth Story Hour. That will be followed by a live question and answer session on Saturday, Nov. 14.
For more information, visit SBPLibrary.org.
Connecting through Sign Language Programs:
» Facebook Live Connecting Thru Sign Language Storytelling Hour — 1-2 p.m. Nov. 14.
» “Silent House,” a film by Hugo Martinez and Jonathan Reyes — Nov. 20.
» “AQUAVAX,” a film by Tirzah Farley and Emily Grigor — Dec. 6.
Book discussions:
» “Creative Quest” by Ahmir Questlove Thompson — 1 p.m. Nov. 21.
» “Broken Places & Outer Spaces: Finding Creativity in the Unexpected” by Nnedi Okorafor — 5:45 p.m. Dec. 3.
» “Big Magic: How to Live a Creative Life, and Let Go of Your Fear” by Elizabeth Gilbert — 2 p.m. Dec. 5.