Photograph by Jacqueline Ramseyer
Set in Stone: Artist Nina Koepcke coordinated the efforts of children who made their own tiles for the patio at the Willow Glen library.
Tile mural unveiled at WG library
'Rabbits' run forever at the Willow Glen branch library
By Deborah Taylor-Hollis
The love and commitment to community that Helen Clair Owen exhibited during her lifetime was commemorated Saturday morning as the Willow Glen Library unveiled "My Rabbits, Stories in Clay" in the Library's patio area.
"These are the treasures of childhood. We hope they will spark a love of reading" said Friends of Willow Glen Library Co-Chair Ann Lindahl, speaking to the group of about 75 local dignitaries, neighbors, parents, art lovers, city officials and children at the reception.
The two-year project was planned, funded and executed by a collaboration of the Willow Glen Beautification Project, the Friends of the Willow Glen Library, The Helen Owen Memorial Fund and private donations, as well as assistance from the City Fine Arts Commission. The effort was headed by artist and project mentor Nina Koepcke, who worked with architectural creator Marv Bamberg to make something that the entire community could enjoy and participate in.
"Libraries are not just books, they're a place for community," said Assistant Director of San Jose Public Libraries Paul Underwood.
During last year's Summer Reading Program, after a year of preparation, Nina brought in 2-foot-square slabs of rolled clay for the local children to draw on, working with the theme dearest to Owen's heart--rabbits.
The children created 16 separate scenes from children's books. Nina then took the slabs back to her studio, separated them into 108 tiles, then leveled, trimmed, scored and dried the slabs before giving them back to the children to paint.
Each tone and shade not only had to fire to the perfect color, but they also had to have sand added to keep the surface from becoming too slippery.
The tiles were also designed to lie in a special 2-inch-thick bed of cement so they can be preserved or moved if the library is ever moved or demolished.
At the ceremony, Nina called the names of all the children who had created the mural and had them join her under the trees to point out their tiles. Most stood proudly and beamed as they pointed to the permanent art installation they had helped to create.
The theme of rabbits was a recurring joy in Owen's life.
"She was fun, witty, hardworking, compassionate and honest--in short, a good rabbit," said her Owen's friend, Mimi Braatz, repeating a phrase Owens loved.
As the first business manager of the WGBPA, Owen was responsible for some of Willow Glen's community traditions, including Founder's Day and the Holiday Tree Lighting.
The patio tiles are available for viewing during regular business hours at the library, located at 1157 Minnesota Ave.
Willow Glen, California Since 1992
