Thanks to the generosity of Target, Oakland Public Library is now the permanent home to an installation of art by award-winning Oakland-based children's book illustrator Christian Robinson.
A larger-than-life installation of Robinson's artwork was up for a single weekend at Jack London Square to celebrate the release of the Christian Robinson X line at Target. When that event was over, the brightly colored kids and pets needed a place to live more permanently, so Target reached out to OPL.
You can see some of the results in photos below. OPL's Associate Director, Nina Lindsay, describes,
"Our Elmhurst Branch in East Oakland now has a small parade of a telescope kid, scooter girl, and dog walker. This little library on a residential street is set back from the sidewalk and this gives a beautiful boost of color and visibility.
Our West Oakland Library has been wanting to liven up the lobby of their shared facility (there’s a job center upstairs), and the Wagon Kids and Couple with Corn now provide some warm company there. They also found the perfect spot for everyone’s favorite: the Jump Rope Kids.
And Parachute Kids fit right in and provide a welcome at the Children’s Room entrance to our Main Library, across the street from Lake Merritt. The colors provide a much needed boost to this façade and play off the murals at our Main entrance around the corner.
We are so delighted to provide a home for these."
The next time you visit our Main Library, Elmhurst Branch, or West Oakland Branch, make sure to take a picture with one of the kids and hashtag it #ChristianRobinsonAtOPL to share your smiles!
Don't forget, while you're there, to borrow some of Christian Robinson's beautiful books.
