A special section of the Fort Frances Public Library Technology’s (FFPLTC) is getting a new coat of paint.
Lindsey Hamilton is a local artist and art therapist who is bringing her talents on a large scale to the children’s department at the Fort Frances Public Library Technology Centre thanks to a grant from the Ontario Arts Council.
Hamilton designed and is painting a large mural on the wall that overlooks the children’s department’s circulation desk.
“I have been doing open studios at the library for the past year,” Hamilton said.
Local artist Lindsay Hamilton is working at the Fort Frances Library Technology Centre (FFPLTC) to install a hand-painted mural in the library’s children’s department. The mural is being drawn thanks to a grant from the Ontario Arts Council (OAC). – Allan Bradbury photo
“Nadine [Cousineau], the library CEO, had approached me sort of in conversation about the space and we saw this big bare wall and through discussion decided that it would probably suit a mural. So we found a Northern Arts Grant through the Ontario Arts Council back in November and we heard back about it like six months later,” Hamilton said.
Cousineau said the process of working with Hamilton has gone really well.
“Lindsay was doing open studio art sessions here, and we got to talking one day and, we had a conversation about the mural, and then it led to a conversation, about how she has a printing press at home, which is, the original technology of the public library, and with us being the Technology Centre as well, the discussion just led to this really interesting concept of a mural,” Cousineau said.
“Lindsay actually applied for a grant, and then approached us to see if we could go forward with the mural, and it has worked out really well.”
The theme for the mural draws on the development of the written word and libraries over the history of mankind.
“[We had this] conversation in the library about this space and how it needed some energy to reflect the children’s department,” Hamilton said. Colour and some imagery, so the concept grew from that, the idea of ‘what is is the library,’ I didn’t even know how they came to be, and started to do lots of deep diving into all of the different elements through history that have contributed to what we know as a library today, and it’s super fascinating. So, lots and lots of imagery came up, so a lot of that is touched upon in the mural.”
While Hamilton wants to leave the artwork up to the interpretation of the beholder, there are certain references being made.
She has included references to ancient history, including the Assyrians who are considered some of the first to create written language, as well as a segment including the Gutenberg printing press among other innovations in modern printing and human connection to the written word.
There is also a reference to public library pioneer Andrew Carnegie who, despite other flaws, did create the framework for the system that thrives today throughout North America. The first public library in Fort Frances received a Carnegie grant towards its construction in the early 1900s.
Hamilton also wants to show how the library is a public space open to all, and a great equalizer in some cases. The artwork also leans into the idea of a third space that many people want, a space separate from their job or school, and their homes.
“With the expansion of technology, now we have people who can interpret things for themselves and read for themselves, if they can read, of course,” she said.
“Now we’re entering this sphere where you have to have access to the internet or an email address in order to apply for certain government IDs, and so if you don’t have access to the internet at home, well, you have to have a space somewhere in order to do that. We’re moving more into this place of the idea of the library as like a human library. I’ve heard that a lot, talking to staff, this idea of a human library, this idea of the third space. You can go into public, but if you go to a coffee shop there’s a monetary exchange, there’s an expectation that you’re a customer. There’s not a lot of spaces in public anymore where you can just come as you are, regardless of your socioeconomic status, regardless of where you’re from, I mean, ultimately you can go to almost any community in North America, and probably go to their library.”
The children’s department at the Fort Frances Public Library remains open while the mural work is ongoing so people are able to stop by and watch Hamilton as she works.
Cousineau said it’s been interesting to watch the work as it progresses.
“It’s been really exciting to see the progress,” she said.
“We’ve been taking lots of pictures, and I’m just really excited to have that inspiring environment over there, where people will walk in and see this mural and kind of take something different away from it every time they come in here.”
She added that many of the people who have stopped by to see it have liked the process so far.
“Everybody who goes in there is really excited about it, and you know, surprised to see it happening too,” she said.
“Overall, the response has been really positive, and really a lot of people are looking forward to the end result.”
Hamilton is working feverishly to have the mural completed around the end of May with a plan for a formal unveiling and artist talk in early June, with more details to come as that event draws nearer.
