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UB Libraries collaborate on "Frankenstein" exhibition
By PATRICIA DONOVAN
Contributing Editor
An elaborate traveling exhibition that celebrates "Frankenstein," one of the enduring myths of the western world, has arrived in Buffalo, courtesy of the Buffalo and Erie County Public Libraries in cooperation with the UB Libraries and Just Buffalo Literary Center.
"Frankenstein: Penetrating the Secrets of Nature" is on display in the central Buffalo and Erie County Library in downtown Buffalo and will run through March 5. It one of four versions of the exhibit currently touring the country.
The exhibition, which is scheduled to visit 82 libraries in 37 states in three years, was developed by the National Library of Medicine in collaboration with the American Library Association. It has been made possible by major grants from the National Endowment for the Humanities and the National Library of Medicine.
UB's contribution to the event includes two coordinating library exhibitions, a three-Saturday matinee Frankenstein film festival and a hands-on presentation on robotics for children by the UB Robotics Club.
The UB Libraries also will provide the prizes for a Frankenstein poster contest for school children, to be run by the Buffalo and Erie County Public Library and judged by Mel Frankenstein, a production manager at Studio Arena who is a Frankenstein enthusiast. Some items from his own collection are being exhibited in the show.
The exhibit and coordinating events examine Mary Shelley's classic tale of ambition, idealism, revenge and forgiveness; the scientific development that provoked the novel; the moral responsibilities it raises; its themes of creation, science and technology, and how the story has been articulated in popular culture over the past century.
The two coordinating exhibitions presented by the UB Libraries are:
"Dr. Frankenstein: A Glimpse into the Medicine and Scientific Experimentation of his Times," an exhibit of print and non-print materials, including medical books, instruments and models, that will provide an overview of the state of medicine and scientific experimentation during the period surrounding the publication of Shelley's book. It opened in the UB Health Sciences Library in Abbot Hall, South Campus, on Sunday and will run through March 31.
"UB Robotics: Plastics, Lasers, Microchips and Sensors—It's Alive!!!" in the UB Science and Engineering Library, Capen Hall, North Campus, through March 31.
The downtown central library will also present a coordinating exhibit in its Rare Book Room through March 5. "Dissecting Frankenstein: Inspiration for Mary Shelley's Immortal Classic" is an exhibition of that library's archival materials that explore the scientific, medical and literary inspiration for "Frankenstein."
Bruce Jackson, SUNY Distinguished Professor and Samuel P. Capen Professor of Humanities in the Department of English, will present and introduce the films in a Frankenstein film festival. The films, which will be screened at 1 p.m. in the West Room of the central library, include "Frankenstein," 1931, on Saturday; "The Bride of Frankenstein," 1935, on Feb. 14, and "Young Frankenstein," 1994, on Feb. 24
The UB Robotics Club will present an interactive program for children and young adults in the library's West Room from 2-3:30 p.m. Feb. 28. Club members will transform plastics, lasers, microchips, batteries, wires and motors into "beings" and ask the musical question, "Are they alive?"
"Monster Talks," lunchtime discussions of the book sponsored by Bistro Bookers, will take place from 12:10-1 p.m. Feb. 10 and Feb. 19 in the downtown library.
For additional information, go to the Buffalo and Erie County Library exhibition Web site at http://www.buffalolib.org/events/frankenstein/index.asp.