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| Cliff Eyland, Library Cards, 2014; Photo © Karen Thiessen, 2015 |
Summer isn't complete without a visit to Halifax where my husband and I reconnect with good friends and spent time in a city that we love. One highlight of our visit was spending time in the new Halifax Central Library. We've been watching its progress for many years. Cliff Eyland's installation of 5000 "tiny paintings" graced a long wall on the main floor and an upper wall on the top floor. A few months ago I stumbled across his work when I was looking for information about Aganetha Dyck and I wrote about him here.
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| Cliff Eyland, Library Cards, 2014; Photo © Karen Thiessen, 2015 |
Have I mentioned that I am obsessed with modules?
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| Cliff Eyland, Library Cards detail, 2014; Photo © Karen Thiessen, 2015 |
Eyland (pronounced eeland) has worked in the 3" X 5" index/recipe/library card format since 1981. I wonder if he ever deviates from this format. Thirty-four years is a significant commitment to one size. It's like a good marriage.
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| Cliff Eyland, Library Cards detail, 2014; Photo © Karen Thiessen, 2015 |
Before the advent of computers, one had to search for library books at a cabinet containing multiple drawers filled with cards. Unless the cards were typed with information, they looked a bit like the card in the above image, sans the Letraset dot inclusion.
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| Cliff Eyland, Library Cards, 2014; Photo © Karen Thiessen, 2015 |
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| Cliff Eyland, Library Cards, 2014; Photo © Karen Thiessen, 2015 |
This group of modules was on the upper wall of the upper floor of the library. The space had the feel of a classy living room with leather club chairs and sofas. The three directional view was spectacular regardless of the weather. When the fog rolled in, it felt like you were floating in a cloud.
On a practical level, I'm curious to see how these Cliff Eyland modules will age when exposed to so much light. I'm also curious to see how the library maintains them: next summer will I see them encrusted with dust and cobwebs?
If you visit Halifax, Nova Scotia, do explore the Halifax Central Library. How often are libraries tourist attractions?
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