Special Film Event: The Age of Love
2024-02-09 13:00 - 15:00 (America/New_York) | The Institute LIbrary, 847 Chapel Street, New Haven, CT, 06510
Free Screening • Refreshments
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 9 • 6-8 PM
Limited Seating
RSVP NOW! Use this form to RSVP

A Grand Tour of the United States with Painter James Lancel McElhinney
2024-02-17 10:00 - 12:00 | The Institute LIbrary, 847 Chapel Street, New Haven, CT, 06510
A Grand Tour of the United States with Painter James Lancel McElhinney
Fight Your Cabin Fever Here!
Saturday, February 17, 2024
3:00 – 5:00 p.m.
At the Institute Library, 847 Chapel Street, New Haven CT 06510 — Biography Room

Painter, author, and topographer James Lancel McElhinney returns to the Institute Library on a February day to show you his work: books of paintings, a visual travelogue, depicting travels across the United States. The most recent in the series, Sketchbook Traveler: New England, was published in 2023. The Sketchbook Traveler books are portable, interactive art journals and field guides that inspires through depictions scenery across America; through these books McElhinney encourages a deeper engagement with travel through painting, drawing, and writing. Shake off your own mid-winter cabin fever by tramping to the Institute Library on this Saturday afternoon, and enjoy McElhinney as he describes his work through his unofficial position as skilled raconteur! Tea and light refreshments will be served; no RSVP is required for this event, which is free and open to all.

BRIDGE
2024-03-11 15:00 - 16:30, 2024-10-14 19:00 - 20:30 | The Institute LIbrary, 847 Chapel Street, New Haven, CT, 06510
A low key evening of bridge, for people who know how and people who don’t know anything at all.

LOOK BOOK
2024-03-13 - 2024-05-25 | The Gallery Upstairs at The Institute Library, 847 Chapel Street, New Haven, CT, 06510, United States
Look Book: A visual celebration of Woman’s Herstory month exploring how we express ourselves through Fashion and Adornment.

An Evening of Fashion & Fascism
2024-04-25 14:00 - 16:00 | The Institute LIbrary, 847 Chapel Street, New Haven, CT, 06510
Fashion & Fascism: A Dialogue between Gioia Dliberto, Becky Conekin, and Debby Applegate

Join us at the Institute Library on Thursday, April 25th for a special event indeed, one of the Gallery events held in conjunction with : authors Gioia Diliberto, Becky Conekin, and Debby Applegate will discuss the connections between fashion, and the people who make it, and fascism, and the people who make that happen, with a particular focus on personages of the early 20th century.
This is the kind of hidden history where we think we know what we’re looking at, but the true story is more weird and complex than we can guess at — and what could be better than having learned, eloquent, elegant people discuss such matters?
Gioia Diliberto is the author of several books about noteworthy women in history. Her most recent title, Coco at the Ritz, is a novel about Coco Chanel’s involvement with members of the Nazi party during World War II, and the impact her personal decisions had on her life and work. Becky Conekin, currently teaching at Yale University, is the author of many books on the subject of history and fashion, including works on Lee Miller (Monacelli, 2013) and Vernier (Univ. of Chicago, 2012). Debby Applegate is the author of The Most Famous Man in the World, and more recently, a biography of Polly Adler, Madam (Random House, 2021).
These three women visiting us on the 25th collectively know more about brazen women in the 20th century than most of us can imagine. Come hear their presentations and conversation, and ask questions during the Q&A session to follow. We will be convening in the Music Suite on the third floor of the Institute Library, and this will be an intimate evening: please click to RSVP for seating.
While this event is free and open to the public, there is a $10 suggested donation for this event; we will be so grateful to those who make a gift to the Institute Library online by clicking here or who’ll fling some moolah/spondulicks/dosh/cabbage into a donation box on-site on April 25th.

Use this QR code to purchase Lee Miller in Fashion by Becky Conekin. At check-out, enter promo code PHAIDON20 to get 20% off the retail price of the book.

De-Circulated: An Interpretation of Banned Books, Art by Karen Duncan Pape
2024-05-29 - 2024-09-08 | The Gallery Upstairs at The Institute Library, 847 Chapel Street, New Haven, CT, 06510, United States
De-Circulated: An Interpretation of Banned Books, Art by Karen Duncan Pape
Posters by Jeanne Criscola and featuring favorite banned books from the Library and our Community.
What books are being banned and where?
See Karen Pape’s updated list here:
https://mcusercontent.com/1c3aeb8c5e84e311c51042004/files/6b67ffc2-b6b4-d5c5-a8fc-d2b2ad15429b/banned_books_inprogess_to_print.pdf
De-Circulated opens with a party on Thursday, May 30 6-8 pm
and runs through September 8 when we will close with a ticketed adult-only event related to the show- a banned book burlesque cabaret by Madame Thalia and friends.For this live performance the library will be transformed into a multi-media speakeasy.
You don’t want to miss this.

