Rivers to the People

A Sculpture in Steel by Sara Balbin

The concept of "Rivers to the People" is the result of a two-year effort between the artist, Sara Balbin, Library Director Jane Frankiewicz, the Spooner Library Board and members of our community.

The sculpture is composed of four cut steel books, highlighted with stainless steel and cut steel images. The piece is set on a large boulder surrounded by a pond. Water flows up through the sculpture and cascades down into the pond. Eventually the cut steel will oxidize (rust) and change in color. The carved steel hands rise from the pond catching the flow of water. The hands represent the human element of libraries.

The images that you see on the pages are symbols that represent the knowledge that mankind have accumulated throughout our common history. They begin with the earth, leaves and ferns, some of the oldest vegetation recorded. The animal images are copies of the early cave paintings. The handprint is an ancient Anasasi symbol which means "I was here".

The images move on to the "thinker" and an Arabic cross that symbolizes God, revealing human's first belief in the intangible. The comedy and tragedy masks of theater follow the Greek words, "earth, man, books" reminding us of the importance of literature to ancient man.

The book nearest the library entrance is host to the symbols of science, mathematics and physics. You will note the Roman arch, mathematical components, medicine, warfare and the double helix of a DNA strand, symbols of immense discovery that altered the course of mankind.

The topmost book contains symbols of music and art as well as a sexton and a compass rose celebrating the very human passion for exploration. The ancient constellation Orion flows into the stars that crown the sculpture tying the knowledge of the ancient world to our modern quest of space exploration.

Mankind is by nature an explorer, a seeker of knowledge. Throughout the ages the human race has always reached forward to find the answers that have eluded them. The library is the repository of this accumulated knowledge. Like a river the knowledge flows forth to benefit each new age of man, growing wider, strong and more powerful with every generation’s contributions.