Art in Libraries
Art in Libraries is a two year project placing visual artists in libraries in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames. The project aims to explore the libraries’ heritage and their role in the community by working collaboratively with staff, library users and local primary schools.
Year Two
East Sheen Library - Laura X Carle
Over a period of ten weeks in autumn 2016, students from Thomson House School in East Sheen took part in weekly workshops with artist Laura X Carle at East Sheen Library. They produced work that went on display in the library, and in the process all successfully achieved their Arts Award Explore qualification.
Laura X Carle works primarily with sculpture and the themes of her work come from situations that she witnesses in the social space. She produces objects and installations that aspire to challenge the spectator to question their own perceptions. Her workshops focused on using basic materials in constructive ways and on helping to develop the confidence to create large constructions, whilst engaging problem solving skills and creative collaboration. She explored the theme of the visual narrative and the essential nature of books, encouraging creative new ways of communicating.
She ran a very popular series of free, public drop-in art workshops for children and families, as well as workshops for pre-existing library user groups.
Year One
Whitton Library - Whitton Small Press
Throughout November 2015 visual artists Tracy & Hobbs (Emily Tracy and Lizzy Hobbs) were resident in Whitton Library, producing prints, animation and book art inspired by their surroundings. Tracy & Hobbs’ practice explores the ways that drawing, making, simple animation and projected light can be used within a community setting to draw an audience towards the stories of a specific site. While they were resident in Whitton they created a bespoke installation entitled Whitton Small Press which grew and evolved over their time at the library.
Over a period of ten weeks in the lead up to their residency the artists worked with pupils from Nelson Primary School. They ran weekly workshops to support the students to produce their own artwork as part of the project. Working in partnership with the Whitton Library team the artists also ran workshops with adult and community groups.
View a short film about year one of the Whitton Small Press project below.
Find out more about the work of Tracy & Hobbs by visiting their website www.tracyandhobbs.com.
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