Ballet Russes.  This Russian ballet company (1909-29) was founded in Paris by Sergei Diaghilev. In attempting to fuse dance, mime, music, and scenery into a harmonious unity, it fostered the most avantgarde talents of the period and greatly influenced the subsequent development of ballet. This exhibit honors the 100th anniversary of the first performance of Diaghilev's Ballets Russes at the Theatre du Chatelet in Paris in 1909.

Exhibit located on Stacks Level 3, just across the bridge from the library entrance.

Henri Matisse 1869-1954.  This exhibit celebrates the 140th Birth Anniversary of Henri Matisse, French painter and sculptor. Matisse, known for his brilliant colors and bold brushstrokes, had a major influence on modern art. Our Baltimore connection to the artist is the internationally renowned Cone Collection of 500 of Matisse's works at the Baltimore Museum of Art. Exhibit Bonus: if you like dogs, you'll want to see the book with reproduction of the artist's painting "Interior With Dog." The original hangs in the BMA.

Exhibit located on Stacks Level 3, just across the bridge from the library entrance.

Galileo's Telescope. In 1609 Galileo Galilei created an improved version of the telescope, based only on reports of the Dutch instruments. He would quickly improve them from 3 or 4 power to 20x. It was Galileo who made the telescope a key instrument of astronomy, since he quickly started using the telescope for astronomical observation. Telescopes with a convex objective and a concave eyepiece are known as "Galilean," even though several noted figures had described and used this design before.

Exhibit located on Stacks Level 4, near the Group Study Room.