A new round of images will illuminate the exterior wall of The Seattle Public Library’s South Park Branch. Media artist Franklin Joyce created South Park Lights in 2006 . The artwork is made of steel enclosures mounted on two 12-foot columns that house three theatrical lighting fixtures that project images onto the library’s wall. The artist created eight gobos (thin plates of metal with the artist’s design cut out of the surface) that provide interchangeable displays for multi-year exhibition cycles,creating opportunities for new artwork that is relevant to the community.

Wendy Woldenberg, founding chair of South Park Arts and teacher at Auburn Riverside High School, challenged a group of graphic design students at her school to create new work to display. Students Marissa Dube, Nikole Neuman, Alycia Sanderson and Dylan Umemoto made designs that highlight the Duwamish River and its wildlife, South Park’s new skate park, the farmer’s market and the festival Fiestas Patrias. “I’ve been incredibly impressed with [the students’] flexibility, creativity and talent. They’ve been a joy to work with,” said Jen Nye, South Park Arts chair.

South Park neighborhood artist Elizabeth Knopf also created a design for the artwork from the Fight the Fear Campaign logo. Following last year’s loss of South Park resident Teresa Butz, the Fight the Fear Campaign promotes personal safety, confidence building and violence prevention.

The new designs will be installed July 1.  The South Park Lights project is funded through the “Libraries for All” bond measure to upgrade The Seattle Public Library with new facilities, technology and books.

Image: Franklin Joyce, South Park Lights, 2006, permanently sited at South Park Branch, Seattle Public Library.