FRIENDS OF THE OVIATT LIBRARIBRARY Summer 2006 viattviatt 11 Issue 1 Friends Volume 11 Issue 1 OO Friends Tartan Day Marks Opening of Scottish Exhibit o the skirl of bagpipes and the cadence of a Declaration of Arbroath." Written in 1320, this plea kilt-bedecked band, the lassies danced. As that the Pope recognize Scotland's independence they twirled in synchrony across the later became the foundation for the American Tlawn, their feet beat a Declaration of Independence, a generations-old pattern not-too-surprising development and their hands traced since more than half of an ancient aerial America's founding fathers were design. Thus, did a of Scottish decent. Also exhibit- Scottish Highland fling ed were replicas of the "Stone of initiate a celebration of Scone" on which Scottish kings National Tartan Day had been crowned since time on April 6 at the immemorial and the Scottish Oviatt Library. Coronation Throne, in reality a Though they cer- simple wooden chair. Recently tainly looked the part, returned to Scotland after a 700- the dancers and musi- year hiatus in London's cians might not be Westminster Abby, the original Scottish at all, but stone and throne are now proud- members of the award ly ensconced with other Scottish winning Highlander royal regalia in Edinburgh Castle. Marching Band and Dance Guard of Granada Hills Tartan Day derives its name from the traditional High School under the direction of Al Nelson, the cloth, woven from yarns of many colors in a pattern school's Chair of Music. The local youth group's of squares, rectangles and lines, out of which the lively performance of Scottish Scots make kilts, melodies and traditional scarves, hats, ties dances served as a dramatic and vests. The tar- backdrop to the opening of the tan of each clan—a Library's month-long display group sharing the entitled "Scottish Influence on same or similar sur- America." name—has a As the exhibit made clear, unique pattern and the influence of the Scots is is officially listed in woven deeply into the fabric "The Scottish Tartans of America, for many of the World Register." country's founding fathers Even the state of were of Scottish ancestry. After California now has fleeing poverty and political its own official tar- oppression, Scotland's people became America's tan thanks to J. Howard Standing, president of the teachers, politicians, industrialists, inventors, natu- Saint Andrews Society of Los Angeles, who with ralists and artists. Among those highlighted in the Thomas Ferguson designed and registered it. Library's display were such Scottish-American titans The Saint Andrews Society, an educational and as Andrew Carnegie, Alexander Graham Bell and charitable association dedicated to celebrating the John Muir. contributions of Scots worldwide, provided many of Prominently on display was a copy of the most the materials on display. Wearing traditional kilts of important of all Scottish documents, "The article continued on page 2 Tartan Day article continued Specialist for the Library, spearhead- their clans, at the opening ceremony ed the event and was responsible Standing and the group's vice-presi- for organizing the ceremonial festiv- dent, John E. Lowry, offered both a bit ities and arranging for the display of of history of Tartan Day and an invita- Scottish memorabilia. Penny van tion to visit the Seaside Highland Bogaert of the Saint Andrews Games in Ventura. At the Games, held Society designed and arranged the each October, attendees can learn displays and Robert Cates, Historian about Scotland's people, products, his- of the Los Angeles Chapter of the tory and customs, participate in Sierra Club, loaned the materials Scottish country dancing and highland about John Muir. "The help we got step dancing, and watch pipe band from these folks was exceptional," competitions, Scottish heavy athletics, says McDonald. "Even before they and the workings of Drummond ranch knew what was involved, all were dogs. For the gastronomically adven- willing to help out. I can't thank them enough." turous the event also offers an opportunity to sam- Says Library Dean Sue Curzon, "The intent of the ple haggis, a traditional Scottish pudding made Library's exhibition is to shed a bit of light on the from sheep or calf entrails cooked in an animal's contributions of our Scottish predecessors. I am stomach. extremely grateful to all those who made the cele- Bruce McDonald, Instructional Technology bration and exhibit possible." -jd Oviatt Library Celebrates Mozart n commemoration of the 250th anniversary of Chang on cello rounding out the group; the stu- Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's birth, this spring dents' coach is Professor Diane Roscetti. On the I the Oviatt Library staged a week of the musical guitars were Tom Connell, James Poppleton, master's works. Highlighting the celebration was a Richard Magallanes, and Noah Smolian; Dr. Ron noontime concert featur- Purcell, Professor Emeritus of Music, coaches the ing the University's group. Samuel L. Goldberg and In addition to the concert, performances of many Sons Honors String of Mozart's works were broadcast on the Quartet and a special University's Video Network for viewing campus- guest performance by the wide. Among the showings were a studio produc- CSUN Guitar Quartet. tion of The Marriage of Figaro The string quartet with the Vienna Philharmonic; played portions of two of a Peter Sellars' production of Mozart's better known Cosi fan tutte (Women are pieces—Quartet in D Like That); a filmed version of minor and Eine Kleine The Magic Flute directed by Nactmusik, Serenade in Ingmar Bergman; and G major—and the guitar Amadeus, the Oscar-winning quartet performed