‘Dignifies The Human Spirit’

The Green Hills Public Library in Palos Hills hired Chicago artist Francine Gourguechon to install a mosaic this month. Here’s the video.

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From the SouthtownStar in 2010:

When the Green Hills Public Library in Palos Hills completed its expansion in 2008, patrons were impressed but had one more request. They believed the north facade of the building, which faces 103rd Street, needed a face-lift.
“People started complaining immediately that it was ugly,” library director Annette Armstrong said.
Library officials agreed and decided to come up with an environmentally friendly design that would make patrons happy. The library’s 12,000-square-foot, 5.5 million, expansion project came in under budget, so the decision was made to spend $300,000 on the north facade, Armstrong said.
Library officials on Friday unveiled the library’s new look during a ribbon-cutting ceremony attended by local dignitaries and elected officials. The north facade of the library, 8611 W. 103rd St., was redesigned over the past year and features a large mural – one of seven in the library – rain garden, vegetable garden, children’s outdoor reading area and new pavers. The murals include small designs created by members of the community, Armstrong said.
“Every mural had a workshop to include members of the community,” she said.
The rain garden will harvest much of the water needed to irrigate the library grounds, Armstrong said.
Friday’s ceremony was attended by Secretary of State Jesse White, who also serves as the state librarian, and state Sen. Ed Maloney (D-Chicago). Maloney credited library officials for considering an environmentally friendly building when they designed the expansion.
“The place keeps looking better and better,” Maloney said. “Certainly you have a great facility here. This is a model for new facilities to be better. This is the responsible thing to do for all of us.”
White said the library expansion does an excellent job of responding to patrons’ changing needs. “When I look around, I see a beautiful facility here,” White said.
Armstrong said several patrons enjoy the library’s new atmosphere because the building does not look like a typical library. “It’s an environment that dignifies the human spirit,” she said.

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Posted on May 24, 2012

Mosaic Tile Installation At The Green Hills Public Library