Smithsonian coming to Cd'A

COEUR d'ALENE - The Smithsonian Institute is coming to the Coeur d'Alene Public Library in December and area youth are invited to create art and video projects to enhance the experience.

"The Way We Worked" will be exhibited at the library - 702 E. Front Ave. - from mid-December to Jan. 28. The interactive exhibits take a look at how Americans have historically earned a living and their attitudes toward work. The library is one of only six sites in Idaho selected to host the new traveling exhibit.

"This is an exciting opportunity for our community," said David Townsend, library communications coordinator. "Americans tend to identify themselves by what they do. Everybody has a story about their first job or what their parents did for work. So this exhibit has something for everyone.

"Also, because of changes in the economy and other factors, what it means to work in North Idaho is a constantly changing thing. I think it is important to look at where we have been and how we have needed to adapt and, for the most part, how we have adapted successfully."

As part of locally developed projects to enhance TWWW, local youth are being asked to share their impressions about work with the library.

For the "Children's Art Project" children from preschool age to 12 are invited to create art that can be displayed on the walls of the library's Parkside Gallery on the lower level. The deadline for submission is Nov. 26.

Images should be based on the theme, "My Family Works," and can depict the jobs the children want to do in the future, or their expression of the work members of their family do inside and out of the home, paid or voluntary. Art pieces can be drawings, paintings, collages, photographs or bas relief.

There are no restrictions on size, but participants need to be aware that they will be sharing the space in the gallery with others. If more art is submitted than can fit in the gallery pieces will be displayed on a rotating basis during the two months of the exhibit.

For the "Youth Video Project" middle- and high school-aged participants are invited to submit short videos - no longer than 15 minutes - based on the theme "This is Working." The deadline for video submissions is Jan. 2, 2012. Videos will be shown at a special program in the library Community Room on Friday, Jan. 20, at 7 p.m.

For entry forms for either project visit the library or contact Townsend at [email protected] to receive a digital copy of the forms.

TWWW is part of Museum on Main Street, collaboration between the Smithsonian Institution and state humanities councils nationwide. Support for Museum on Main Street has been provided by the United States Congress. The exhibit has been made possible in Idaho by the Idaho Humanities Council and the National Endowment for the Humanities "We the People" Program, and the Inland Northwest Foundation.

The Museum of North Idaho is the library's community partner for the project.

For more information, visit the IHC website at www.idahohumanities.org or call the IHC toll-free at (888) 345-5346.