Art at the Library

As part of the Woodbourne Library expansion and renovation, a citizen committee led by Library trustees invited artists with ties to the Miami Valley to propose newly created artworks, of any medium, that reflected the communities of Centerville/Washington Township and the Modernist tradition of the building. This project, named Art Speaks Volumes, resulted in these four original works of art installed at Woodbourne Library. The works were privately funded via the Dorothy R. Yeck Endowment for the Arts at Woodbourne Library.

In addition to these permanent pieces, exhibits are regularly on display at Woodbourne Library. See Exhibits for more information.

Blueprint By Samantha Parker Salazar (2018)

A freeform sculpture made of paper hangs in the vaulted ceiling space just inside Woodbourne Library’s main entrance. “This sculpture was realized in partnership with the University of Cincinnati Archives and Rare Books Library for use of digitized Woodie Garber blueprints, as well as blueprints from the Woodbourne Library renovation, as a pattern printed on hand-cut paper. Each paper component was printed on both sides then cut along the edges to create curvilinear shapes. The form itself juxtaposes the Modernist sensibility of Garber’s drawings as well as the surrounding architecture of the library,” describes Ms. Salazar, a studio artist and instructor at the Dayton Art Institute.

A Snake and a Mouse in the Leaves By David Corns (2018)

This mural, near the Children’s Room, is drawn from the natural aspects of Centerville, the modernist geometry of Woodie Garber, and the retro nostalgia of Mid-century Modern design. “Raised in Centerville, Ohio, I have always felt the presence of nature and the connected parks of Centerville. Centerville has always straddled between suburban and agrarian communities, from the pastoral to the south to the neighborhoods of the central and north,” says Mr. Corns, a professional artist and owner of Team B Architecture and Design in Cincinnati. Mr. Corn is also a 2007 graduate of Centerville High School.

My Library A to Z By Ronald Geibert (2018)

An inkjet collage depicting a spectrum of things that can be found in the Library is hung in a nook just outside the Community Room of Woodbourne Library. “My inkjet prints examine the power and place of the printed book in today’s digital environment. This collage features pages and pieces from books that, despite their disparate content and design, present believable and aesthetically coherent panoramas illustrating how we can learn—even by just wandering among the stacks found in a library,” explains Mr. Geibert, a career photographer and an Emeritus Professor of Art at Wright State University.

Stonewall By Amy Kollar Anderson (2018)

A canvas triptych depicting colorful patterns of ‘stones’ enlivens the Quiet Reading Room at Woodbourne Library. “My work captures both the organic and geometric aspects of the Mid-century Modern style. The imagery also gives a nod to the various stone structures, found in the heart of Centerville, that are an essential part of the community’s historic charm,” says Ms. Anderson, a full-time artist and resident of Dayton.

---

The Library displays two beautiful outdoor sculptures, one at each Library.

The Record by Michael Grasca (1997)

Created and installed in May 1997 by Michael Frasca, Grand Prize Winner of the 1996 Bicentennial Sculpture Competition, this 22' high ceramic work commemorates the Bicentennial of the settlements of Centerville and Washington Township in 1796. "The Record" not only represents books in the library, but also the history of Centerville and Washington Township and the knowledge of the pioneer, farmer, and villager who settled here.

Storytime by Gary Price (1996)

This bronze, life-size sculpture conveys a brother and sister's love of books and the thirst for knowledge by all children. Sculpted by artist Gary Price, and installed in June 1996. "Storytime" is located in the plaza near the front entrance of Woodbourne Library. The sculpture was a gift of Dorothy R. Yeck, who served as President of the Washington Township Public Library from 1974 through 1980 during the period when Woodbourne Library was conceived and built.

---

Visit the lobby of the Centerville Library to view a facsimile copy of The Book of Kells, a beautiful example of a medieval illuminated manuscript. The original book was created by monks in the Iona and Kells abbeys (Ireland) more than 1,200 years ago. Gifted to the library in 2007 by Ruth Falling Anderson and her children in honor of the late Dr. Orviel Falling, The Book of Kells is an artistic masterpiece, a version of the four gospels of the Christian Bible, and contains 680 pages, 33 of which are richly illuminated. The original Book of Kells was presented to Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland, in 1661, and has remained there ever since. To learn more about the Library’s Book of Kells, or to schedule a Speakers Bureau presentation about the book, please contact the Library.

---