Blackspace Library by Kemi Craig

Sep 12 | Oct 22

TO BORROW OR RETURN BOOKS: SCROLL DOWN

A new pop-up library has launched in Victoria B.C. featuring books of various genres written by Black authors from Canada and around the world. The Art Gallery of Greater Victoria is hosting the project and aims to highlight the contributions of Black authors while creating a space for readers from diverse communities. The project was developed in support of the exhibition While Black: a forum for speculation on what the gallery can’t hold, in collaboration with Guest Programmer Kemi Craig, whose vision for the library is to centre

“Black communities, Black experiences, Black thought, and Black possibilities.”

The idea for Blackspace Library originated last year from a programming series that Kemi curated, titled Black Sci-Fi Club (in conjunction with a larger project Blueprints for the Afrofuture), in which she collaborated with interdisciplinary Black artists and collectives from across BC. This series encouraged gathering, and one of the sessions focused on literary art with the aim of creating a library. It was during internal discussions with Kemi and AGGV staff that the link to Blackspace Library was identified as having exciting potential for a future project. As Guest Programmer for the While Black exhibition, Kemi also drew inspiration from an installation in this exhibition from artist Chukwudubem Ukaigwe, which includes a bookshelf that he requested the AGGV fill with books about Black art and artists from the Gallery’s reference library. Blackspace Library launches on September 12, 2023 with several locations throughout Victoria, at significant locations for the Black community in Victoria including restaurants and businesses.

BLACKSPACE LIBRARY LOCATIONS

Liberty Barbers (2572 Quadra St, Victoria)
Who Dyd Your Hair (E1-1284 Gladstone Ave, Victoria)
Stir it Up (760 Yates St, Victoria)

HOW IT WORKS

Choose up to 2 books to borrow from any participating location.
Grab a Blackspace Bookmark.
Use your phone to scan the QR Code.
Fill out the digital “BORROW BOOKS” form (below)
OR
Fill out a paper library card at a Blackspace Library location and place in envelope.
Keep book(s) for up to 7 days.
Return book(s) to any of the participating Blackspace Library locations.
Fill out the “RETURN BOOKS” form.

If interested in inquiring about a copy of any of the Blackspace Library books, please contact the Gallery Shop by emailing galleryshop@aggv.ca

BORROW BOOKS

To check books out, please fill out all required fields in the BORROW BOOK(S) form only (below):

Borrower's Name(Required)

First Last

Phone

Email(Required)

Location(Required)

Book 1 Title(Required)

Book 2 Title ( If applicable )

Date(Required)

96223

RETURN BOOKS

To check book(s) back in, please fill out all required fields in the RETURN BOOK(S) form only (below):