Alameda Public Library
“Island Creatures”
Photos by Nathanael Bennett
In competition with over 100 artists, Debey and Terry were chosen to create artwork for the Alameda West End Library, a PWA building built in 1935. The wall above the circulation desk is the site for the carved frieze, 4’ x 28’. The Library Art Committee asked for a work that would be inclusive of and draw in all the residents of the city of Alameda, especially the very young and older adults.
Debey chose to design a frieze of Terry’s carvings devoted to the wildlife of Alameda Island. With over 20 miles of shoreline, the citizens of Alameda are never far from the creatures they share their island with. The artwork is “framed” with an arch, tapered posts and waves. Leopard sharks and surf fish swim in the bay, crab and shorebirds on the sand, hills and water and least terns fly under the bridge. In the 21’ long children’s frieze area, four be-speckled hares are relaxing and reading books. The hares frame a trail of leaping bunnies.
The Bun Run in the Children’s section is a plaster cast and faux finished repeat.
Debey And Terry installing ‘Island Creatures’