Opening Reception: De-Circulated: An Interpretation of Banned Books
2024-05-30 14:00 - 16:00 | The Gallery Upstairs at The Institute Library, 847 Chapel Street, New Haven, CT, 06510, United States
De-Circulated: An Interpretation of Banned Books – Art by Karen Duncan Pape
May 30-September 8, 2024
Opening Reception:
Thursday, May 30th 6-8 pm

Spinning Poetry: Quality Recordings of Quality Work.
2024-06-12 13:00 - 15:00 | The Institute LIbrary, 847 Chapel Street, New Haven, CT, 06510
Spinning Poetry: Quality Recordings of Quality Work. Mid-20th century, Caedmon Records began to release LP recordings of famous poets reading their own work, giving the listener a special kind of access to poetry by some of the best writers of the time.
At the Institute Library, we’ll be taking some time to delve into these records and give them a chance to speak to us today. Prof. Phillip Beard will be your tour guide; we’ll listen to writers such as Edna St. Vincent Millay, Conrad Aiken, Theodore Roethke, and Wallace Stevens.
This event is free and open to all; $5.00 donation encouraged.
Questions? Email Eva@InstituteLibrary.org.

Italian Cinema: La Citta della Donne (City of Women)(Fellini, 1980, rated R)
2024-06-25 14:30 - 17:30 | The Institute LIbrary, 847 Chapel Street, New Haven, CT, 06510
La Citta della Donne (City of Women) (Fellini, 1980, rated R)
Doors open at 6:30, movie starts at 7:00
Ciao, Bella: Classic Italian Cinema, screened at the Institute Library. A short summer film series, designed for you to enjoy and escape from Life as You Know It. Movies shown with subtitles (NOT dubbed). These events are free and open to all ($10 suggested donation, if you can swing it): No RSVP or ticket required.
Italian ices provided to enrich your movie-going experience.
Got questions? Email Eva@InstituteLibrary.org

Italian Cinema: Mamma Roma (Pasolini, 1962, not rated)
2024-07-11 14:30 - 17:30 | The Institute LIbrary, 847 Chapel Street, New Haven, CT, 06510
Mamma Roma (Pasolini, 1962, not rated)
Doors open at 6:30, movie starts at 7:00
Ciao, Bella: Classic Italian Cinema, screened at the Institute Library. A short summer film series, designed for you to enjoy and escape from Life as You Know It. Movies shown with subtitles (NOT dubbed). These events are free and open to all ($10 suggested donation, if you can swing it): No RSVP or ticket required.
Italian ices provided to enrich your movie-going experience.
Got questions? Email Eva@InstituteLibrary.org

Italian Cinema: Le Notte de Cabiria (Nights of Cabiria) (Fellini, 1957, not rated)
2024-07-25 14:30 - 17:30 | The Institute LIbrary, 847 Chapel Street, New Haven, CT, 06510
Le Notte de Cabiria (Nights of Cabiria) (Fellini, 1957, not rated)
Doors open at 6:30, movie starts at 7:00
Ciao, Bella: Classic Italian Cinema, screened at the Institute Library. A short summer film series, designed for you to enjoy and escape from Life as You Know It. Movies shown with subtitles (NOT dubbed). These events are free and open to all ($10 suggested donation, if you can swing it): No RSVP or ticket required.
Italian ices provided to enrich your movie-going experience.
Got questions? Email Eva@InstituteLibrary.org

Bonsoir, Mes Amis: A Screening of Beauty and the Beast
2024-08-29 14:30 - 17:00 | The Institute LIbrary, 847 Chapel Street, New Haven, CT, 06510
Doors open at 6:30 | Movie starts 7:00
The stars are aligning and we will be screening another series of three films: this time, French flicks are the name of the game. The first movie, Beauty and the Beast, will be screened on Thursday August 29th — the second two movies will have their moments in the dark on September 8th and 26th. The movie screenings have proven sufficiently popular we’ve decided to ask for RSVPs to ensure seating space for all who come.

$10 Suggested Donation hugely appreciated merci beaucoup à nos amies!

Please RSVP : Beauty and the Beast
Online donation link here TAILORED SPECIFICALLY FOR THIS SERIES

This series is presented with assistance from our cherished friends at Best Video in Hamden, CT.

