Children not only need to read to be successful, they also need to play and create. Studies conclusively show that both reading and being creative improve basic learning skills, and that children raised in a book-rich environment from an early age succeed beyond those who do not. Both reading and art are basic building blocks to a child’s development, which is why the library provides crafting opportunities for children in addition to books.

With the importance of art in mind, the Kyle Public Library recently added a series of new artwork to its children’s area, which is now festooned with bright, colorful artwork thanks to the support of the Friends of the Kyle Public Library. The library chose works by renowned Spanish artist Joan Miro, one of the most influential artists of the early surrealist movement in the 1920s and 1930s. 

Famous for its dramatic emphasis on color and shape, surrealism became popular with the works of Salvador Dali, Max Ernst, Rene Magritte, and Joan Miro. All of these artists utilized distorted and simplistic images to convey themes, and the surrealists impact on art and pop-culture to this day remains strong.

Joan Miro is noted for his creative use of vibrant color as well as for working in multiple conventional and unconventional media such as paint, pencil, tar and even blackberry jam (just the thing for your little artist). His style is almost childlike in its simplicity and thus fits wonderfully in the children’s area while remaining potent for older audiences as well. 

So come visit the library to learn about surrealism and Miro. Books and databases are available for information, and you can see Miro’s Bleu II, Singing Fish, Femme Aux Trois, Obra de Joan Miro, and Daybreak Tagansbruch, 1968. And don’t forget to play in your blackberry jam.