Eight Hoosier artist created book share stations are opened to the public after a launch event Thursday on Monument Circle.
About 100 people gathered to check out the newest public art project to grace the iconic space. “Monument” is a bright green, 80 foot-long and 14 foot-high, set of columns with rotating book shelves, topped with a 1894 Mark Twain quote about the value of libraries in our communities.
A group of city officials, artists and philanthropic leaders spoke at the event launch of The Public Collection, a new project blending art and education.
Mindi Taylor Ross of Art Strategies says the goal is to create access.
"The middle-income neighborhoods the ratio of books per child is 13 to 1. In low-income neighborhoods the ratio is one age appropriate book for 300 children." cited Taylor Ross.
Anyone is free to borrow and return from the little artistic libraries that will be in place for two years.
Other site-specific pieces installed around the city have names like “Play Station”, “Nautilus” and “Topiary” and are in locations like City Market, Eskenazi, Horizon House and the IMA.
There are eight share stations stocked with books from the Indianapolis Public Library.
