Blogging Bibliognost

What is a bibliognost, you say? Why, a librarian, of course! Did you know we have a librarian and TWO libraries here at the Garden? Many don't...so allow me to introduce you. LuAnne Schwarz is our beloved librarian. With the help of a handful of dedicated volunteers, she manages the Sheffield Botanical Library, Orchid Reference Library, and the Plant Hotline. The libraries contain 8500 titles and 65 journals on plants, design, outdoor sculpture, etc. and are one of the Garden's best kept secrets. (Both are available for public use, but be sure to check times and restrictions on our website.) The plant hotline can be accessed via e-mail or phone and is an invaluable resource for help identifying pests, "that beautiful flower at the Garden", and all kinds of other inquiries.

LuAnne began as a volunteer in 1985 at the “birth” of the library (with 100 books) during the fabled "trailer days" when the organization was just budding from a couple of single wides near where the magnolias in the center of the Garden now stand. She joined the staff in 1989, 20 years ago. "It has been very interesting to collect books in the areas of art and sculpture for the various exhibits we have hosted. In searching for material on Henry Moore on both adult and children’s levels to support our education mission I learned a great deal about his background and creative period including the artists who were his peers," says LuAnne. Here is her fascinating guest blog submission. Enjoy!

Using materials on the Sheffield Library Henry Moore Bibliography and inspired by colleagues at the Lloyd Library and Museum who created a wonderful “faux” facebook page for their Darwin exhibit, I submit as my blog a sampling of what might have appeared on his personal site: his art, life, friends and inspirations.

HENRY MOORE - PROFILE PICS

FRIENDS

Jackson Pollack

Georgia O’Keefe

Kandinsky

Ben Nicholson

Pablo Picasso

Giacometti

Alexander 'Sandy' Calder

Marc Chagall

Jean Arp

PHOTOS

Irina/misc. Album - I married Irina Radetzky in 1929. Vacation Album -- 1931 Irina and I went to the country on holiday with Ben Nicholson and Barbara Hepworth - talked, walked, bathed, played cricket and worked (of course)!

WALL POSTS

Joan Wyndham: I have a crush on Professor Moore! “When he comes into a room it’s like a spark being struck.” 10 p.m., 4/25/40

Joan Wyndham: “Today he hammered his thumb doing something to my armature and said ‘Bugger’. There was blood all over the clay.” 8 p.m., 6/6/40

Henry Moore: New pics of the kiddo! Mary's 3 now and learning about shapes 3 p.m., 1946

Henry Moore: After dinner with friends this evening Irina and I took the Underground home, bombings began. For the first time I saw “rows of people sleeping on the platforms….amid the grim tension, I noticed groups of strangers formed together into intimate groups and children asleep within feet of the passing trains.” 11 p.m., 1940

Bibliognost: The images of the reclining figures influence Moore. He compared the train tunnels to the holes in his sculptures…

Henry Moore: I received a fascinating gift today from Juliette Huxley – the skull of an elephant which I find to be powerful yet gentle at the same time, maybe I will sketch it… (1968)

Henry Moore: I observed Sheep Piece which looks lovely in the countryside. It commands attention with its sheer presence and size. I saw sheep grazing all around the piece, as if it were as natural as the grass they were eating. “Sculpture on this scale has relationship with living activity and naturally becomes part of the environment.” (1972)

Henry Moore: My first grandchild – a boy! Gus. “A chip off the old block.” (2/1/77)

Bibliognost: Atlanta scores huge gift!!! Emory University Robert W. Woodruff Library receives 60,000 volume collection of 20th century poetry from Raymond Danowski (he married Mary Moore 1976 –she was his 3rd wife) (2004)

Lu Anne Schwarz, Librarian (aka Bibliognost)