My sister, Karla, is celebrating her birthday today, and it is a banner year for her. The poem for today hints at her many talents, kindesses, and wisdoms — each one better than the next. Happy Birthday, Karla! Many Happy Returns of the Day!

I thought a good companion post might highlight Northfield’s new public art, an actual banner of books created by a local artist, Rocky Casillas Aguirre, in conjunction with the Northfield Public Library and the City of Northfield’s Art in Public Places Program.

The 170-foot long mural is made of individual panels. It is designed to celebrate Northfielder’s love of writing and reading books, to screen the site of the demolished Archer House, and (once the current lot is built upon) to be able to be displayed in other locations, panel by panel, and to be stored easily. The line-up of more than 100 titles by authors with Northfield connections spans more than 100 years and every genre imaginable. I love walking by it and spotting works by people I know and being surprised by titles by authors whose Northfield connections were news to me. And I am thrilled to have one of my own titles included.

For more background on the artist, and recent thoughtful local commentary, as well as splendid photos, take a look at this article from SE Minnesota. Aguirre has work in the Paradise members show opening…today! …in nearby Faribault’s Paradise Center for the Arts. He is also the executive director of a visionary local non-profit called Sharing Our Roots. Their website explains that “Sharing Our Roots envisions a world where food and agriculture systems are profitable for farmers, fair to workers, beneficial to consumer health, restorative for rural communities, and regenerative for the environment.”

Below are a number of images of the banner and its vicinity. How many titles have you read?

Until tomorrow,

LESLIE