Art in the Park
CBPL release – Tuesday, June 18, the Coos Bay Public Library and the Coos Bay Art Museum are teaming up to host Art in Park at Mingus Park. From 10:00am-noon, the museum and library will host stations in the park with art projects inspired by nature designed for kids and families. The event is free and open to the public. The event is part of the Coos Bay Public Library’s annual Summer Reading Program. During the summer, the Library offers both a reading challenge and programming for all ages which encourage people to read, learn, connect and find their voice. Beginning June 17 and continuing through August 17, participants of any age can participate in the summer reading bingo challenge, earning badges and entry into prize drawings. Participants who register will get a special prize for entering. This year, people can participate either online or using a paper bingo sheet. Challenge registration is available on the Library’s website or at the Coos Bay Public Library. The Coos Bay Art Museum also offers programming throughout the year in the community. During the summer, the Museum’s Art Cart is a local favorite, offering activities for kids and teens to take home and create. Located at 235 Anderson, the Museum is open to the public Tuesday through Sunday; see their website at https://www.coosart.org/ for more information. For more information on Summer Reading activities or the Reading Challenge, visit the Coos Bay Public Library’s website at www.coosbaylibrary.org, call (541) 269-1101 x 3606 or email Jennifer Knight at jknight@coosbaylibrary.org.
CBPL Event
Coos Bay Public Library, 525 Anderson Ave., Coos Bay – African Beats with Gansango, Tuesday, June 18 in the Myrtlewood Room, 5:30pm – 6:30pm, Travel to Africa for the day! Teaching artists from Gansango African Music & Dance Company will engage participants in learning basic West African rhythms with hands-on use of drums, bells, shakers and clapping. This fun and interactive workshop will entertain and educate for all ages. Come one, come all – no prior music or drum experience required! Feel free to bring your own drum.
Gansango Music & Dance Company at Coos Bay
Travel to Africa with Gansango Music & Dance Company! Two performance artists from the company will perform music and dance from West Africa throughout the South Coast this June in a series of interactive performances and workshops that will entertain and educate, blending contemporary and traditional dance with drumming, song and audience participation. All performances and workshops are free and open to all ages. The group will offer African Showcase performances: Wednesday, June 19, 5:00pm, Coos Bay Plaza (across from Coos Bay City Hall) (Bring a lawn chair or blanket); Thursday, June 20, 11:00am, Bandon Performing Arts Center; Thursday, June 20, 4:00pm, Chetco Public Library; Friday, June 21, 12:00pm, Rotary Park, 715 Railroad Avenue in Myrtle Point. Drumming workshops will be offered Tuesday, June 18, at 5:30pm at the Coos Bay Public Library, and Wednesday, June 19 at 12:00pm at the Lakeside Public Library. Workshops are open to all ages and do not require pre-registration. No experience or equipment is needed, although participants are welcome to bring their own drums. Additionally, the group will offer a dance workshop on Friday, June 21, 10:00am at the Coquille Public Library. Gansango Music & Dance presents traditional and contemporary dance and music from West Africa. The company performances fuse music and movement from across the African continent, drawing heavily from the dance and music traditions of Benin, Ghana and Togo, among other countries. Live drums (djembé, djun-djun and paholé) and percussion (shaker and bell) accompany modern dance arrangements based on traditional movement while colorful costumes provide cultural context for Gansango’s dance shows. Performances in Coos Bay, Bandon, and Brookings are being offered in conjunction with local Juneteenth celebrations and were made possible through the generous support of the South Coast Equity Coalition. The South Coast Equity Coalition is part of a statewide initiative that serves as a bridge to historically underserved and underrepresented communities. Their goal is to empower diverse groups to become involved in developing unique, culturally appropriate solutions to pervasive issues of inequity that impact the health outcomes and wellbeing of community members. Under the umbrella of United Way of Southwestern Oregon, the Coalition now supports both Coos Hispanic Allies and Southern Oregon Coast Pride. Other appearances were supported by the Coos County Library Service District and are being offered to support out-of-school learning for young people during the summer as part of a nationwide Summer Reading Program. The annual initiative is offered to encourage young people and families to read during the summer months. Libraries throughout Coos County coordinate a challenge and programming tailored to local community needs. For more information on Summer Reading activities or the reading challenges, visit any public library in Coos County. For a list of library operating hours and locations, visit the Coos County Library District website at https://www.cooslibraries.org/libraries.