Art Selection Board Approves Collage For Indian Trail Library

A gently moving mobile and a vibrant, organic, “almost alive” woven collage have been selected as permanent art for the Indian Trail branch library.

The library is scheduled to open March 7.

The art, which will be created by Spokane artist Ilse Kilian-Tan, will be installed in late summer.

The two hand-woven pieces were unanimously approved by the art selection board.

One percent of the library construction cost is set aside for art in the branch libraries. In Indian Trail, $13,000 was available.

“I almost didn’t submit a proposal, said Kilian-Tan. “It seemed to me they were looking more for stained glass or sculptures, I thought weaving might not be what they wanted,” she said.

Then she toured the library during a workshop for the prospective artists.

“I thought it would be very good for weavings,” said Kilian-Tan.

She proposed a mobile consisting of seven pieces, suggesting ideas and reflecting the thought-provoking atmosphere of the library. It will hang over the circulation desk.

The second weaving is a large collage of shapes, sizes and textures, folded, shaped, coiled or stuffed individually and mounted above the children’s area, on the south wall.

“The wall space intrigued me,” she said. “One wall is big and not interrupted by anything.

“The collage will make a visual connection to the mobile through its colors,” she said.

“It will be beautiful, the colors are very dynamic,” said Dolly Richendrfer, manager of community relations for the library.

Kilian-Tan is planning to use different shades of red, purple and orange, possibly with yellow accents. She is ordering the yarns this week.

“I have to have everything together before I start,” she said. “I have to see everything, then I make my choices.”

Kilian-Tan, who was formerly married to Ron Tan, the architect of the branch library, said the connection had no bearing on her work being selected.

She has been a free-lance artist since 1970, has conducted workshops on weaving and has served as a visiting professor of both art and literature at Eastern Washington University.

Her work is displayed in public and corporate offices and homes throughout the United States and her native Germany.

An especially memorable project was one she completed for a private home in Jackson Hole, Wyo.

She visited the home, took measurements and received a specific list of colors for the weaving she was creating.

But she only talked to the home owners over the phone.

“I like to meet the people, to have personal contact and get a sense of their personality,” she said.

She met them for the first time when she brought the weaving to their home. She held her breath as they watched her unroll the art.

It was exactly what they wanted. She exhaled.

She gave equal care to her proposal for the Indian Trail library.

“I wondered what would appeal to a lot of people, what would lift their spirits when they came to the library,” she said.

“Whatever I do, I put a part of myself into it, otherwise I couldn’t do it,” she said.

Kilian-Tan grew up in East Germany under communist rule. Her father owned a lace factory and was very artistic.

“He had a hard life under communism,”said Kilian-Tan.

She left Germany without permission from the government and came to the United States to stay with distant relatives.

She has studied foreign languages, has a bachelor’s degree in art and bachelor’s and master’s degrees in literature from Eastern Washington University.

Kilian-Tan’s proposal was one of 24 reviewed by the art selection jury. Library Director Aubrey George said it was a difficult decision for the jury.

“We are delighted that so many qualified artists responded to the prospectus for the library, the last of six new branches funded by the 1990 Municipal Library Bond Issue,” George said.

Kilian-Tan said she was delighted to be selected.

“I am happy and grateful that I was trusted with creating an art piece that will be pleasing and inspiring to all who enter this public building of learning, reflection and research, and that will enhance the atmosphere,” she said.

, DataTimes