Have you ever thought about what art books Solanji’s shelf? Now you can take a look at her book collection and even read some of them carefully for free.
The pop star behind beloved songs, such as “Crane in the Sky” is making some of her books available to the larger public through a new program called the Saint Heron Community Library, which runs by her similarly named digital platform.
The library is available through its website, including catalogs about artist exhibitions Barbara Chase-Riboud, Henry Ossawa Tanner, Martin Puryear, Gary Simmons and Pope.l, among others, as well as other texts such as Cedric Dover’s famous 1960 books Black American Art. These books can be borrowed for 45 days each, although at this time most books have been borrowed.
Of course, not all books are about art—the work of Audre Lorde, Ntozake Shange, Octavia Butler, Wanda Coleman, and many other major black thinkers and writers. However, these products are rich in artists’ books and exhibition texts, some of which are rare and out of print.
Want to read Adrian Piper’s 1987 performance catalog in New York’s now discontinued alternative museum? You can do this through the New York Public Library, but you can only use it there. Through the San Hiro Community Library, you can transport this book to your doorstep.
“Our focus is to drive advancement in education, knowledge production, creative inspiration and skill development through culturally relevant black and brown literature works,” the description reads on the St. Heron Community Library website. “This new series offers seasonal choices in season, focusing on renowned modern artists who practice in a variety of topics such as poetry, visual arts, critical thinking, design.”
The library is Solange’s latest effort to reach the art world. She participated in the program with “Flights in Egypt: Black Artists and Flights in Ancient Egypt” and last year participated in a film that worked with artists like Wu Tsang and produced with her music. She has also brought her work to various art institutions, performing at the Guggenheim Museum in New York and the Hammer Museum in Los Angeles, and screening films at several museums across the country.
