for the ARTS record

AAN Festival Winners Film Series:
"Coney Island Baby"
This winter, The Atheneum has brought other nations to Nantucket with the Festival Winners Film Series - a monthly screening of foreign films that have been awarded prizes at film festivals all over the world. This week, the Atheneum screens "Coney Island Baby" - about a man from Northwestern Ireland who returns to his hometown from New York with plans to marry his sweeheart and move to New York to pursue the American dream. "But everything isn't going Billy's way; the town people aren't happy to see him, and his exgirlfriend is engaged and pregnant," according to the Atheneum. "Then, Billy runs into his old friends who are planning a scam." At the 2003 Newport International Film Festival, director Amy Hobby won the Jury Award for 'Best First Time Director.'
When: Sunday, March 17, 7-9 p.m.
Where: Nantucket Atheneum
  (Great Hall), 7-9 p.m.
Cost: Free
For more information, please call 228-1110.

One Book, One Island:
"Librarian of Basra" author speaks
With its One Book, One Island program, the Nantucket Atheneum created an opportunity for you to engage with your children on issues relating to the Middle East. The program's intention is to edify the community through the shared reading of pertinent works of literature, which were made available to Nantucket students in January. Elementary School students have been reading Jeanette Winter's "The Librarian of Basra" - a picture book that follows the efforts of one Iraqi librarian named Alia Muhammed Baker to save the books in her library during bombings by American forces. Winter wrote and illustrated the story after being inspired by an article about Baker in The New York Times. Some of the proceeds of the book's sales go to Baker's re-built library in Iraq. On making the concept of war accessible to kids, Winter toldThe Independent: "I think I did it by having the main focus be on Alia's bravery. I think children can take in the circumstances that she was in maybe a little bit easier than if the focus was on the war and without getting into real specifics of the war." At the Atheneum, Winter will discuss the research and creation of the book. Slides will accompany the presentation, which is open to "readers of all ages." A book signing and refreshments will follow. All who attend will receive a free copy of "Lilbrarian of Basra," if they don't have one already.
When: Monday, March 19, 7-8 p.m.
Where: Nantucket Atheneum (Great Hall),
  1 India Street
Cost: Free
For more information, please call 228-1110.
"First Ladies of Nantucket Art" This is your last week to catch what is probably the most comprehensive exhibit of works by the women who pioneered the Nantucket Arts Colony from 1910 to 1960. "The history of Nantucket's art colony is unique in comparison to that of places like Woodstock or Provincetown, because women were the driving force, the ones who really took the bull by the horns and became the founders and organizers of things like the Artists' Association and the Sidewalk Arts Sale," said AAN Gallery Director Bobby Frazier. The AAN will have a closing reception for the exhibit on Friday, March 23, from 5-7 p.m.
Where: AAN Gallery, 19 Washington Street
Cost: Free
For more information, please call 228-0294.