Opening reception for Playground Hymns by Sharlene Swan. Exhibit runs from June 7–July 12.
Artist's Statement
In the Medieval Age, illuminated manuscripts were works of art that required years of painstaking labor to complete. The artisans that dedicated their lives to this practice would stretch parchment, crush paint, design type, and gold leaf these precious pages by hand. They found that the repetitious, laborious work became its own form of worship as they adapted the words of venerated apostles, kings and emperors. In the era of A.I.—when image-making can happen at the click of a mouse— what does our labor say about the nature of art? Whose voices do we glorify? In Playground Hymns, I took my childhood journals and consecrated them through the process of designing, painting, and gold-leafing individual entries. The words of a young girl became sacred through the meditative practice of art-making.
Artist Bio
Sharlene Swan is a writer and illustrator based in Salt Lake City, Utah. She creates autobiographical and fictional work that weaves together themes of faith, folklore, and family. When not in the studio, you can find her exploring local bookstores, learning a new craft, or spending time with her husband and cat.
AGE GROUP: | All Ages |
EVENT TYPE: | Exhibits | Arts & Creativity |
The Glendale Branch of the Salt Lake City Public Library system, designed by Architectural Nexus and opened in February of 2015, offers approximately 20,000 square feet of space, making it the largest City Library branch. The branch houses 40,000 circulating materials, public computers, a lounge area, a green screen room, and a grand piano donated through the Mundi Project.
The floor plan of the branch offers open views across the building while creating designated spaces for children's, teen, and adult Library collections. An enclosed activity room easily accommodates various Library programming, and a designated teen space offers a place for young adults to gather, study, and access Library resources and services.
Built with the Glendale neighborhood in mind, the building shape includes a curved form that reaches out and embraces the community while creating an outdoor plaza. Special colored concrete and landscaped designs represent the geographic area along the Jordan River, while the design scheme of interior signage incorporates colors and forms that represent the many ethnic backgrounds of Glendale neighborhood residents.
The branch is easily accessible to area students, being located just one block from Glendale Middle School, Mountain View Elementary School, and the Salt Lake City School District's Community Learning Center.
The diversity of building materials, finishes, and colors of the Glendale Branch reflect the diversity of the Glendale neighborhood, which is one of the most diverse communities in Salt Lake City.
