This event will be held in San Rafael City Council Chambers at 6:30pm.
The San Rafael Public Library is honored to present local artist, Evri Kwong, and his latest project:
Angel Island is the Ellis Island of the West Coast, NOT!
This is how Evri’s new project began…
It’s 2021. The story begins by me asking my uncle to share what happened to our family? How did we come to America?
His simple response was, “Why do you want to dredge up the past? I thought we are past that. Life is good now.” I said, “I understand, but I have a daughter now and I want her to know our history in America.
Evri Kwong was born in San Francisco and raised in the Bay Area. He attended the San Francisco Art Institute where he received a BFA and MFA in Drawing and Painting. During graduate school, Kwong was awarded a full fellowship to study at the prestigious Skowhegan School of Painting and Sculpture in Maine. He has received grants from the Pollock-Krasner Foundation, the Lannan Foundation, and the Adolph & Esther Gottlieb Foundation Grant for Painting. Currently.
He is currently an adjunct professor of drawing and painting at California College of the Arts in San Francisco. Kwong’s work is in numerous public and private institutions, most recently: de Young Museum Open in 2021 and the Triennial de Young Open 2023. His work has been written up in international magazines and newspapers and cited in the book Asian American Primary Source Reader (2017, Yale Press) for a painting he made about Vincent Chin. He also appeared in the documentary film “Smitten” by filmmaker Nancy Kelly on the Rene Di Rosa Art Collection in Napa, CA.
Here’s the Pacific Sun article that appeared after his art talk at the San Rafael Public Library June 2023.
Evri Kwong’s work has been featured in group and solo exhibitions across the country and abroad, including: Catharine Clark Gallery, SF; George Krevsky Gallery, SF; Southern Exposure Gallery, SF; Heidi Cho Gallery, NYC; Asian American Art Centre, NYC; Alternative Museum, NYC; David Beitzel Gallery, NYC; Track 16 Gallery, LA; Robert Berman Gallery, Santa Monica; Dwight-Hackett Projects, Santa Fe, NM; Gerald Peters Gallery Project Space, Santa Fe, NM; San Jose Museum Of Art; Triton Museum Of Art; Museum Of Sonoma County; Crocker-Kingsley Museum of Art; Rene Di Rosa Preserve, Napa; Lancaster Museum Of Art, PA; deSaisset Museum, Santa Clara; Ross School of Business (University of Michigan); Stanford University Hospital; Haggerty Museum, Djerassi Foundation, (Woodside, CA); The Lannan Foundation (Santa Fe, NM); Gallery Godo, South Korea, Hana Bank in South Korea; among others.
“I am not a political artist. I am just an artist responding to the time we are living in.” – Evri Kwong, Artist
This program is brought to you thanks to the support from The Friends of the San Rafael Public Libraries.
Celebrate International Literacy Month with a screening of the documentary short, Silvio Rodriguez: My First Calling (25 minutes) in which the world-renowned Cuban folk singer recounts his involvement in the island’s 1961 Literacy Campaign.
Q&A with filmmaker Catherine Murphy will follow.
El Día del Niño es una celebración anual en América Latina, es un día para honrar la vida de los niños, su bienestar y felicidad. ¡Acompañanos a esta fiesta comunitaria para pasar un día de música, obsequio de libros y mucha diversión en la Biblioteca Pickleweed! ¡Prepárate para cantar y bailar con una actuación musical de Aguacate Music Kids!
Día Del Niño/Children’s Day is an annual celebration in Latin America, it is a day to honor the lives of children, their well-being and happiness. Join our community celebration for a day of music, books giveaways and lots of fun at Pickleweed Library! Get ready to sing and dance with a musical performance by Aguacate Music Kids!
Every summer is dry in Marin and drought is an undeniable reality. In response, many gardeners make it a goal to conserve water wherever possible. One way of achieving that goal is to grow plants that need little or no water. The selection of succulents and other extra-low water plants has exploded in recent years. Thankfully, these plants come in a wide range of shapes, sizes, and colors and are extremely easy to grow.
