One of the most striking features about the Oak Park Public Library is its amazing art collection. It features an unusual high quality of contemporary art that you might expect from a local library, which actually represents an effort to make a library a place as a community destination rather than just a one-purpose stop. One of the most famous artists I recoginzed in the library was Kehinde Wiley, a contemporary artist from Harlem, NY. It turns out that a couple years ago, after the rennovation of the main branch, the Library organized an art committee to collect art, bought some pieces from local artists, and then hired an art consultant who recommended Wiley. Good choice! Details about Wiley are coming.
Good art, featured in a library setting, is a good idea. Below are several great examples seen on several floors of the library, that invite people to contemplate a visual world that is interrelated to the books around them. I'm absolutely thrilled and somewhat proud to have a library with such progressive expression. I can't wait to see other pieces in their collection.
The village of Oak Park has many great features and amenities, including the fantastic Oak Park Public Library, which has two satellite locations around the village. The main branch is located next to Scoville Park, centrally located in Oak Park, and it's close to Frank Lloyd Wright's Unity Temple. The main branch is in a sleek contemporary building that features large glass windows, modern lighting fixtures, and a really great art gallery. Like many public libraries, Oak Park offers an array of books, digital services, and community programs. The public art display at the library is exceptional and I am going to write a blog specifically about artworks within their collection in a couple of weeks. I hope to frequent the library a lot in the future and learn more about their collection of art and books.
