Glenview Public Library is proud to announce Currents: A Community Art Exhibition, a new art installation aimed at fostering conversations around peace and unity in an increasingly divided world. The exhibition will be on display in the Library's lobby through January 17.
The Library envisioned this interactive art project as a way for the community to reflect on how we can create a more compassionate and harmonious future. "Through this exhibition, we aim to foster a safe space where people can feel hopeful and connected to one another. By encouraging reflection on peace and unity, Currents inspires compassion and curiosity that can influence how we connect with each other long after we leave the Library," says Library Director Lindsey Dorfman. In collaboration with local artist-educators Deb Anderson and Mary Tapia, the project invited community members to share their perspectives through art. "The 1,110 plus messages of unity and peace are heartwarming and profound. We are deeply grateful to artists Deb Anderson and Mary Tapia for helping us develop a beautiful art installation that enabled our community to create something meaningful together."
Through facilitated sessions at the Library, local schools in Districts 34 and 37, and community groups, participants were asked to consider thought-provoking questions like, "What does peace look, feel, and sound like?" and "How do we foster unity in our families, community, and world?" Their responses, written on paper strips, were incorporated into the artwork, creating a visual tapestry of ideas and emotions. "Those willing to be vulnerable, forthcoming, and sincere helped shape a powerful installation. To find common ground on complex topics like peace, unity, conflict, and division, we need to make space for everyone's voice, even when emotions run high. We can't be afraid of that," says Mary Tapia.
Currents invites viewers to not only witness the collective expression of the community but to also reflect on their role in fostering unity in a world often marked by conflict. The installation is on display in the Glenview Public Library's lobby through January 17. The public is invited to a reception on November 14 from 6-7 PM, opens a new window.
