The Library of Thought opens this Friday with a reception from 5:30-7:30pm in the Cohen Gallery. The exhibition, by local artists Jane Runyeon & Jenny Pakradooni, includes both contemplative and participatory aspects.

“In the library, quietly sitting with our thoughts, we are reminded of one of our most important assets: our imagination. Mark Twain said ‘In a good bookroom you feel in some mysterious way that you are absorbing the wisdom contained in all the books through your skin, without even opening them.’ The library is a potent place symbolically, visually, and mentally. Rows of books; their titles, colors, textures, shapes and words create their own random poetry. It is a melodic collage . With the discussion that books are going to disappear into the electronic abyss in the coming years, we feel the need to honor the object and its author. Libraries are an essential part of our history. Books and paintings give us the freedom to fly; to imagine the previously unimaginable,” writes Jane Runyeon.

Jenny and Jane invite viewers to engage and interact with their exhibition by having a physical Library of Thought. The participatory portion, located on the lobby wall just within GoggleWorks’ main entrance, invites patrons to add their own “books” to the library. Two bookshelf-like collages will be placed near the exhibition, along with a box full of strips of paper mimicking the spines of books. Visitors are asked to write on or decorate these strips of paper and add them to the bookshelves. Examples of additions from previous installations include magazine clippings, quotes, poetry, favorite book titles, or just personal thoughts / feelings. The idea behind this installation is to give the viewers a sense that they are browsing a dream-like library made up of images, thoughts, and feelings instead of actual books.

The Library of Thought is on view through June 4th. Learn more about the artists here.