An anonymous sculptor has been leaving gorgeous carved-book sculptures in Scotland's libraries, along with little notes of encouragement. Some are left out in the open; others are hidden away and may have sat a long time before being discovered. Most of these are now in protected display for the enjoyment of library patrons and curious visitors.
Poetree at Scottish Poetry Library, the first found - The tag reads, "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 second sculpture, a gramophone was found at the National Library of Scotland with a note reading, "...A gift in support of libraries, books, words, ideas..... (& against their exit)"
A complex cinema scene was then found at The Filmhouse, reading, "A gift in support of libraries, books, words, ideas..... and all things *magic*"
A nesting dragon, hiding inconspicuously, was found at the Scottish Storytelling Centre. The tag on this gift reads, "A gift in support of libraries, books, works, ideas..... Once upon a time there was a book and in the book was a nest and in the nest was an egg and in the egg was a dragon and in the dragon was a story....."
Found last month at the Edinburgh International Book Festival, two more sculptures...
Tag: "'A gift' This is for you in support of libraries, books, words, ideas...... & festivals xx"
It includes a teabag filled with cut out letters, on the tag of which are the words "by leaves we live". The cup on the top has a swirl of words which read " Nothing beats a nice cup of tea (or coffee) and a really good BOOK", and on the 'tray' next to the cupcake it says "except maybe a cake as well".
It includes a teabag filled with cut out letters, on the tag of which are the words "by leaves we live". The cup on the top has a swirl of words which read " Nothing beats a nice cup of tea (or coffee) and a really good BOOK", and on the 'tray' next to the cupcake it says "except maybe a cake as well".
Also found at the festival, amazing back and forth, is a tree and reader, sculpted out of the binding and pages of a book.
Found in the Central Lending Library late in August, at least a few days after it was placed, was the preceeding, with a magnifying 'glass' inspecting a cutout reading, "When I go in I want it bright, I want to catch whatever is in there in full sight." The tag, expressing the value of libraries over cost, reads "For Central Library ‘A Gift’ @Edinburgh_CC This is for you in support of libraries, books, words, ideas…. LIBRARIES ARE EXPEANSIVE", with the original 'Expensive' corrected to 'Expansive'.
The farewell contribution deserves expanded space here, as the sculptor has outdone HERSELF (as a final note suggests) in detailed intricacies, PLUS a note of explanation and apparent farewell. A handwritten message left in late November in the Scottish Peotry Library's guest book read, “Hopefully next time I’ll be able to linger longer – I’ve left a little something for you near Women’s Anthologies X. In support of Libraries, Books, Words and Ideas….” An immediate perusal of the area brought the last gift in the series.
“THE GIFTS 'Gloves of bee’s ful, cap of the Wren’s Wings…….' Norman McCaig …. maybe sometimes impossible things… In support of LIbraries, Books, Words Ideas….”
Notice the amazing, intricate work of the artist in making each feather in the cap 'of wren's wings' out of paper.
Likewise, the bee-fuzz-like texture of these paper gloves. Left neatly beside, the following letter of parting and explanation:
“It’s important that a story is not too long ……does not become tedious …….
‘You need to know when to end a story,’ she thought.
Often a good story ends where it begins. This would mean a return to the Poetry Library. The very place where she had left the first of the ten.
Back to those who had loved that little tree, and so encouraged her to try again …….and again.
Some had wondered who it was, leaving these small strange objects. Some even thought it was a ‘he’! ……. As if!
Others looked among Book Artists, rather good ones actually…….
But they would never find her there. For though she does make things, this was the first time she had dissected books and had used them simply be- cause they seemed fitting….
Most however chose not to know….. which was the point really.
The gift, the place to sit, to look, to wonder, to dream….. of the impossible maybe…….
A tiny gesture in support of the special places…..
So, here, she will end this story, in a special place … A Poetry Library ….. where they are well used to ‘anon.’
...
…… But hold on. Someone’s left behind a pair of gloves and a cap……….?
Cheers Edinburgh It’s been fun!
X
‘You need to know when to end a story,’ she thought.
Often a good story ends where it begins. This would mean a return to the Poetry Library. The very place where she had left the first of the ten.
Back to those who had loved that little tree, and so encouraged her to try again …….and again.
Some had wondered who it was, leaving these small strange objects. Some even thought it was a ‘he’! ……. As if!
Others looked among Book Artists, rather good ones actually…….
But they would never find her there. For though she does make things, this was the first time she had dissected books and had used them simply be- cause they seemed fitting….
Most however chose not to know….. which was the point really.
The gift, the place to sit, to look, to wonder, to dream….. of the impossible maybe…….
A tiny gesture in support of the special places…..
So, here, she will end this story, in a special place … A Poetry Library ….. where they are well used to ‘anon.’
...
…… But hold on. Someone’s left behind a pair of gloves and a cap……….?
Cheers Edinburgh It’s been fun!
X
With mention of ten sculptures, it was apparent that this was either not yet indeed the end, or two treasures were yet unclaimed. The answer was soon revealed, as the next day, the National Museum of Scotland received the following.
A Tyrannosaurus Rex, emerging from the tattered leaves of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s The Lost World? The tag hanging above the dinosaurs still-passing-through tail reads, “...In support of libraries, books, words, ideas and those places that house our treasures……” Hidden among the tattered pages are tiny men with weapons, and the sharp paper jaws of the T-rex are tinged with blood.
And what of the tenth? A submission labeled 8/10 was found above the donations box in the Robert Louis Stevenson room of the Writer's Museum.
A tag reading “A Gift 'The stories are in the stones' Ian Rankin In support of Libraries, Books, Words, Ideas …… and Writers.” hangs from Ian Rankin's Hide and Seek. Inside, a panoramic three-dimentional sculpture of a street, complete with human figures, birds, columns, street lamps, and even life behind the windows.
These sculptures are so creative, detailed, thoughtful and gracious! They are certainly winning the attention of national news in Scotland, and hopefully, growing in attention across the world. What wonderful gifts to the gifts of libraries, books, poetry, cinema, imagination and creativity!
All information and photos gathered from links below. For more detailed photos, follow the second link.
http://boingboing.net/2011/09/12/anonymous-paper-sculptures-in-scotlands-libraries.html
http://community.thisiscentralstation.com/_Mysterious-paper-sculptures/blog/4991767/126249.htmlhttp://boingboing.net/2011/09/12/anonymous-paper-sculptures-in-scotlands-libraries.html
