D.C. Public Library kicked off Banned Books Week in style this year by hosting an exclusive after-hours rendezvous that included a musical orchestra and the unveiling of a series of indoor and outdoor art installations created by local artists. Roughly 300 people attended “UNCENSORED: The Preview Party,” which launches “UNCENSORED: The Art Exhibition,” a temporary public art event at the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library.
To add an extra twist, the library brought in local mixologists to create cocktails based on books that have been challenged in the past. At one end of the library’s grand hall, party goers could sip on a daiquiri inspired by frequently challenged books of Ernest Hemingway. At another end, attendees could taste a foamy Sherry Flip cocktail inspired by Maurice Sendak’s dreamy In the Night Kitchen.
At its core, the event, which served as a fundraiser for the D.C. Public Library Foundation, provided an opportunity for community members to make the abstract personal. Each art installation explored the intimate ramifications caused by censorship.
“The fundraiser highlights challenged books and local artists who feel strongly about books and the freedom to read,” said Jamila Felton, DCPL’s teen programs and partnerships coordinator.
Beyond the issue of censorship, the after-hours event allowed city leaders to engage with the library in ways they may never have done before. As the library considers options for its upcoming renovation and modernization process, events like the Banned Books opening can provide insight into new approaches to reimagining libraries as public spaces.
“We had so many conversations about the renovation and how we can showcase what we have, and Banned Books Week is a link between art and literature,” said Linnea Hegarty, executive director of the DC Public Library Foundation.
So far, the event seemed to have succeeded in getting some new people through the library’s doors. In total, the Library received $20,000 in cash and in-kind donations.
“This is my first time in a library in a while,” said Chantal Tseng, one of the night’s mixologists. “I love the idea of celebrating banned books, especially ones that have been misunderstood.”
