The smells of crepes and sounds of baroque music enticed un-intending and intentional students alike to join the audience of Professor Mocuta's Salon du livre. Whip cream and berries adorned the crepes and café au laits steamed and countered the sweetness of the French dessert.
The library space bustled with talking as the dessert reception grew fuller in anticipation of the night's program. Some ignorant of the event at first scorned the noise, but were seen later indulging in the free dessert. Sugar and caffeine were definitely worth the inconvenience. Most others joined in the festivities, intrigued that the library space could be used in such a way - food and noise and a make-shift amphitheater?!?!
The furniture of the area had indeed been moved in a sort of amphitheater space. The 'stage' figured to the south of the area and featured a writing desk and twin chairs, paintings on easels, still life props, and an adjacent book exhibit.
Professor Mocuta and Theatre Y actors Melissa Hawkins, Kevin Smith and MBI actor Evan Hill joined the throng at 7. Mocuta introduced the Salon historically and also explained how it came to fruition here at MBI during this year's National Library Week celebration. Attendees were given biographies of Salon personalities, the portraits of whom were shown via slides on a screen.
The Salon moved from lecture to the reading of epistolary literature - correspondence written by the Habitués du salon. The letters most resonant were those written by Vincent Van Gogh to Gaugin and to his brother Theo about his art. We listened to Smith give voice to these words of struggle, definition, philosophy, religion, transcendence and art all while looking at the 'Starry Night' and 'The Café' images on a slide.
To close, Smith again impressed the audience with a monologue from András Visky's 'Backborn.' Unfortunately, time was running out and the audience dared not ask too many questions about the piece. Indeed, bewildered and inspired students alike left the library discussing the Salon. For this, it was a success and something to be repeated.
Library staff presented the actors with flowers and gift cards to Open Books. Professor Mocuta received potpourri and stationary.
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