Permanent Installation / Rabiya Choudhry, 'Give light and people will find the way (Ella Baker)'

Thursday 14 September 2023
19:05 20:05

Glasgow Women's Library 23 Landressy Street Glasgow, G40 1BP (map)

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Rabiya Choudhry, ‘Give light and people will find the way (Ella Baker)’ (2022) installation view Glasgow Women’s Library 2023. Courtesy of the artist. Photo: Isobel Lutz-Smith.

We are pleased to announce Rabiya Choudhry’s illuminated artwork ‘Give light and people will find the way (Ella Baker)’, commissioned by The Common Guild for ‘anywhere in the universe’ has been gifted to Glasgow Women’s Library by the artist and will remain in place at the library as a permanent installation.

The artwork was originally installed temporarily at Glasgow Women’s Library, as well as Dennistoun and Shettleston Libraries from 28 January – 30 July 2023. These East-End libraries were selected by Choudhry for their personal significance to the artist.

‘Give light and people will find the way (Ella Baker)’ will join other artworks in Glasgow Women’s Library’s growing collection of artworks by contemporary women artists including Olivia Plender, Martha Rosler and Veronica Ryan.

The artwork can be seen on the exterior Glasgow Women’s Library at all times, and remains illuminated through the night.

Katrina Brown, Director of The Common Guild said,

“As a project ‘anywhere in the universe’ was conceived to reflect on public libraries and how important they are to society, not just as places to find books, but as particular buildings, homes to systems that organise and share information, and places with valuable social purpose. We were guided to the many libraries that became sites for the five projects by the artists and their works, and were totally delighted when Rabiya Choudhry included Glasgow Women’s Library in her sights for her work, as it is such an outstanding, heartening and inspiring place. Thanks to the amazing response from the Women’s Library and its community, along with Rabiya’s generosity, we are thrilled that the work will become a permanent fixture and will continue to offer a glimmer of light to all who visit (or just pass by), honouring Ella Baker’s words. It is an excellent legacy for the project.”

Adele Patrick, Director of Glasgow Women’s Library said,

“In the wake of the pandemic the installation of Rabiya Choudhry's glowing, poignant and uplifting work ‘Give light and people will find the way (Ella Baker)’ literally provided a source of much needed joy, inspiration and illumination in the lives of the GWL community, our visitors, users and our neighbours in Bridgeton. Knowing that this work was part of a suite that connected us to other libraries in our network added a further sense of community, and a shared and renewed purpose. This work is a beacon; amongst the powerful feedback we have received is the comment, “this work gives and shows me the tangible existence of hope, light and shelter...”. What better message to convey what we aspire for people to discover on entering our library space? We are moved and thrilled that Rabiya's work will now become a permanent fixture thanks to her generosity; this is an artwork that will have an enduring, perennial message into the future (as have Ella Baker's words that are incorporated). We are grateful to Rabiya for her creativity and kindness, and to The Common Guild for approaching us to host the work.”