Pencil and paper sculptures at the State Library
Artist Graham Hay created two sculptures at the State Library of Western Australia. The first was a 2 metre high totem pole made of hundreds of children’s books. The second was an eyeball made from hundreds of coloured pencils.
Artist Graham Hay created two sculptures at the State Library of Western Australia. The first was a 2 metre high totem pole made of hundreds of children’s books. The second was an eyeball made from hundreds of coloured pencils.
The Story behind the Art
In December 2008 Joanna Andrew, Senior Subject Specialist – Children at the State Library of Western Australia (SLWA), invited professional artist Graham Hay to be an artist in residence and create a book sculpture for The Place.
The Place is the new children's space constructed on the mezzanine floor in the library, at the Perth Cultural Centre in Northbridge.
This work was made with the assistance of approximately 200 children who assisted Graham sort, drill, and thread the books onto a steel core. They also made, and took home, their own paper sculptures. The workshop occurred Monday – Thursday mornings from 10.30 – 11.30am, 19 – 30 January 2009.
The children sorted out the books by reading age and size, ready to be drilled!
Local, community libraries across Western Australia had returned these books to SLWA, to be replaced with new copies, because they were too damaged to be used. These damaged books were to be sent by the Library to be recycled. By recycling them into the artwork, they would live on, inspiring children to find books they had read, and see books they had yet to read.
The sculpture would help them understand how many books they had already read, and many more which they could look forward to happily reading in the future.
In December 2008 Joanna Andrew, Senior Subject Specialist – Children at the State Library of Western Australia (SLWA), invited professional artist Graham Hay to be an artist in residence and create a book sculpture for The Place.
The Place is the new children's space constructed on the mezzanine floor in the library, at the Perth Cultural Centre in Northbridge.
This work was made with the assistance of approximately 200 children who assisted Graham sort, drill, and thread the books onto a steel core. They also made, and took home, their own paper sculptures. The workshop occurred Monday – Thursday mornings from 10.30 – 11.30am, 19 – 30 January 2009.
The children sorted out the books by reading age and size, ready to be drilled!
Local, community libraries across Western Australia had returned these books to SLWA, to be replaced with new copies, because they were too damaged to be used. These damaged books were to be sent by the Library to be recycled. By recycling them into the artwork, they would live on, inspiring children to find books they had read, and see books they had yet to read.
The sculpture would help them understand how many books they had already read, and many more which they could look forward to happily reading in the future.
The above sculpture, I, eye, is a fitting reminder of those had helped to create the sculpture, and run the library it is located within.
Have you visited the work at the children’s library, on the mezzanine level of the State Library of WA, in the culture centre, Northbridge, Perth, W. Australia.
Note: Adult visitors must be accompanied by a child.
Google Map for directions to get to the Library
For more information on school holiday activities for children, SLWA’swebsite: www.slwa.wa.gov.au/. Children of all ages are welcome to participate with a parent or carer.
Have you visited the work at the children’s library, on the mezzanine level of the State Library of WA, in the culture centre, Northbridge, Perth, W. Australia.
Note: Adult visitors must be accompanied by a child.
Google Map for directions to get to the Library
For more information on school holiday activities for children, SLWA’swebsite: www.slwa.wa.gov.au/. Children of all ages are welcome to participate with a parent or carer.
Read more about Graham's art, workshops, residencies, exhibitions. All photography: Joanna Andrew and Graham Hay.
