Fan Exhibit Opens at the Buena Park Library District

The Buena Park Library District hosts an exhibit of hand-held fans from the collection of Tracy Winkler. The hand fans have been collected from around the world and cover a time period from the 1850’s to the present day. The display is located in the Library lobby and runs now through March 31, 2010. The Library is located at 7150 La Palma Avenue in Buena Park, between Knott and Western Avenues. The Buena Park Library is open Tuesday through Thursday, 10:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m. and Friday and Saturday, 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

The exhibition includes a wide variety of fans from Asia, Spain, Europe and the Americas. On display are examples of fixed, folding, cockade and brise fans. Fans can be made of a wide variety of materials besides the more common wood and paper. Materials include feathers, fabric, lace, plastic, shell and bone. Ms. Winkler, a long-time Cerritos resident, was encouraged by an aunt to start a hobby and has been collecting fans since the age of nine. Ms. Winkler is a member of FANA (Fan Association of North America) and FCI (Fan Circle International), organizations dedicated to promoting, exhibiting, conserving, and educating the public about fans.

Fans have been used for thousands of years. Folding fans were invented in Japan over 1500 years ago. Dutch and Portuguese traders brought these fans to Europe during the 1500’s. From the 1600’s to the early 1900’s, fans were an important fashion accessory. Through the years, fans have been used as a token of love, as an advertising medium, as a signal across battlefields, as well as a cooling device.

For more photos visit www.flickr.com/photos/buenaparklibrary