film of Mozart's life. Several of Divertimento No. 1 in D. Mozart's compositions were Antonio Calvo, Music and Media Librarian, intro- on view as well, as were duced the group and Anne Lee, Master's candidate about the artist's life, all in music theory, offered an analysis of the music. from the Library's Special During intermission, the appreciative audience of Collections. students, faculty, and visitors socialized around The weeklong extravagan- complimentary confections. za, May 1 - 5, was conceived This was the string quartet's first performance and hosted by the Library's Music and Media under its new name, which honors the Goldberg Center under the direction of Calvo. In organizing Foundation, a generous supporter of the CSUN the event, Calvo was assisted by several members of Symphony Orchestra. Edgar Sandoval and Crystal the center's staff, among them Dean Arnold, Alforque played first and second violins, respective- Rueyling Tsay, Pat Hollenbeck and Maria ly, with Quyen Nguyen on the viola and Yoo Jung Valenzuela. -jd 2 Artist Florence Ferman Honored hose who attended the es, paintings, and etchings; wood blocks and prints; reception feting miniature metallic sculptures; sterling silver boxes, T renowned professional jewelry and diminutive utensils; wooden plaques, artist Florence Ferman were bowls and trays; silver point drawings; even needle- treated to an eye-popping point. Ferman was particularly pleased with her array of her artistic creations. success with silver point, a medium few artists Prominently on exhibit in the attempt, let alone master. Commenting on the trials Oviatt Library's C.K. and with her premier silver point work, a depiction of a Teresa Tseng Gallery was a watch's inner workings, she acknowledged that "It's Florence Ferman gorgeous assortment of very difficult to do, but a lot of fun. It's a challenge uniquely glazed ceramics— because you can't really see what you are doing pots, bottles, dishes, and vases of stoneware, earth- until the silver oxidizes and turns dark." enware and porcelain—their unconventional forms, Although she revels in her work—she regards stunning colors and eye-arresting patterns visually herself a "thing maker" no matter what others may confirming the artist's mastery of the medium. call her—Ferman views her artistic endeavors as According to Ferman, her more than the creation of career pathway to near-cult beautiful objects. She also sees status in the art world was her craft as an important part of never really planned. As a stu- the social fabric and a potential dent at San Fernando Valley behavioral modifier. Citing an State College her initial career example she had seen in an art goal was uncertain. "Early on I gallery—dog feces sandwiched took chemistry and I found it between bread slices on top of exciting. I later took a ceramics a pedestal—she notes that class by accident and because I "Whereas some portray the found myself motivated I con- ugly as art, I prefer the beauti- tinued." She completed her ful. The cult of ugliness teaches degree in Applied Art in 1963, children to behave in an ugly before SFVSC became manner. Beauty, on the other California State University, Northridge. But Ferman hand, teaches children to be wholesome. I've dedi- acknowledges that her early exposure to the sci- cated myself to defining goodness by beauty." ences forever influenced her. Says she, "I see my The February 26 reception attracted an attentive glazes as living chemistry. I was a product of the crowd of more than a hundred Ferman devotees, Great Depression. It was not possible to pursue a long-time friends, University administrators, faculty, degree in Biochemistry, but my interest in molecu- and family. Says Cindy lar science has been of inestimable value in formu- Ventuleth, Library lating glazes." Development officer, "The Once launched on her artistic trajectory, reception was held both to Ferman's progression was neither linear nor limited. recognize Florence's artistic As her career took off, she found herself following accomplishments and to myriad byways as she explored and mastered first unveil the art that one medium, then another. "The variety excites she has donated to the Oviatt me," she says. "I have a great curiosity and I'm Library's Special Collections." always learning." Indeed, her constant attack of new Of the donation, Library media and the expertise she developed in each Dean Sue Curzon says, were abundantly in evidence among her many "Florence has given the objects d'art on display for the gala. University a truly extraordi- Though ceramics is her forte and her creations in nary gift. Every one of her that medium are extraordinary, equally awe-inspir- marvelous pieces is a joy to the eye. Over the com- ing is the diverse assortment of this multi-talented ing years various portions of the collection will woman's works in other media. On display for the periodically be displayed for the enjoyment of all reception was an eclectic assortment of her sketch- the Library's patrons." -jd 3 The Making of the ention the word crafters, all of them members of natures." Elsewhere Mark "library" and a second the Guild of Book Workers. Kirchner demonstrated the M word, "book," almost Among these unique creations painstaking art of decorating, or automatically comes to mind. are carousel books with win- "finishing," a book's cover with Indeed, a library without books dowed pages providing views of gold leaf and Robert Gohstand seems a logical impossibility, for insects, flowers and the like; a used a "foil stamper" to emboss books are a gold- a library's leaf logo raison of the d'être. event on How fit- leather ting, then, book- that this marks that spring the were

