"What is a book?" is a question often debated by book artists. The Living Library in east London adds a whole new dimension. The project, created by Ronni Abergel to break down prejudice and foster dialog, allows people to borrowed.
"A new kind of Library has opened, where instead of books you can borrow a Muslim - or a single father, or a transvestite, for a chat. Alex Forsyth volunteers to be lent as a 'book', and asks whether this concept can really help break down stereotypes.
A Muslim, a Catholic and a transsexual are sitting in a library. An opener to a joke this is not: It is the Living Library - where, instead of books, you borrow people. You pick a person for a 30-minute dialogue in which you can ask questions, engage in meaningful discourse or simply bounce ideas. I wait with the other 'books' to be borrowed."
The complete article about the Living Library by Alex Forsyth may be found here.
Here's one from the Christian Science Monitor.
2 comments:
What an incredible idea. Are you in the library as an artist or something other? I love to keep checking your sites...especially when I need inspiration. Thanks for putting your work online! Jacki (from book arts list)
Jacki
I have no connection to the library. I heard about it from the listserv of the National Association for Multicultural Education, name.org. Thanks for your kind words.
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