Category: Collection Spotlight

  • Artist Spotlight: Alexander Vaisman

    One artist who houses their portfolio on ibiblio is Alexander Vaisman, a Yiddish artist whose work is inspired by Jewish culture. He was born in Chernivtsi, Ukraine and currently resides in Israel. During his career, he has worked as a book illustrator and a poster designer, and his pieces have been featured in exhibitions in the United States and Israel. Vaisman works with oil paint, colored pencils, ink, pastel, gouache, acrylic paint, charcoal pencil, and watercolor. 

    Series

    Klezmorim

    In Yiddish, klezmorim refers to a group of musicians who play traditional Yiddish music, called klezmer. Vaisman’s pieces in this collection are colorful and dynamic, featuring fiddlers in many different imaginative settings. My favorite images from this collection are this one done with ink on paper and this piece done with gouache!

    When I Return… 

    This collection, mostly done with oil paint on canvas, depicts elements of Jewish life and culture that have been important to Vaisman. Many of the images in this series focus on family, music, and his experience growing up in a Shtetl. A Shtetl simply means “town” in Yiddish, and it usually refers to an Eastern European village with a large Jewish community. Shtetls are rich in culture and tradition, and each town has its own identity and history. I love this piece, titled Butterfly, which is done with oil paint and has a unique abstract style.

    Postcards from Shevchenkivtsi

    These postcards are mixed media pieces that consist of photographs, ink drawings, and eclectic stamps. On some postcards Vaisman has added illustrations on top of pasted photographs; other cards only contain one media type. Vaisman uses a cool mark making technique on this postcard, and you should also check out the stamps on this one!

    Yiddish Resources

    To learn more about Yiddish culture, visit the site Shtetl, Yiddish Language and Culture! This site provides many Jewish genealogical resources, articles about Yiddish history in the 19th and 20th centuries, a catalog of Jewish artists, and even traditional recipes

  • Go Green with ibiblio

    Interested in ecology, agriculture, or sustainability? ibiblio hosts many great resources that provide information about interacting with and caring for the environment. From beekeeping to identifying flora and fauna, this list of sites is worth exploring!

    If you’re interested in even more environmental resources, be sure to check out ibiblio’s agriculture, botany, and ecology tags as well!

    Plant Information Center

    In partnership with the UNC Herbarium, the Plant Information Center brings research materials and resources to students and interested community members. Their helpful botanical dictionary can help you find any scientific term you might need to describe a plant. In the virtual herbarium tab, you will find a glossary of the many different types of trees found in North Carolina as well as a gallery displaying images of Southeastern plants. Additionally, the site features educational resources for K-12 students with creative activities that encourage interest in botanical research!

    rec.gardens.ecosystems

    If you’re interested in starting your own home garden, this site is just what you need. With helpful categories like composting and plant nutrition, rec.gardens.ecosystems provides digestible information through an organic lens. This resource takes a sustainable approach to gardening, emphasizing natural practices instead of toxic substances and chemical fertilizers.

    Project Gutenberg Science Bookshelves

    For longer resources, Project Gutenberg has a well-rounded science collection with shelves like Ecology, Zoology, and Botany.

     

    ibiblio Alumni

    Although these sites are no longer hosted by ibiblio, they are great environmental resources!

    North American Fruit Explorers

    North American Fruit Explorers (NAFEX) strives to encourage the study and appreciation of fruit and fruit culture. NAFEX’s members hold an annual meeting to discuss botany and educate members about gardening and seed cultivation. The association also publishes a journal, called Pomona, which ranges in content from fruiticulture studies to gardening tips. Their website features many local resources for plant nurseries across the United States.

    Orange County Beekeepers Association

    The Orange County Beekeepers Association is a local chapter of the North Carolina State Beekeepers Association whose goal is to raise awareness about beekeeping and proper practices through education, training and support. The OCBA website features guides on what plants are in bloom, where to find local honey products, and how to attend local educational and social events.

     

  • Carl von Linné

    In 1753 Carl Linnaeus (Carl von Linné) set out to organize and classify every plant known to man at the time. His work was published in four volumes, Species Plantarum, in sections I – XIII. Thanks to Project Gutenberg, you can read them all  for free in their original Latin (Google translate may help):

    Species Plantarum, Sections I-III
    Species Plantarum, Sections IV-V
    Species Plantarum, Sections VI-X
    Species Plantarum, Sections XI-XIII 

    More accessible to read may be Linnaeus’ journal of his 1732 trip to Lapland in Northern Sweden, also available at Project Gutenberg:

    Lachesis Lapponica; Or, A Tour in Lapland, Volume 1
    Lachesis Lapponica; Or, A Tour in Lapland, Volume 2 

    Beautiful descriptions of Lapland in 1732 in the spring, still snow on the ground in some places, but early spring flowers starting to come up.

    Those interested in plants and classification can find more information at the Plant Information Center website from the UNC Herbarium.