Sun 2/1 @ 2-3:30PM
Dinara Mirtalipova, who teaches at the Cleveland Museum of Art, came to this country from Uzbekistan, and her colorful artwork contains copious elements of her native folk art. She’s used that style to create a whole series of artfully engaging books for kids and adults, prints and assorted other items. I once saw one of her signature notebooks at a TJ Maxx in Michigan City, Indiana (Yes, of course I bought it.)
Her new picture book The Vanishing Sea: The Tale of How the Aral Sea Became the Aral Desert addresses a subject that will be familiar to anyone who does crossword puzzles: the disappearance of the Aral Sea, a saltwater lake that once covered26 square miles of Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan. It was an asset that shaped the landscape, culture and livelihoods of the surrounding region until Soviet industrialization diverted the water for agricultural purposes. She tells the story of its disappearance in the style of a folk tale to appeal to the 5 to 12-year-old audience the book is aimed at and make them aware of the environmental impacts of exploiting our natural assets.
She’ll be hosting a launch party and family craft day at Logan Berry Books. Go here to RSVP.
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