The St. Agnes Holiday Book Fair & Bazaar

December 1st , 10am-3pm
December 2, 8am-2pm

Location: St. James Episcopal Church Parish Center,
1020 West Lafayette, Baltimore, MD
Contact: Mary Gardner (410) 523-4588

Description: St. Agnes' Guild of St. James Episcopal Church presents "A Holiday Book Fair and Bazaar", with author presentations and books signings, noted guest speakers, and informative workshops for adults and children. Speakers will include: Dr. Freeman A. Hrabowski III, President of the University of Maryland, Baltimore County and author of Beating The Odds: Raising Academically Successful African American Males and his new book Overcoming the Odds: Raising Academically Successful African American Young Women; Audrey Chapman, nationally known relationship expert and author of Seven Attitude Adjustments for Finding a Loving Man; Janice Ferebee, author of Got It Goin' On II : Power Tools for Girls; A'Lelia Bundles, former Washington deputy bureau chief for ABC and many others.

A Discussion with Author, Deborah Peaks Coleman and
Artist, Laurel T. Duplessis

December 1st , 1 - 4pm

Location: Sisterspace and Books, 1515 U St NW

Description: Deborah Peaks Coleman, a self-employed communications professional, presents and signs her book, Pot Likker: Stories for Teachers & Learners. "Pot Likker," a term from the African American community refers to the broth remaining from greens that have been seasoned and boiled. This broth is considered flavorful and precious as it contains all the nutrients. Pot Likker: Stories for Teachers & Learners contain stories gathered from the personal experiences of individuals of various ethnicities and backgrounds that are "nutritional" for the spirit.

Laurel Tucker Duplessis is an artist who incorporates the fine art of papermaking into her work. She makes her own paper out of molds that she has constructed. The paper takes the shape of the mold, it is round, oval and rectangular with a deckle edge on all sides. The designs are lineout, embossments, serigraphs, and paintings, and some are a combination of more than one technique. She adorns the finished work with beads, feathers, fabric, and 22K gold leaf.

Born and raised in New York City, Duplessis studied at Pratt Institute and earned a BFA from Massachusetts College of Arts and an MA in Museum Studies from Hampton University. She had taught art, humanities, and art history at Hampton University and Norfolk State University. For many years she was the Curator of art at Hampton University Museum. She retired as Curator of the Art and Artifacts Division at the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture (The New York Public Library).

Her work is a reflection of her travels to Africa, the Caribbean, Mexico, and South America. Duplessis has exhibited her work in many national and international exhibits. Some of which are: The Columbia Harrison Heritage Museum, Roanoke, VA; The Amber Gallery, Richmond, VA; Boston City Hall; The New Orleans World's Fair; Hampton University Museum, Westbeth Gallery, New York City; The National Black Arts Festival, Atlanta, GA; LaBelle Gallery, New Orleans, LA; Art Atrium Gallery, Portsmouth, VA; The Schomburg Center, New York City; and the Kirby Gallery, Barbados, West Indies.

Duplessis' art can be found in corporate and private collections across the United States, Europe, and the Caribbean. It is currently on view at Blue Skies Gallery in Hampton, VA, where she is a member of the gallery.

The Wisdom of Traditional Leadership in Ghana,
A Fundraiser to Benefit Youth Programs in Akwamu, Ghana

December 2nd, 1-3pm

Location: Plymouth UCC Church, 5301 N. Capital St. NE
Contact: Rev. Marjani Dele (202)797-9127
Cost: $10 donation requested

Description: A panel including Bruce Willis, author of The Adinkra Dictionary: A Visual Primer on the Language of Adinkra. Adinkra is an Akan word. Akan is the language of the Akan people who comprise about one-half of the population of Ghana. Adinkra, which literally means "saying good-bye (farewell) to the dead", is the name given the colorful, hand-painted and hand embroidered cloth used for mourning by the Akan people of Ghana and Cote d'Ivoire. Adinkra cloth is now used extensively as everyday clothing Adinkra prints, curtains, bedspreads, and jewelry can be found in many places in the African and the African-American community. Willis will discuss excerpts from his book, as well as discuss the role Akwamus, some of the earliest Akans to settle in Ghana, in liberation efforts. Queen Mother Nana Oya Boadu Akofona will discuss her vision of redevelopment efforts in Akwamu and Ocyeame Kwasi Odaaku will discuss the role of Queen Mothers in traditional leadership structures.

The Church of the Redeemer Holiday Bookfair & Bazaar
December 8th and 9th, 12 - 3pm

Location: Church of the Redeemer, 1423 Girard St NE, Wash., DC
Contact: Mrs. Everett (202) 726-1687

Description: The Church of the Redeemer presents their annual "Holiday Bookfair & Bazaar", featuring books, holiday cards, and other great gift ideas. On Saturday, December 8th, from 9 - 11 am, the members of The Church of the Redeemer Book Club will host a "Breakfast and Book Discussion" from 9 - 11am. . They will discuss Church Folk by Michelle Andrea Bowen. Marita Golden says Church Folk is a "wise, scandalously funny, compassionate look at the wayward shepherds and lost sheep of the Black church. If you have ever said a prayer, thought of casting the first stone, or woke up on Sunday morning too tight from Saturday night to make the eight o'clock service, you will LOVE this book!" The cost for the breakfast and book discussion is $3.00. The Holiday Bazaar will immediately follow and continue through Sunday, December 9th.

Artists Market Day
December 9, 12- 6pm

Location: Franciscan Monastery, 1400 Quincy St NE, Wash., DC

Description: Artists Market Day began in 1996 as a small art showing by a few Washington, DC area artists. Since that time, and largely due to the requests of attendees, the original spring show has extended to include a fall holiday event. In addition, the number of participating artists and the range of media represented have grown tremendously. From fine art to hand-painted textiles, furniture, pottery, candles, jewelry, contemporary art and sculpture, fashion and books -- every aspect of enrichment and adornment for you home and person are represented. Visit the website at artistsmarketday.com for more information, or to review the listing of artists. Sisterspace and Books will present three authors who will sign their books for your holiday gifts.