Oviatt Book with Magic Formulas offered to Library pay Sumatra: Early 19th century attendees tribute to as sou- its "coin of the realm" with an venirs. exhibit depicting The Making of the Book: Five Centuries of The Lord’s Prayer in Seven Languages. Keynote Hand . Worlds smallest letterpress book. speaker at Binder/ Artist Tini Miura Housed in the Tseng Family Full leather binding by Tini Miura the open- Gallery, the exhibit's focal point constructed ing festivi- is a series of classic works illus- entirely of giveaway stickers ties was internationally trative of the evolution of book- from McDonalds restaurants; acclaimed bookbinder Tini binding and decorative styles and a stunning set of elegant Miura, some of whose books are over the centuries. Gallery visi- books by master binder Tini on exhibit. In her remarks Miura tors will see book coverings Miura, each book's leather cover told of her childhood attraction ranging from the simple—for tooled in gold and overlain with to books, her plans as a young example, a 15th century colored metal. adult to become a book illustra- Ethiopian manuscript encased Many tools used by book- tor, and how those plans were by wooden boards waylaid when she wrapped in goatskin, or became smitten with the a 13th century Latin art of bookbinding. With Vulgate bible with paste- studios in Japan and board covers—to the lux- California, this award- urious—a leather-bound winning designer's tal- Armenian bible elabo- ents for making limited rately decorated with book covers are rounded nails and silver much in demand world- crosses, and a Persian wide. ethics manuscript with a Genesis of the florally decorated lac- Robert Gohstand, Tini Miura, Tony Gardner exhibition was a collabo- quered binding. Most are rative endeavor involving from the Library's Special makers are also on display and both Library and Guild person- Collections, but a few are on at the exhibition's April 27 nel, but in his welcoming state- loan. opening, Guild members from ment Gohstand, current presi- Providing a visual counter- the California chapter showed dent of the Guild's California point to the ancient tomes the how some are used. With a chapter identified Tony Gardner, exhibition also includes an sewing frame, Alice Vaughan the Library's of Special eclectic assortment of creations illustrated techniques for lacing Collections, as the prime mover. by modern-day hand book together a book's pages, or "sig- "Tony was the exhibit's 'play- 4 wright.' The Guild and I were simply the supporting cast." Commenting on their efforts, Sue Curzon, Library Dean, acknowledged that "Both Tony and Bob have worked extremely hard to put this exhibit together and they've done a magnificent job. Because of their efforts library visitors can't help but better appreciate what goes into the making of a book." Gardner's interest in books is long-standing and profes- sional. A specialist in book history and care, he oversees the maintenance of several thousand specialized books, many of them centuries old, in the Library's Special Collections. Though a long-time lover of books, Gohstand's involvement in bookbinding began fortuitously when as Professor of Geography he found his investigations of Russian history impacted by the flooding of a Moscow library. Seeking help in rescuing waterlogged books he turned to the Guild and soon found himself engrossed in its work. "Bookbinding has opened a way to use whatever cre- Guild of Bookworkers California Chapter ativity I have. I've made a lot of friends in the Guild and am President Robert Gohstand always learning from them." hot stamps commemorative book marks. Guild membership is open to all with an interest in the craft, professional or amateur. Founded in 1906, the organization regularly sponsors exhibits and workshops on various bookmaking crafts. It also holds meet- ings where participants display their creations, hear presentations by experts, see demonstrations, and tour binderies and related facilities. More information about the organ- ization is available from Gohstand at [email protected]. Among attendees at the exhibi- tion's opening were long-time Library supporters Gus and Erika Manders, whose generous finan- cial gift helped make the exhibit possible. Friends of the Library, a volunteer organization supporting all aspects of the Library's work, also provided funds. The exhibit runs through August 4. -jd

