A Summer of Reading and Art: Celebrating New Works in Danville
New public art project and juried gallery exhibit launch June 9 with a day of family-friendly activities.
The Town of Danville is kicking off summer with the debut of a new public art project and juried gallery exhibit centered on books and reading. The opening celebration will kick off at 3 p.m. June 9 at the Town Green with activities from the Town of Danville and the Danville Library celebrating the launch of “Bound for Books: An Artful Book Bench Project” followed by the opening reception for the public art project and summer art exhibit “The Art of a Story” at the Village Theatre Art Gallery from 5 to 7 p.m.
The opening celebration features the preview of the “Bound for Books” benches, which will be on display at the Danville Library and Village Theatre and Art Gallery patio. Artists were invited to paint and embellish fiberglass benches in the shape of open books, drawing inspiration for their designs from their favorite books. The benches depict scenes from beloved children’s tales, classic novels, and even a cookbook.
The Town of Danville partnered with the Danville Library to create the opening celebration as a way to promote art and reading in our community. The Library will have a display of the books that inspired the bench artwork, and the opening celebration will have storytime and crafts from 3 to 4 p.m. as well as Sterling the Bubblesmith between 4:15 and 5 p.m.
From 5 to 7 p.m. there will be an opening reception for both exhibits at the Village Theatre Art Gallery. “The Art of the Story” is the 13th annual juried art exhibit, and features works inspired by books or created with pages from books. The gallery exhibit is open through August 11.
After the opening reception, the book benches will be on display in Downtown Danville until the week of September 25 when they will move back to the Village Theatre and Art Gallery patio for a closing reception and auction, with proceeds benefitting future public art projects. Community organizations, businesses, and individuals may also sponsor a book bench for the duration of the exhibit. Sponsorships are available for $1,000 per bench, and include a custom placard on the bench base, as well as acknowledgements in other exhibit promotion.
All opening activities are free and open to the public. The Town Green is at 420 Front Street in Danville, near the Village Theatre and Art Gallery at 233 Front Street. For more information on the summer exhibits and activities, visit www.danville.ca.gov/boundforbooks or contact Visual Arts Coordinator Marija Nelson Bleier at mnelsonbleier@danville.ca.gov.