Jacque Liu – Public Art Consultant

Permanent Public Artwork: Benjamin Volta. Diligence. 2018. Site: Free Library of Philadelphia – Tacony Branch, Philadelphia, PA. Project Budget: $21,000. Funded through Percent for Art.

Partners: Free Library of Philadelphia, Free Library of Philadelphia Foundation

* More Images Below Text

From 2017–2018, the Free Library of Philadelphia completed major capital renovations on five library sites through its Building Inspiration: 21st Century Libraries Initiative. Building Inspiration was made possible by several transformative gifts in a unique partnership between the public and private sectors, underscored by a historic $25 million gift from the William Penn Foundation—the largest private gift ever received by the Library at the time.

Each of the neighborhood libraries were transformed to be more attractive and welcoming, featuring dedicated space for different age groups and reading levels, places for informal gathering, as well as community meeting space, all while also ensuring full ADA accessibility. Each renovated library is designed to have spaces for unique public programming, in response to identified community needs. The libraries were equipped with new technology and internet access to aid school-age leaners, job searchers, and individuals seeking to access to health and social services.

A Public Art Network Year in Review award winner, Benjamin Volta’s Diligence is an indoor mural that draws upon the area’s rich industrial history. Mr. Volta imagines “a contemporary library where time has evaporated and history has condensed.” The ghost-like collage and patterns that make up the artwork embed the neighborhood’s history within the walls. The sense of focused intention and industry throughout the composition speaks to the quiet strength and energy that are needed to discover a path, follow a dream, and innovate to build something new.

“Diligence” means careful and persistent work and effort. Precision and attention to detail are prevalent in the industrial arts and many of the images found in this artwork draw from the "Disston Tool Handbook for Lumberjacks" and the Disston tool catalogue. For decades these drawings were how people all over the country came to know the Disston brand.

I served as the Percent for Art Project Manager on this project.

Selected Press

Hahn, Ashley. “‘Diligence’ coming to Tacony Library as part of 21st Century Libraries Initiative.” WHYY, October 7, 2016.