Art in Defense of Libraries and Their Treasures

I meant to post these pics long ago. Today is as good a day as any, I suppose. Enjoy.

Earlier this year in Scotland, sculptures started appearing in libraries. In the Scottish Poetry Library was a “poetree,” with a tag reading: “It started with your name @byleaveswelive and became a tree. … We know that a library is so much more than a building full of books … a book is so much more than pages full of words. … This is for you in support of libraries, books, words, ideas … a gesture (poetic maybe?)” The paper eggs were lined in gold and contained cutouts that, when properly sequenced, created “A Trace of Wings” by Edwin Morgan, Scotland’s national poet.

The National Library of Scotland received the gramophone-and-coffin with this tag: “A gift in support of libraries, books, words, ideas … (& against their exit)”