Guild of Bookworkers member Alice Vaughan demonstrates lacing techniques.

Bookbinder Mark Kirchner demonstrating hand tooling.

5 Karin Durán Honored for Extraordinary Service

his year the University's Faculty Award Sue Curzon's count—and that doesn't include for Extraordinary Service was the thousands of others she has mentored Tbestowed upon one of the Library's outside the classroom. Says Curzon, "Karin own, Dr. Karin Durán. University cares tremendously about the students she President Jolene Koester presented the assists and teaches, and she takes pride in prestigious award to Durán at an helping them be successful." Honored Faculty Reception on May19. In view of Durán's extraordinary com- Durán's primary responsibility is over- mitment, the discovery that she has seeing the Library's Teacher Curriculum received previous awards does not sur- Center, a repository of teaching tools—from prise. Among her kudos are Certificates of educational kits and games to videos, DVDs Recognition for Community Service from and CD-ROMs to award-winning juvenile Dr. Karin Durán California Senator Richard Alarcón for 2002, books—in constant demand by faculty, staff, 2004, and 2005; recognition for Service to students and local teachers to enhance learning Society by the CSUN Alumni Association; and the among students from kindergarten through grade President's Award for Outstanding Service, 12. Says Margie Roblin, Durán's assistant, "This Comision Femenil de San Fernando. collection—probably the finest collection of K-12 Karin's many contributions to our Library, to the curriculum materials in the state, if not the nation— Chicano/a Studies Department, to the University is Karin's pride and joy and it is always growing and to the community, and her professionalism, her and evolving." personal integrity and her positive commitment to But the award came to Durán not because she all she undertakes," says Curzon, "are but a few of does her job well but because she constantly goes the factors leading to this award. She is very deserv- the extra mile, often on her own time. Her extra- ing of this award and I'm delighted that her accom- curricular contributions include service as interim plishments have been recognized." Associate Dean during a months-long search for a Editor’s Note permanent replacement; regularly teaching evening e are pleased to report that Dr. Jim Dole, classes in freshman writing and research; filling in our Friends Newsletter writer, received for colleagues at the reference desk; service on the Distinguished Teaching Award for his many committees; and aiding innumerable students W work as Professor in the Biology Department. This researching and writing papers. Indeed, the number award is a great honor—only three were given this of students she has influenced is impressive— year. 50,648 students in 1,866 classes by Library Dean CONGRATULATIONS JIM!