SENSO DI VOCE: Megan Kyle and Esin Gunduz in performance
2024-09-10 14:30 - 17:00 | The Institute LIbrary, 847 Chapel Street, New Haven, CT, 06510
Doors open at 6:30 | Performance starts at 7:00
Senso di Voce presents ‘…through itself…’

…a new commissioned work inspired by the philosophical ideas of revolutionary Islamic mystic İbn ‘Arabî plus improvisations with a performance built around explorations of shimmering timbral resonances and other astonishing acoustical phenomena.

Megan Kyle – oboe, English horn

Esin Gunduz – voice, composition, tremolo harmonica, bass harmonica, harmonium

About Senso di Voce
Megan Kyle (oboe, English horn) & Esin Gunduz (voice, composition, tremolo harmonica, bass harmonica, harmonium). The duo focuses on the embodied experience of varying acoustical phenomena. Implementing the unique acoustic properties of their instruments and of the performance space, they create otherworldly performances that reveal the interconnected timbral threads among new music and early music from diverse cultural traditions. This, combined with improvisation and movement, brings audiences into an immersive experience that transcends expectations.
Their performance features a brand new piece by Esin for the duo. Inspired by the writings of revolutionary Islamic thinker İbn ‘Arabî (1165-1240), ‘…through itself…’ is an exploration of his profound philosophical concepts, through sound. The piece will be followed by improvisations that expand on this sonic world.
Senso di Voce’s previous work includes multiple performances for Silo City, a collection of repurposed grain elevators in Buffalo, NY. They have created performances and sound installations in partnership with several art museums and art festivals in Western New York. Tierceron, their album of improvisations with collaborator Henry Birdsey, was released on Other Minds Records (San Francisco) in 2023.
This commission has been made possible by the Chamber Music America Classical Commissioning Program, with generous funding provided by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation.

Click here to RSVP.

Visit the Facebook page to learn more

Bonsoir, Mes Amis: A Screening of Orpheus
2024-09-12 14:30 - 17:00 | The Institute LIbrary, 847 Chapel Street, New Haven, CT, 06510
Doors open at 6:30 | Movie starts 7:00
The stars are aligning and we will be screening another series of three films: this time, French flicks are the name of the game. The first movie, Beauty and the Beast, will be screened on Thursday August 29th — the second two movies will have their moments in the dark on September 8th and 26th. The movie screenings have proven sufficiently popular we’ve decided to ask for RSVPs to ensure seating space for all who come.

$10 Suggested Donation hugely appreciated merci beaucoup à nos amies!

Please RSVP : Orpheus
Online donation link here TAILORED SPECIFICALLY FOR THIS SERIES

This series is presented with assistance from our cherished friends at Best Video in Hamden, CT.

Spinning Poetry
2024-09-18 13:00 - 15:00 | The Institute LIbrary, 847 Chapel Street, New Haven, CT, 06510
A little chance to relax and think and absorb noted works of poetry as read by its authors. This month, we continue our tour of Caedmon recordings from the 20th century, and visit the 1950s recordings of Pound, Eliot, and Sitwell: Masters of Irony, Collage, and Innovation? Or Complicated Fops and Poseurs? Our tour guide, Phillip Beard, will explore with you and guide you through the high modernist wackiness.

Poet Joan Kwon Glass reading from her new collection of poetry, Daughter of Three Gone Kingdoms (Perugia Press, 2024)
2024-09-21 12:00 - 14:00 | The Institute LIbrary, 847 Chapel Street, New Haven, CT, 06510
Doors open at 4:00
Tea/reading concludes by 6:00

Winner of the 2024 Perugia Press Poetry Prize, Daughter of Three Gone Kingdoms explores themes familiar to those who know Kwon’s work: it’s described as part lamentation and part hymn—an illumination of diasporic hungers, hauntings, absence, and resilience. This collection “explores colonialism and “postcolonialism” through disordered eating, suicide loss, religious damage, familial estrangement, addiction, motherhood, and recovery. These poems ask urgent questions: What does it mean to be a mixed-race survivor of generational traumas in a world that often insists on binaries and singular narratives? What role does “hunger” play in navigating life in the diaspora? And, ultimately, what is required to raise an American daughter while forging a path forward?” Joan Kwon Glass, Milford Poet Laureate, is known for her searching, thoughtful earlier works, Night Swim (2023), Pancakes for a Dead Boy (2022), and If Rust Can Grow on the Moon (2022). She is the editor of Harbor Review, and the winner of numerous awards and prizes for her work. This event is free and open to the public.
View event on Facebook.

