As the year winds down and the world outside takes on a cozy, wintry glow, December offers the perfect time to slow down, reflect, and celebrate creativity. That’s why our library is thrilled to honor Art & Architecture Month—a month dedicated to the beauty of design, the power of imagination, and the stories behind the spaces and works of art that shape our lives.
Discover the Art Around You and The Architecture of Our Lives
Art isn’t just found in galleries. It’s all around us. From the murals that brighten our streets to the creative crafts in our homes, art gives our community its personality. Architecture is more than just buildings—it’s the way design influences how we live, gather, and grow.
Visit our architecture book collection to learn about historic landmarks, modern sustainability trends, and even the design story behind our very own library building.
Celebrate Creativity, Community, and Connection
Throughout December, the library invites you to explore our special Art & Architecture books display, designed to help you find inspiration in unexpected places and learn about historic landmarks, modern sustainability trends, and even the design story behind buildings in our local communities.
Art and architecture tell our shared story and they remind us of what we build together. Whether you’re a lifelong art lover or simply curious, we invite you to visit, learn, and create with us this December.
The Story of Art by E.H. Gombrich
Gombrich’s classic introduction to art history traces humanity’s creative journey from prehistoric cave paintings to modern abstraction. Clear prose and vivid examples make it one of the most accessible and beloved art guides for readers of all backgrounds.
Brunelleschi’s Dome: How a Renaissance Genius Reinvented Architecture by Ross King
Ross King recounts the astonishing engineering feat behind Florence’s iconic dome and the visionary mind who made it possible. This brisk narrative blends history, architecture, and Renaissance intrigue into an irresistible real-world drama.
Towards a New Architecture by Le Corbusier
In this groundbreaking manifesto, Le Corbusier argues for a radical rethinking of architectural design guided by modern materials and functional clarity. Its provocative ideas helped shape the course of 20th-century architecture and continue to spark debate today.
Architecture: Form, Space, & Order by Francis D.K. Ching
Ching’s masterfully illustrated guide introduces the essential principles that shape how buildings look, feel, and function. Both students and curious readers will find a clear, visual roadmap to understanding architectural design.
A Pattern Language: Towns, Buildings, Construction by Christopher Alexander
Alexander and his colleagues present a system of design “patterns” that empower people to create humane and livable spaces. This influential work encourages readers to think of architecture as a collaborative, community-centered process.
The Devil in the White City: Murder, Magic, and Madness at the Fair that Changed America by Erik Larson
Larson intertwines the dazzling creation of the 1893 Chicago World’s Fair with the chilling crimes of one of America’s first serial killers. The result is a gripping blend of history, architecture, and true crime that reads like a novel.
In Praise of Shadows by Junichiro Tanizaki
Tanizaki reflects on the quiet beauty of traditional Japanese aesthetics, celebrating subtlety, shadow, and sensory nuance. His contemplative essay invites readers to reconsider modernity’s brightness in favor of deeper, more intimate ways of seeing.
The Art Thief: A True Story of Love, Crime, and a Dangerous Obsession by Michael Finkel
Finkel chronicles the astonishing exploits of a man who carried out some of the most audacious art heists in history. This true tale of obsession and ingenuity offers an inside look at the shadowy world of art crime.
Leonardo da Vinci by Walter Isaacson
Isaacson paints a richly detailed portrait of Leonardo as an artist, inventor, and insatiably curious thinker. Drawing from the polymath’s notebooks and life story, the biography reveals how creativity flourishes at the intersection of art and science.
The Architecture of Happiness by Alain de Botton
De Botton explores how the buildings around us shape our emotions, identities, and sense of well-being. With philosophical insight and elegant prose, he shows how good design can enrich everyday life.
About The Author: Sarah
Sarah is an information services assistant at the Salina Public Library. She graduated from Kansas State University with a B.A. in Journalism & Mass Communication and a Masters of Arts in Teaching. Sarah also works as a 5th grade teacher when not working at the library. In her down time, Sarah enjoys being with her dogs, doing home projects, watching sports (Go Wildcats!), and learning new things. Her favorite thing about the library is the people, the patrons and her coworkers make it a great place to be at.
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