Art project finalists present designs to C.P. Library Board committee

CROWN POINT | Four semifinalists for the new Crown Point library's suspended artwork project presented their designs to the Library Board project committee and public Thursday.

"Discovery," designed by Bree Gomez, of Crown Point, features an open faux leather book cover with painted illuminated pages and 2-foot-high gold aluminum letters spelling out "Discover" with cascading blue Venetian glass mosaic tiles and smaller letters.

"When visitors enter through the south door of the library, they will be drawn into an enchanting installation," said Gomez, a graduate of the Art Institute of Chicago.

"The Book," was designed by Thomas Scarff, of Chicago,

"The first thing you think about when you enter a library is a book," Scarff said.

The sculpture is made of aluminum, metal and bronze. The book is open and inviting, said Scarff, who studied at the Art Institute and has created numerous large-scale sculptures.

"The Reader," created by Tom Torluemke, of Dyer, is a painted wooden mobile.

Its symbols include rays representing an open book releasing knowledge; arms that reflect man striving to advance a hat and a book for a reader; an apple for education; key for knowledge; and two rings for Crown Point's marriage mill. There is a cat's cradle at the bottom representing Indiana author Kurt Vonnegut's novel.

"The Wings of Discover," by Dianna Thornhill-Miller, of Fort Wayne, with collaboration by Charles F. Loew, had two options. The first featured open books with wings made of air-brushed aluminum. Painted on the books would be the words: read, learn, explore, research, imagine, transport and create. The second option would be wings in flight.

"Wings of Discovery" will remind patrons of a journey from the library to the realm of ideas, discovery and creativity, Thornhill-Miller said.

The final design will be suspended from the second floor of the new library at 122 N. Main St. It will be visible from the entrance and second floor lobbies. The design is intended to reflect the library's mission: "Read, discover, connect in the library."

Each semifinalists receives a $500 stipend for travel to visit the project site, development of final proposals and presentation to committee and board members.

The suspended artwork, for which $50,000 was budgeted including artist's fees, installation, insurance and site preparation, is expected to be in place by Aug. 15. The artwork committee will recommend one of the designs to the Library Board at a special meeting at 6 p.m. Monday in the Crown Point Community Library, 214 S. Court St.