Bonsoir, Mes Amis: A Screening of Breathless
2024-09-26 14:30 - 17:00 | The Institute LIbrary, 847 Chapel Street, New Haven, CT, 06510
Doors open at 6:30 | Movie starts 7:00
The stars are aligning and we will be screening another series of three films: this time, French flicks are the name of the game. The first movie, Beauty and the Beast, will be screened on Thursday August 29th — the second two movies will have their moments in the dark on September 8th and 26th. The movie screenings have proven sufficiently popular we’ve decided to ask for RSVPs to ensure seating space for all who come.

$10 Suggested Donation hugely appreciated merci beaucoup à nos amies!

Please RSVP : Breathless
Online donation link here TAILORED SPECIFICALLY FOR THIS SERIES

This series is presented with assistance from our cherished friends at Best Video in Hamden, CT.

Glorious Index: New Haven Fall Open Studios, 2024
2024-10-04 - 2024-12-14 | CT
Hours: Tues – Fri: 11-5 / Sat: 12-2
Sun & Mon: Closed

Glorious Index Opening Reception
2024-10-05 18:00 - 20:00 | The Gallery Upstairs at The Institute Library, 847 Chapel Street, New Haven, CT, 06510, United States
Opening Reception for Glorious Index: New Haven Fall Open Studios, 2024
The opening on October 5th will be a special party
in celebration of the artists in our community opening their doors throughout the city this month. We offer a delightful mix of small works by a multitude of participating artists, a map board with info on all weekends and events and an impressive selection of Indexes and Directories from the Library’s historic collection.
For the opening party will offer a special online link on the night of so that those unable to attend for any reason can have a special sneak peek, can say hello to fellow artists and otherwise participate. Please email us at gallery@institutelibrary.org by 5pm Oct 5th with the header screenparty and we will send you the invite!
Dress Code:
In the interests of more emphatic pointing fun, we are suggesting dressing up your index finger for this event. Fancy nails? Foam Finger? So many options…..
Post images of each other pointing at favorite works at the event
with the hashtag #GloriousIndex to share the party!

Listen Here!
2024-10-15 18:30 - 20:30 | The Institute LIbrary, 847 Chapel Street, New Haven, CT, 06510
Bennett Lovett-Graff returns to shepherd you through an evening of classic short fiction, read aloud by actors from the New Haven Theater Company. This evening, we will hear two stories by Raymond Carver: “Cathedral” and “Fat”.
This event is free and open to the public, but donations to the Institute Library are deeply appreciated.

Jazz
2024-10-18 17:15 - 20:00 | The Institute LIbrary, 847 Chapel Street, New Haven, CT, 06510
Although always subject to change as to artistic spotlight, Friday Happy Hour Jazz will continue a swinging tour of that great American art form, “LP Jazz”, meeting at 5:15 or so every Friday, in the third floor music room, to consider, contemplate and appreciate the wonders in the Collection.
Friday Happy Hour Jazz is, as always, a BYOB, BYO Snack evening; the crowd’s always appreciative and always excited to see what people bring. Updates to the schedule, including inclement weather closures, will be provided via the internal Jazz email list. Want to be added to that list? Let us know!
Please consider making a $5 donation when you come to Friday Happy Hour Jazz.
Friday Happy Hour Jazz is presented with support from Jazz Haven www.jazzhaven.org

Spinning Poetry: The Spoken Word
2024-10-23 18:30 - 20:00 | The Institute LIbrary, 847 Chapel Street, New Haven, CT, 06510
We now delve further into the Caedmon catalog for another major modernist poet reading her work, Marianne Moore, and then feature work of John Ashbery (who admired Moore’s work) reading his sometimes moving, sometimes funny, and often challenging poems that benefit from his upstate New York voice and from his droll, understated delivery.
Rounding out the evening are selections from Caedmon’s own “big hits” disc, its Treasury of Modern Poets, including Elizabeth Bishop, Robert Frost, and many other possibilities. We’ll start a little later this time to help people get to the Institute Library’s music listening room from work or other daily responsibilities.

Achtung, October: Fritz Lang’s M, starring Peter Lorre
2024-10-24 18:30 - 20:30 | The Institute LIbrary, 847 Chapel Street, New Haven, CT, 06510
A classic of German expressionism, M is often cited as one of the most blood-chilling movies ever made. Peter Lorre stars as someone who you wouldn’t hire to babysit your children. Released in 1931, M is a stone-cold classic, a movie worth reading up on before seeing: a cinematic landmark. Run time: 111 minutes. NR. Subtitled.
This film series is free and open to the public, but we strongly encourage attendees to make a $10 donation to cover costs associated with holding these screenings. Donations can be made in cash night of the event, or online at Movie Series at the Institute Library
Doors at 6:30
Movie at 7:00
