Art Become Accessible & Inclusive At Princeton Public Library

PRINCETON, NJ — An exhibition at the Princeton Public Library hopes to inspire conversations on belonging and identity.

"Baby Sees ABCs" by visual artist Gwenn Seemel uses the alphabet to inspire conversations. The exhibit is currently on display in the library's reading room.

Each of the 26 images in the series has 26 first names embedded in it. The idea is to promote letter recognition and cultural recognition as the first names come from all over the world.

At first glance, the paintings and prints look like they have drifted a few inches down the wall. But Seemel said the placement is intentional.

The French-American painter said the animal alphabet book images were intentionally hung that way so children can easily enjoy the artist's polka dot cubist style, as well as the word search element of the artwork.

Seemel said the placement of the artwork also makes it “more available” and accessible to wheelchair-bound patrons, encouraging people to imagine what a more inclusive world looks like.

"Baby Sees ABCs" the series and the book were crowdfunded by 83 people who chose which animals represent each letter and who also provided the first names which are embedded in the images.

The installation is on every day through Aug. 31.

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