The Atlanta-Fulton County Public Library System has just finished Phase I of a major capital overhaul. That has included building eight new libraries, all of which include commissioned public art pieces through Fulton County’s Arts in Public Places Resolution, which says that one percent of all capital funding must go towards installing and maintaining public art.
Fulton County commissioned artist Chris Condon to create work for the East Roswell Branch, which opened to the public in February 2015. His project “New Growth Forest” brings the outdoors indoors.
“Through the construction of the library and all the growth that’s going on in Atlanta, things are getting displaced, especially the wildlife,” said Condon. “So the idea is that the wildlife … has found their way back in the library, making their homes among the bookshelves and library patrons.”
The collection features sculptures, carved from locally-sourced wood and stone, of trees and animals. The main feature is a life-sized buck, and there are also insects, raccoons, birds, a fox and a chipmunk interwoven with the architecture.
Part of Condon’s commission involved doing a community project, and the community was very much involved with the artist selection process.
“The art, it helps us understand more of who we are, and especially because what we’ve done with this project is we tried to find an art project that fits its community,” said Dr. Gabriel Morley, the director of the Atlanta-Fulton County Public Library System.
He continued to say that libraries have become more like community centers, offering programming and resources beyond books that reflect the community and its needs.
Morley said, “Part of what we are trying to do is demonstrate that the library is the community.”
The national nonprofit Americans for the Arts has confirmed the positive community impact of these art projects in Fulton County libraries. The nonprofit in partnership with Kris Wines have nominated four of the projects, including “New Growth Forest,” for a cash prize for “[activating] public spaces and [building] community vitality,” according to a press release.
You can see the Fulton County Library projects (and the many others from around the country) and vote for your favorite here.
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