The Seattle Public Library board of trustees has selected artwork created by Seattle artists Mary Iverson and Monad Elohim to display in the renovated Madrona-Sally Goldmark Branch, 1134 33rd Ave.
The board made its unanimous decision at its Nov. 28 meeting.
The six-member Madrona-Sally Goldmark Branch Artist Advisory Panel reviewed submissions by 20 artists before recommending the library buy an oil painting by Iverson called "Cargo," which depicts the artist's fascination with ship containers and cargo cranes, as well as a ceramic sculpture by Elohim called "Sleepy Goat," which represents the power to make one's dreams a reality.
The panelists said they enjoyed the linear aspect of Iverson's painting because it echoes the rows of book stacks, and they added that they thought the "playfulness" of Elohim's piece would appeal to children.
The panel included the project architect from Heliotrope Architects, community members Jacqui Beck and Tom Flood, library staff members and the project manager for the city's Office of Arts & Cultural Affairs.
Iverson uses complex networks of overlapping planes and guide lines, drawing attention to the dramatic perspective in her paintings, which deal with themes of accumulation and the passage of time. Several local organizations, including Microsoft and the University of Washington Medical Center, have paintings by Iverson in their collections. She has exhibited her work at galleries in Seattle, Bellingham and Park City, Utah.
A longtime Madrona resident, Elohim creates sculptures and paintings that celebrate his love for life, the power of human imagination and a positive view of the world. He has created permanent installations for 4Culture, the Fort Vancouver Regional Library District in Vancouver, Wash., and the Sedro-Woolley Elementary School.
The renovation of the 1,707-square-foot Madrona-Sally Goldmark Branch is part of the $196.4-million Libraries for All bond measure, approved by voters in 1998.
The interior is being renovated so patrons and staff can more efficiently use the space. The work also includes new seating, upgraded technology services and equipment, better electrical, communication and computer connections, improved ventilation, a modern mechanical system and an updated book collection that emphasizes material for children, popular fiction and DVDs. The branch is expected to reopen in the first half of 2008.
For more information, visit the Library's Web site at www.spl.org.
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