Version HTML de base
Restoring "Findlay'
THE WINDOWS
In the south reading room, the decision to get
rid of the mezzanine was another of the "agonizing
experiences," according to Mayor Trent. "It was not
one of Findlay's best ideas. It looked like a last
minute addition."
Removing it revealed, for the first time, the full
extent of the windows, uncovered intact and
comprising a vital part of the restoration. Like
others in the library's collection of 65 historic
windows, each incorporates the name of an impor-
tant writer or historical figure in the arts or sciences.
Afternoon sun streams through these newly-uncovered
windows at the top of the lobby,
(below)
Removing the
mezzanine from the south reading room exposes the full
extent of the leaded glass windows which it hid.
Eight new leaded windows, however, had to be
made for window openings that had been covered
over by building additions and now reclaimed.
These were crafted by Clifford Oswald at the
Lubbers Studio which created the stained glass
windows for the council chamber in 1991, a parting
gesture by retiring mayor May Cutler.
The five larger windows, costing $10,000 in
total, are now installed in the west wall of the
library lobby where the roof connector was
removed. They honour modern authors: Bill Reid,
Roch Carrier, Gabrielle Roy, Michael Ondaatje and
Frank R. Scott, names chosen by the library staff.
City council donated the Reid window to recognize
the role played in the library renewal by steering
committee chairman Raymond Ullyatt. Reid, a
Haida sculptor, was selected because of Mr. Ullyatt's
interest in native literature and art.
A trio of smaller windows at the southwest
comer of the south reading room honours authors
Emily Carr, Leonard Cohen and Gertrude Laurence.
"We tried to get writers' names that represent
different aspects of Canadian literature," librarian
Thibodeau says. "We went on the Internet to track
down Frank Scott's son, Peter Dale Scott, in Califor-
nia, to inform him about die window. I thought it
was rather interesting to have used a new tool in
naming a historical window."
While many original windows were opened up,
a row of nine had to be covered over in the north
reading room where they were blocked by the new
north entrance. Comprising the middle row in the
large west bay, none bore historical names.
•1
5.3
PPVI
1 • • |
f
1 m
•
•
MHHB
WÊÊÊ&
lu
38