Growing some of your own food is as healthy as it is satisfying. Homegrown crops taste better and come in a much wider variety than what is found in grocery store aisles. Growing your own also allows you to control the environment so you’re assured what you’re eating is truly organic. Vegetable gardening is Earth-friendly: it saves energy, because it means fewer trips to the store, and results in less food waste to haul away. Find out how to make the best choices for maximum success with your edibles.
Carved in Silence reveals the previously untold story of the Exclusion Era – its genesis, its reality, and its consequences. Focusing on the detention of Chinese immigrants at Angel Island Immigration Station in San Francisco Bay, the documentary combines interviews with historical footage and dramatic re-enactments to translate the impact of public policies into human terms.
Please join us in a screening of this film followed by Q&A with local filmmaker Felicia Lowe.
Felicia Lowe is an award-winning media producer, director, and writer with 50 years of production experience. Her documentaries:Chinese Couplets,Carved in Silence, ChinatownandChina: Land of My Father reveal the unique experiences of Chinese in America while underscoring our common humanity.
Her works have been broadcast on PBS and are used in classrooms worldwide. A past board president of the Angel Island Immigration Foundation and descendant of Angel Island detainees, she is gratified to have played a role in the preservation and restoration of this important National Historic Landmark.
Winner of a CINE Golden Eagle, Chris Plaque, National Educational Film and Video Association Honorable Mention. Broadcast on PBS, International Channel.
Please note: On July 31, at 6:30 in Council Chambers, San Rafael artist Evri Kwong will return to present his just finished work on window shade entitled: Angel Island Is The Ellis Island Of The West Coast, NOT! His talk will be particularly poignant if you view the film beforehand.
Testimonials:
“Carved in Silence is a beautifully crafted film that rings the story of Angel Island, a repressed part of the United States’ past to public view. After seeing it, audiences will want to talk, to deal with the ongoing issues, and re-dedicate efforts for more justice.”
~Professor John Kuo Wei Tchen, Director, A/P/A Institute, New York University
“Felicia Lowe’s powerfully understated Carved in Silence calls attention to the blatantly racist ordeal to which Chinese attempting to emigrate to America were routinely subjected in the wake of the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882, enforced through 1943 – the only time in U.S. history a group of people were almost entirely excluded from entry solely on the basis of race.”
~ Kevin Thomas, Los Angeles Times
Our big summer book sale on the library lawn will take place Saturday, June 21 from 9:00am to 3:30pm.
There will be over 300 boxes worth of books on all subjects displayed.
Huge sections of fine art, history, cooking, fiction and children’s books. Over 30 categories including oldies, reference, sets, CDs and DVDs.
It’s a very old-fashioned sale, sheltered by an enormous deciduous oak tree– so buyers can be warm and cool at the same time on a hot day. Everyone will be there to gather up some great summer reading and to visit with friends and neighbors. Pop on down to join the fun!
Proceeds benefit programs for children and adults at our 3 library branches, from our summer reading program for kids to the art lecture series for adults.
We do need more help, yes!
Early risers might help us set up between 7:00 and 9:00 while others may prefer helping us pack up from 3:30 to 5:00.
Want to help? Contact Tom Koerber at 415.485.3104 to leave your contact information. You will meet book lovers and enjoy a fast-paced but moderate workout. Join us for some fun!
Learn more about volunteering with the Friends, their beautiful store, and becoming a member: Friends Books San Rafael
Have you always had an interest in learning more about the night sky but had no idea how to begin? Do you want to learn more about our two library telescopes that will be available for checkout the week after the event? Here is your chance!
This introductory astronomy event will be at the Jean and John Starkweather Shoreline Park (please see correct location here), on Saturday, April 5, 2025, 7:00-9:00pm in collaboration with Marin Stargazers. We will be using the NEW library telescopes as well as Marin Stargazers’ astronomy equipment. If you have a pair of binoculars, please bring them.
At 7:00 pm, we will demonstrate the library scopes, which can also be used for birdwatching at the adjacent Audubon Tiscornia Marsh. Sunset at 7:37 pm will bring out the stars!
Please consider carpooling as both street parking and parking at the Al Boro Community Center (within walking distance) may be limited.
