When the Aurora Public Library District (APLD) decided to launch a Library Card Design Contest to celebrate National Library Week, we didn’t know what to expect. It was unlike anything the Library previously had done! Thankfully, we were overjoyed with the response from the community and the time has come to announce the winner. The votes have been counted and the winning design belongs to Dagny Tang of Aurora.
Nine-year-old Dagny is an artist at heart who enjoys spending her free time drawing and crafting. Inquisitive by nature, she enjoys traveling with her family and reading her favorite book, the Children’s Encyclopedia, because “there is so much interesting information inside,” she said. It is the first art contest Dagny Tang has entered, but she hopes to participate in more of them. When asked why she wanted to enter the design contest, she replied, “to help the Library create a new card design, and to share my art and message of kindness with others.”
To accompany her design, Dagny put together an artist’s statement with her interpretation of the contest’s theme How Does the Library Keep Us Connected? “My artwork depicts young readers with books (symbolizing the library) and connections represented by the web of blue dots. Connections exist not only between humans, but among all living things. Connections can exist in person within the community level, on a global scale, as well as virtually. In addition to connections, I wanted to convey the message of, ‘Be Kind to All Kinds’ as it is up to all of us to keep our connections positive & good.”
The interpretation of the theme, How Does the Library Keep Us Connected?, was portrayed in different ways among the submitted designs. Many included connecting lines or vines, while others used images of technology to portray the idea. We were pleased to see so many different media materials used to create the designs ranging from crayons to digital art. Designs included a wide array of color palettes ranging from black and white to Library brand colors of navy blue and magenta. To create her illustration, Dagny used pens and markers of all colors
A total of 78 designs were submitted for entry into the contest! The eligible designs are on display until May 7 in the Atrium of the Santori Library, 101 S. River Street. There is a digital slideshow available for viewing online at www.aurorapubliclibrary.org/cardcontest. To view the designs in person, the public is welcome to attend the reception for Dagny Tang and all the artists at 6 p.m. Friday, May 6 as a part of First Fridays in the Santori Library’s Atrium where her prize will be awarded. Thank you to all the artists who submitted designs and the community for voting!
Andrea Tiberi is the communications coordinator for the Aurora Public Library District.