2026, Art, books, dreams, Fantasy, Stories

Library Art

37 Comments

My local library might as well be my second home; I’m there on average twice a week.  I was hoping they’d have some adjunct program this summer to the Library Passport but alas, they’re just running it the same as last summer.

Two weeks ago, they broke out the chalk for one of the Reading Hour programs and the pavement all around the entrance was decorated with colorful artwork.  The photo above that says “Pippa was here” is my favorite.  Yesterday I noticed that it’s still there, albeit a little faded after two weeks.  I love the idea that some kid planted a metaphorical discovery stake at the library.  Or maybe creating their version of a Hollywood Walk of Fame star?

Whatever the reason, I adore that my library is used and treasured!

OK, fantasy day.  I’ve giving you each a box of chalk.  What artwork will YOU leave in front of the library?   Will you use all the colors, or do you have favorites?

37 thoughts on “Library Art”

  1. Up near the library doors I would begin a drawing of books spilling out, multicolored and varied in size but within a certain scale. I would do only so much as to establish the theme with the hope that others would take up the theme and the flood of books would blossom, spreading on to the sidewalk and beyond. Books are easy to draw. Anyone could add to the drawing and it would be an exuberant cooperative artwork.

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    1. Persuading others to join the design would be the tricky part. Maybe continuing the drawing for a bit with coloring book-like outlines would encourage that.

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  2. I was also thinking of drawing books on a shelf – lots of colors, but especially magentas, burgundies, deep blues, and greens. I would draw in the titles and authors names. I would caption it with something like, “Curious about why some books are banned? Read one and find out!” I would frame my drawing with swirly lines that include fanciful flowers, cups of coffee, and reading glasses.

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  4. I would try and draw a tree with lots of leaves – we need shade this week. A variety of books would be hanging from the branches, though this might be tricky to get drawn right… lots of different colors, though avoiding the green of the leaves.

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  7. My doodling turns into geometric patterns, three-dimensional boxes, or random shapes in a sort of ever expanding tracing pattern.
    I’ll stick with whatever color contrasts best with the concrete at first. But then if I have spaces to fill in I’ll use an assortment of colors. Turquoise and black together were always my favorites as a kid.

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        2. I think that last time (and possibly only time) I’ve encountered the word was in The Seven Percent Solution (a Sherlock Holmes movie from 1976)!!

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  10. When my son was in high school he and his friends went through a chalk-in-the-driveway/stuff-in-the-yard phase. I would wake up to flamingos, balloons, plastic forks all stuck in the yard. My son’s car was full of grocery bags full of plastic forks that travelled from yard to yard.

    They also decorated driveways with chalk. They were all taking Latin, so long phrases of Latin appeared in various colors. I have pictures.

    This was so much a better project than TPing trees. It was completely harmless, and a great outlet for adolescent creativity.

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  12. I can’t draw well, even though there are a lot of artistic people in my family (including my dad). I’d use my best chalk calligraphy to write famous lines from books and poetry, in vibrant colors.

    All the comments about Wordle got me to go play it for the first time in probably two years (I hate giving the NYT a click even for a game). I got it on my last try.

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  15. I don’t think I could be very creative with chalk. I would go and add to Bill’s bookshelf if I had the opportunity.

    I like reading the sidewalk poetry that pops up in St. Paul. Here’s one I came across recently….
    chalk sidewalk poetry

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