¿Has querido aprender sobre el cielo nocturno, pero no sabes por dónde empezar? ¿Quieres más información acerca de los dos telescopios que la biblioteca va a tener disponibles para prestar a partir de la semana siguiente del evento. ¡Esta es tu oportunidad!
Este evento introductorio de astronimía tendrá lugar en el Parque Jean and John Starkweather Shoreline (por favor vea la locación correcta aquí), el sábado, 5 de abril, 2025, de 7:00-9:00 pm en colaboración con Marin Stargezers. Utilizaremos los NUEVOS telescopio de la biblioteca, como también aparatos astronómicos de Marin Stargazers. Si tienes un par de binoculates, puedes traerlos.
A las 7:00 pm, vamos a enseñar como usar los telescopios de la biblioteca, que también se puede utilizar para la observación de aves en el adyacente Audubon Tiscornia Marsh. La puesta del sol, a las 7:37 pm, ¡hará que podamos ver las estrellas!
Por favor considere formas alternativas de transporte, ya que el parqueo en las calles o en el Centro de la Comunidad Al Boro (queda a poca distancia) puede ser escaso.
Ground covers range from ground-hugging mats to 3 or 4-foot spreading plants. They can be woody or herbaceous, evergreen or deciduous. Some grow from a single stem; others have spreading underground rhizomes that allow the plant to “creep.” Aesthetically, they can provide a restful expanse of green or splashes of vivid color.
Ground covers serve many functions in the landscape, including suppressing weeds, reducing erosion, replacing lawns, softening hardscapes, and filling in large expanses. Native ground covers have the benefits of being adapted to our environment and supporting native biodiversity. In addition, they often require little maintenance or water. We will discuss seventeen of our favorite native ground covers.
Presented by Master Gardeners Kathy Hunting and Yvonne Rojas.
Kathy Hunting, a Master Gardener since 2014, is an environmental health scientist by training. She lives on a sunny acre in Point Reyes Station where her garden is full of tasty vegetables and fruits. She also attempts to grow ornamentals that the deer will not find tasty.
In 2017 Yvonne Rojas, the granddaughter of a professional gardener, realized her long-held dream of becoming a Master Gardener. She loves working with her fellow MGs on a variety of projects such as Exploring Habitats field trips for 2nd Graders, MG videos, the Native Plant Guild, & the Tomato & Pollinator plant Grows & Markets. She lives with her husband & their cat on a redwood-shaded hillside in Mill Valley, where they’ve planted many natives including her favorite, the Matilija Poppy.
Repair Fair in collaboration with Reuse Alliance and Zero Waste Marin
Bring your broken items—such as textiles, bikes, lamps, small appliances, or electronics—and get them repaired for free by a volunteer Repair Coach. Learn valuable repair skills while helping reduce waste and supporting the local reuse economy. Registration is required, if you would like to bring an item to repair, register here
Feria de Reparaciones en colaboración de Reuse Alliance y Zero Waste Marin
Trae tus objetos rotos, como textiles, bicicletas, lámparas, pequeños electrodomésticos o aparatos electrónicos, para que los repare gratuitamente un reparador voluntario. A la vez aprende valiosas técnicas de reparación que ayudan a reducir los deshechos y apoyan la economía local de reutilización. Es necesario inscribirte si deseas traer un objeto para reparar, registrate aquí
Every summer is dry in Marin and drought is an undeniable reality. In response, many gardeners make it a goal to conserve water wherever possible. One way of achieving that goal is to grow plants that need little or no water. The selection of succulents and other extra-low water plants has exploded in recent years. Thankfully, these plants come in a wide range of shapes, sizes, and colors and are extremely easy to grow.
Carved in Silence reveals the previously untold story of the Exclusion Era – its genesis, its reality, and its consequences. Focusing on the detention of Chinese immigrants at Angel Island Immigration Station in San Francisco Bay, the documentary combines interviews with historical footage and dramatic re-enactments to translate the impact of public policies into human terms.
Felicia Lowe is an award-winning media producer, director, and writer 
Our big summer book sale on the library lawn will take place Saturday, June 21 from 9:00am to 3:30pm.
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