Blue Bicycle Books

Charleston’s Blue Bicycle Books Hosts Architect/Author Frank Harmon and ‘Native Places” on January 17th

Blueplate PRLeave a comment

Architect and author Frank Harmon, FAIA, who designed the modern, award-winning Sunday School addition to the historic Circular Congregational Church in Charleston and the “Seven Sisters” residence on St. Helena Island, will present his new, critically acclaimed book  Native Places: Drawing as a Way to See when Blue Bicycle Books hosts a book-signing event on Thursday, January 17, beginning at 5 p.m.

Free and open to the public, the event will begin with an introduction of the Raleigh, NC-based author by South Carolina architect Whitney Powers. Harmon will then give a presentation about his book and his passion for hand sketching. After a Q&A with the audience, he will sign copies of Native Places, which will be available for purchase in the bookstore.

Frank Harmon bookDelight in Ordinary Places:  Published by ORO Editions, Native Places: Drawing as a Way to See is a collection of 64 of Harmon’s watercolor sketches paired with brief essays he’s written about architecture, everyday objects and sites, and nature that first appeared on his internationally popular blog NativePlaces.org. The sketches convey the delight he finds in ordinary places. The short essays, inspired by the sketches, offer his fresh interpretations of what most people take for granted.

Harmon’s goal for Native Places is, in fact, “to transform the way we see,” he says, and to promote his belief that hand drawing offers “an opportunity to develop a natural grace in the way we view the world and take part in it.” He will explain both concepts in his presentation.

What others are saying about Native Places: In his review of the book, Charles Linn, FAIA, architect, writer, former deputy editor of Architectural Record, wrote, “For those who love drawing, seek enlightenment and inspiration from the things they may pass by every day, and perhaps want to capture them in their own sketchbooks, I give Native Places my highest recommendation.” (Linn also helped Harmon select and organize the sketch-essay pairs for the book.)

Mike Welton, the architecture critic for the Raleigh News & Observer, calls Harmon’s book “delightful” and suggests that it is “destined to change how we see this world.”

Tom Kundig, FAIA, of Olsen Kundig Architects in Seattle, WA, praises Harmon and his book for “reminding us in brilliant, thoughtful, quiet meditation our unbelievable luck to be alive and to think. A masterful legacy on all levels.”

Owned and operated by Jonathan Sanchez, Blue Bicycle Books is located at 420 King Street, Charleston, SC 29403 (843.722.2666); bluebicyclebooks.com.

For more details on Frank Harmon and Native Places: Drawing as a Way to See, visit the book’s website (nativeplacesthebook.com) and Facebook page.

Blue Bicycle Books To Host Special Signing, Live Performance For Kids

Blueplate PRLeave a comment

L-R: Illustrator Tony Waters and author/musician Marc Hoffman with "Sleep, Little Child."

Charleston Artist and Charlotte Author To Sign New Children’s Book

 

October 6, 2010 (CHARLESTON, SC) –  Blue Bicycle Books on King Street in Charleston will host a special book signing on Saturday, October 23, at 11 a.m. featuring North Carolina author/musician Marc Hoffman and illustrator Tony Waters of Charleston as they present their new children’s book and CD, Sleep, Little Child.

 

Along with a reading of the book and signing copies afterwards, Hoffman will perform the original lullaby on which the book is based. Refreshments will be included. The event is free and parents are encouraged to bring their children. The first 20 children in attendance will receive a coloring page and Crayola give-away.

 

Sleep, Little Child is a rhyming story in which a father assures his young son that he will sleep safely through the night because his heavenly Father is always watching over him. 

 

The book is intended for children from infancy through age seven and includes a CD that features Hoffman singing the title lullaby. Other tracks offer the instrumental-only version and a read-along track, plus two non-musical readings: one by the author and another by the author’s mother, radio personality Barbara Hoffman.

 

The religious aspect of the book “wasn’t a conscious thing,” Hoffman said. “It came about naturally while I was writing the lyrics as a result of what I believe is our innate need to feel guarded/watched, especially when we sleep. Children are clever enough to know that ‘mommy and daddy’ certainly aren’t watching them all night.”

 

Waters’ watercolor illustrations depict a young family putting their small son to bed at night. The details came from pictures of Hoffman’s family and other “childhood things,” Waters said. “I also used some of the rooms and furnishings in my own house as a setting for the story. When I’m writing or illustrating a book, I’m inspired by the toys, books, artists, and emotions that gave me joy as a child and the desire to share that joy with other children.”

 

Born and raised in Charleston, Tony Waters has written and illustrated three children’s books of his own, illustrated four Flick books for Columbia, SC, author Lynn Floyd Wright, and contributed numerous illustrations for the Cricket Magazine Group over the past 16 years.

 

Prior to the bookstore event, he will appear on ABC News 4’s “Lowcountry Live!” show (WCIV-TV) on October 21, at 10 a.m. to discuss Sleep, Little Child.

 

Author Marc Hoffman is best known as a composer, performer and recording artist who recently released an all-original jazz compilation CD entitled “Curioso.” He credits his wife, Anne, and their young daughter, August, with the inspiration to turn his lullaby into a book.

 

“As soon as August was born, we began reading books and singing lullabies to her,” he said. “It didn’t take me long to remember that I had a lullaby of mine own. And after hearing the song many times, it dawned on Anne that it was a natural fit as a children’s book.”

 

For more information on the Sleep, Little Child and to hear the lullaby, visit www.sleeplittlechild.com.

 

Blue Bicycle Books, voted Charleston’s best used book store five years in a row, is located 420 King Street, Charleston, SC, 29403. For more information, go to http://bluebicyclebooks.com.

 

About Sleep, Little Child:

 

Synopsis: As babies grow into little children, there comes a time when they realize that, like themselves, Mommy and Daddy sleep at night, too. Where, then, is the watchful eye to look over them all night? Where are the protective arms to keep them safe when they close their eyes and drift away into dreams? Sleep, Little Child answers these questions with simple verse, soft music, and compelling illustrations. Composed and sung by Marc Hoffman and illustrated by Tony Waters, Sleep, Little Child is a lullaby with a comforting message: that Someone strong, loving and more powerful than even Mommy and Daddy is right there with all little children, keeping them safe and warm, and greeting them with the morning light. Publisher: Virillion Music. Retail price: $17.95. www.sleeplittlechild.com.