?Imaginative Little Libraries? theme for summer art installation

?Imaginative Little Libraries? will be the theme for the 2016 Fairfield Art Association?s summer art installation opening on the June 3 Fairfield 1st Fridays Art Walk and continuing through the end of summer.

This will be the eighth year artists have been invited to participate in creating artworks placed in the downtown garden nodes.

The ?Imaginative Little Libraries? will be inactive while downtown, but can be registered with the international organization after they are purchased.

The Little Free Library movement began in Wisconsin in 2009, and gained momentum quickly. Little free libraries sprung up all over the world ? outside cafes, in parks, beside full-sized libraries and bookstores and even in people?s front yards. They have books inside for anyone to borrow, with signs inviting users to donate books. By January 2015, the number of mini libraries registered with the Little Free Library organization had grown to 22,000, and includes three registered in Fairfield.

This year, there will be two ways to participate in the summer art installation project.

The first is ?Artist Built,? where artists or craftsman build their own watertight and sturdy library according to specific size guidelines.

The second is to apply for a ?Prebuilt? library. Eight are being built by Fairfield High School teacher Rob Mitchell and woodworking students. To apply for a prebuilt library, provide your name, address, email address, phone, the media you would use, and if possible a simple idea you have, and a photo of your typical work if the Fairfield Art Association is not familiar with it.

The information can be emailed to suzan1252@aol.com or brought to the art association studio between 1-5 p.m. Tuesday through Friday. Full project guidelines will be at the studio and the website www.fairfieldartassociation.org.

?The art association has a total of 23 poles in the garden nodes to fill, so we are really hoping the majority will be ?artist built,?? said Suzan Kessel, volunteer coordinator for the Fairfield Art Association.

Artists selected will be notified before the end of March. All completed libraries are to be turned in between May 31 and June 2.

A silent auction of the libraries will begin at the August art walk and conclude at the September art walk, with proceeds divided between the participant and the Fairfield Art Association.