Library Cards by Cliff Eyland is one of many public artworks installed across the Halifax Regional Municipality.
Cliff Eyland, 2014
5000 unique paintings, collages and drawings
Halifax Central Library
About the artwork
Winnipeg-based Cliff Eyland’s proposal was selected from a pool of submissions from artists from around the world as the public art installation for the opening of the new Halifax Central Library in December 2014. Eyland’s project involved the creation of 5,000 paintings specific to the building, the local community, and the people who use the library. Each painting measures 3”x 5”, mimicking the size of a traditional library index card. Collectively—and from a distance—the paintings operate as a loose, abstract formal pattern of colours and shapes. Individually—and up close—each painting embodies a particular piece of the overall Library narrative, which has been developed in collaboration with library staff and community stakeholders.
About the artist
Mr. Eyland was born and raised in Halifax and the Central Library project reflects his familiarity both with the particular history and communities of Halifax. His 30-year artistic career, which began as a student of the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design, has been concerned with a contemplation of the connections between libraries and artistic production.