Morgan Williams
I spent a significant amount of my childhood at libraries, op-shops and playgrounds. Mum was thrifty and recognised the inherent value of these places and spaces. The library was a real favourite, so many more books than I had at home. I was allowed to take a couple with me, what a bonus! This ritual was often slow and painful, would it be secret seven, famous five or perhaps another trip to Narnia?
I have always been a slow reader. My favourite thing in the world was being read to, adults seemed to make those pages flip faster than I ever could. They also conjured words from the page in a special way that made my heart race and imagination soar. I could lie back, close my eyes and let the adventures begin. “Keep going” I would scream in anticipation when it felt like things might end. I shared this same thrill when it was my turn to read to my kids. Sometimes I would even conjure made up characters and invent stories on the fly. These fantasies featured two rogue guinea pigs and their extremely extended family! Their escapades sometimes resembled familiar themes, in fact the first time my eldest son saw The Wizard of Oz he thought our story had been stolen! I had to confess after a long day at work I sometimes drew upon ideas from my childhood, just to help keep our journeys flowing!
I discovered the excitement of actually putting pen to page in recent years but I’m sure the seed was planted all those years ago in the libraries of my childhood. It seemed rather fitting then that a few months ago my mother’s only request for her birthday was a little library on her front fence. One of those ‘little book swaps with shelves she explained’. I knew exactly what she meant, I had spotted a few in my travels already.
The idea isn’t new; it traces back to Todd Bol in Wisconsin who built a ‘Little Free Library’ out of an old door in memory of his mother in 2009. Since then, it has turned into a global movement, there’s now websites with photos, a ‘Little Free Library’ app and over 200,000 little libraries documented in over 128 countries worldwide. The number is growing by around 30+ per day. In fact we might even reach one million globally by 2037!
While googling Little Free Libraries I stumbled across Free Little Art Galleries (FLAG’s). Turns out that’s a thing too. FLAG’s have been credited to Seattle artist Stacy Milrany, who first installed a tiny gallery in her front yard in 2020. Largely as a response to people being unable to visit traditional galleries during the Covid 19 pandemic. Stacy’s original gallery had instant visual appeal, artists were invited to take a piece, leave a piece, or both, just like a little library. Stacy’s included a gallery setting with furniture and little patrons too. Curating a whole miniature world with figurines discussing the art made her installation an instant hit. Within her first 30 days over 90 pieces of art had flowed in and out of the 40cm square gallery. There’s now over 650 galleries registered, also growing daily. Global estimates sit at over 2,000 FLAG’s, many are unregistered and seem to be popping up all the time everywhere. These nature strip / fence line activities even have a name, it’s officially the ‘Sidewalk Joy Movement’ and includes other initiatives like; Little Free Panties, Seed Libraries, Plant Swaps, Kids Toy Swaps, Puzzle Swaps, Found Object Museums… I guess the categories are endless and growing all the time.
I think mums ‘Book Swap’ might be a first in Hepburn Springs, although I could be wrong? I know it has been popular since we put it up a few weeks ago. Books appeared immediately overnight. Before I even got the ‘Book Swap’ sign up! I have a feeling this could be the gateway drug to a fully realised fence featuring an array of Sidewalk Joys. Perhaps it’s contagious, Hepburn Springs might become the mecca of ‘Sidewalk Joy’. Toss those credit cards away people, this new swap / trade economy is limited only by our imaginations.
So next time your visiting Radius please bring us a book to swap or grab one on your departure. I know it will give mum immense joy if you do. Also this month we have the launch of our first exhibition outside the Radius featuring Indigenous Artists from the Central Dessert of Yuelamu. They go by the name Inkwareny Artists with an exhibition titled “Of The Earth”. Please join us for their grand opening on Friday 24th of April at 5pm. See you in the gallery or on the side walk of joy soon!
Morgan Williams is the co-director with Kim Percy of Radius Art Space. His art practice spans a 30 year period and explores a diverse range of mediums and topics.
