Daybreak Arts featured in Unbannable Library
We’re thrilled to announce that Daybreak Program Manager & writer Anfernee Welch and Daybreak artist, BANDY collaborated together to make this unique work of art for the @unbannablelibrary. You can see it in person at the Donelson branch library!
The project, titled the Unbannable Library, was created by APSU art Professor Paul Collins and consists of a series of massive books — around three feet by five feet — made by various artists that each feature different passages or themes from commonly banned or restricted books. The books are made using a method that Collins has carefully perfected over the years, built from a collection of materials easily found at any hardware store.
A number of laws restricting content and increasing penalties against book curators have passed since then, with many facing pushback for their vague standards and lack of consistent implementation.
In the face of these laws, more than 300 book titles across Tennessee have faced scrutiny, with some being kept on shelves, and others being removed from certain grade levels and still others banned altogether.
Collins said fear of criminalization has been evident as he approached libraries and schools with this project.
“(Librarians) are energized. They are courageous,” he said. “They’re saying, ‘We want to do anything’ every time I reach out to a library. But when it comes time to actually talking about how to do this, they’re scared.”
To counter the fear, Collins has assembled 20 teams of artists, pairing of a visual artist and a writer or poet, to make and display these books around the state.
The 20 books will be completed in a staggered order between now and the 2024 Southern Festival of Books in October, with many displayed at their respective school or library locations before being displayed as a group at the festival.
