For over 40 years, BookPeople of Moscow has provided the community an opportunity to come together and discover literature.
Jesica DeHart, co-manager and buyer at BookPeople, said the bookstore”s goal has always been to connect with other local businesses and artists – a goal which eventually led to the formation of Moscow First Thursday.
The purpose of the monthly event is to gather people in Moscow to appreciate artwork.
One of BookPeople”s upcoming and highly anticipated events for Moscow First Thursday is a showcase of artwork by children”s book illustrators.
The event, which marks the two-year anniversary of Moscow First Thursday, is hosted by BookPeople and will begin at 5 p.m. on Thursday at One World Cafe.
DeHart said the event will feature the artwork of Scott Nash, Nancy Gibson Nash and Rilla Alexander.
DeHart said the best thing about this collection of work is that the three artists each have their own distinctive styles.
“I am really drawn to exceptional children”s book illustrations,” DeHart said. “Especially illustrators who have both a visually identifiable style but can also do a broad range of work.”
DeHart said Alexander”s work is simplistic with a lot of movement expressions, while Nash”s visual artwork is detailed and Scott”s illustrations are “charismatic.”
DeHart said one of Scott”s books, “The High Skies Adventures of Blue Jay the Pirate,” is a bookstore favorite.
“I have loved reading the first chapter of this book aloud during school field trips to the store,” DeHart said. “It combines a love of birds with an irresistible story … His drawings have so much charisma and detail to them and his range is epic.”
DeHart said she is excited that BookPeople is able to put on the event to commemorate the anniversary of Moscow First Thursday because she enjoys the way First Thursday appreciate the arts in a way that brings the community together.
“It is so fun to see so many people out strolling downtown, whether in the dark of winter or in the warmth of fall,” DeHart said. “It is a great way for artists and musicians to get their work out and for businesses to get foot traffic through their door.”
DeHart, who has worked for the bookstore for four years, said her responsibility is to assist in book buying and event planning.
In addition to buying and planning for the bookstore, DeHart said she also collaborates with local schools, hospitals and non-profits to come up with creative projects.
“When you spend a lot of creative energy and enthusiasm creating brilliant and exciting events then of course you want to entice people to come and experience them,” DeHart said. “My responsibility comes from my own personal sense of ambition for wanting to entice people to experience all that BookPeople has to offer from displays, books, merchandise, events, philanthropic giving and community partnership and outreach.”
Future events at BookPeople include visits from authors Terry Tempest Williams, a recipient of the Robert Marshall Award from The Wilderness Society in 2006, and Brooke Williams.
The two authors will speak at 5:30 p.m. Oct. 5 at the 1912 Center. In addition to hosting readings by noted artists and authors, the store also holds special discount days for students every Friday.
Luis Torres can be reached at [email protected]