Reversing Vandalism -
destroyed books transformed into art

In the early months of 2001, San Francisco Public Library staff began making grim discoveries in the book stacks at the Main Library. Shoved under shelves and hidden from public eye were vandalized books, ranging from gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender topics to women’s issues and books on HIV/AIDS. Staff collected over 600 badly damaged books. The torn and slashed books were deemed beyond repair and withdrawn from the Library’s collection. The offender was eventually caught and charged with a hate crime.

Rather than have this end as a total loss, the Library decided to release the damaged books to artists and interested community members in the hope of creating art out of this destructive act.

“For Duf” by Dacey Hunter, 2003

A public call for participation went out to Bay Area residents, but the story was so compelling that word of the project spread around the country. As a result, requests to take part in the project were received from Bay Area residents and concerned individuals across the nation and as far away as Japan and France.
The result is Reversing Vandalism - An exhibition of over 200 original works of art created from the damaged books. The wide variety of responses to this hate crime vividly demonstrates the transformative power of art.

“The staff felt strongly that discarding the lost items would only complete the vandal’s crime, so we engaged in Reversing Vandalism as a project of tolerance and outreach.” Susan Hildreth, San Francisco City Librarian

“Blackbird Singing” by Sherry Karver, 2003

• Exhibition: Through May 2, 2004,
  Main Library, 100 Larkin Street (at Grove)
  Lower Level, Jewett Gallery
  Third Floor, Hormel Center
  and Grove Street Entrance
  
  
  
  JANUARY 31, SATURDAY
  Reversing Vandalism - Exhibition Opening Reception – Celebrating the artistic transformation of vandalized books.
  Main Library, Lower Level, Latino/Hispanic Community Meeting Room, 2:00 p.m.
  
• February 17, TUESDAY
  How Communities Can Transform Hate Into Healing – Jim Van Buskirk, director of the James C. Hormel Center, Holly Alonso, director of the Peralta Hacienda Historical Park, Tina D’Elia, Hate Violence Survivor Program Director of CUAV and Jude Thilman, Coalition Director of the Marin Human Rights Roundtable on Hate Violence, speak on how community groups can come together and transform violence into a healing experience.
  Main Library, Lower Level, Koret Auditorium, 6:30 – 8:00 P.M.
  100 Larkin Street (at Grove)
• April 10, SATURDAY
  Reversing Vandalism: the Art of Altered Books – A panel discussion with Steve Woodall, artistic director of the San Francisco Center for the Book and Reversing Vandalism artists Mary Marsh and Sandra Ortiz Taylor discussing the history and the art of altered books.
  Main Library, Lower Level, Koret Auditorium, 1:00 – 2:30 P.M.
  100 Larkin Street (at Grove)