Library Student Workers Recognized n April 5 three for his peers." A students— Biology major, Anley OTilahun Anley, was one of only twen- Serena Vaquilar, and ty students selected JoAnn Hill—were for the highly compet- honored for their con- itive USC Pharmacy tributions to the internship program in Library. fall 2005 and upon For his work as graduation expects to Lead Student in the Tilahun Anley Serena Vaquilar JoAnn Hill attend pharmacy Reserve Periodicals Microfilm Just, Anley's supervisor, "Tilahun school. The SunTrust Student area Anley was named CSUN is always punctual and his work Loan Corporation funded the Student Employee of the Year, an meticulous. He is professional, scholarship. honor that comes with a $3,042 he supervises his shifts with a Vaquilar and Hill were recipi- scholarship. Says Danielle Ste. quiet efficiency and his is the ents of the Susan C. Curzon voice of reason. He is a model article continued on page 7 6 Student Workers article continued She finds her work gratifying Northridge connections." This is because she is "…doing exactly not Hill's first honor, for in Scholarship Awards, each of what the library is for—helping spring 2004 her contributions which comes with a $250 prize. the community in research." were acknowledged with a Vaquilar works in Special Because of her experience in the Student Achievement Award. As Collections, Hill in Library Library, Vaquilar's career aims a result of her experience in the Administration. Funds for these have changed. A Music major, library, she looks forward to and future prizes, named to upon graduation she now plans another educational administra- honor the Library's current dean, to pursue a degree in library sci- tive position after graduation. were donated by Wayne Smith, ence with the goal of becoming Other students honored for a supporter of the Library and a a music librarian. exceptional service at the cere- former employee of the Cal State In her four and a half years mony were Masayo Maeda, Northridge College of Business on the job Hill has become Aude Prachansitthi, and Gabriel and Economics, now completing "…adept at multitasking: setting Castaneda. his doctorate at Claremont up meetings, ordering supplies, Says Library Dean Sue College. copying, filing, assisting with Curzon, "All of these students In her position in Special events, creating documents, have demonstrated many times Collections Vaquilar "…learned mailings, and filing travel over their dedication to the how to handle and preserve rare claims." Best of all, she has Library and richly deserve our and unusual books" but also "…gained administrative accolades. We are extremely "…developed skills in dealing skills…amazing friends…and proud of them and the work with patrons and researchers." developed strong Cal State they do."

aring A es - So mon Kit g th e Clouds Oviatt Library Lobby Cal State Northridge May 20 - July 10, 2006

his exhibition is a celebration of one of the world's most enduring inven- T tions—Kites! Found throughout the world, kites have been used as toys, artistic expressions, cultural and religious symbols, tools of war, and instruments of science and technology. While materials and designs may have changed over the years, kites have endured as devices with many applications and meanings. Kites have made significant contributions to history, the arts, sciences and mathematics, and have broadened our cultural awareness. Kite flying and kite fliers, from Benjamin Franklin to Charlie Brown, are quintessential parts of American culture. Kites continue to inspire the human spirit to soar. This exhibition is curated by Gina Hsiung.

7 FRIENDS OF THE OVIATT LIBRARY Oviatt Friends Oviatt Library California State University, Northridge 18111 Nordhofff Street Northridge, CA 91330-8326

We are on the web: http://library.csun.edu/friends/

This newsletter is supported by the Friends of the Oviatt Library. Contributing writers: Dr. Jim Dole, Gina Hsuing, Cindy Ventuleth Photography by: Joyclyn Dunham Cindy Ventuleth

Special Thanks

ssociated Students President Chad Charton thanks Eric A Braeden, actor and president of the German American Cultural Society (GACS), for the check from the GACS to produce and frame the 1507 Waldseemueller Map. The map is a gift to the students of CSUN from the German American Cultural Society and has a home on the second floor of the Oviatt.