Artist Talk | "Beyond the Stacks" with Doug Dumais

Lamps of Freedom (Borden-Carleton), 2024, Inkjet print on corron rag paper, dry mounted on PVC, 31.7 X 21.7 inch

Saturday, April 5, 3:30pm 

Struts Gallery 

In Doug Dumais’ “Circulations”, he documents PEI’s current rural library system, showing the distinct conditions of each institution. This library system has interesting roots: It was established by librarian Nora Bateson, who was hired by the Carnegie Corporation of New York in 1933, to travel across PEI in a library car she designed, to build community support for public libraries. She set up her mobile library at conventions, fairs, and meetings. Before the 1933 demonstration, PEI had only three libraries. By 1935, thanks to Bateson’s advocacy and the communities’ positive response, there were 22.  

Nearly 90 years later, Doug Dumais retraced Bateson’s steps, visiting PEI’s 25 existing libraries to photograph these unique spaces, collect stories from librarians and patrons, and document their roles within their respective communities. Join us as he discusses the process.

This artist talk is presented in partnership with the @photoeastfestival