.png)
The South Pasadena Public Library hosted a ribbon-cutting event to celebrate the completion of the new Children’s Room entry mosaic at 4:00 p.m. on Friday, February 9, 2018.
Attendees had the opportunity to meet the artist who created the beautiful mosaic, Jolino Beserra, and were invited to create a miniature mosaic and participate in a mosaic scavenger hunt.
The Children’s Room entry mosaic is funded by the Friends of the South Pasadena Public Library in memory of Sally Swan and Keith Stiles. Ms. Swan was a strong advocate for the library and served two terms as President on the Library Board of Trustees from 1982–1985. She was also instrumental in establishing the Friends of the South Pasadena Public Library Bookstore, which has raised over a million dollars for the Library since its inception. Keith Stiles was the grandson of South Pasadena Public Library’s legendary first City Librarian, Nellie E. Keith.
Artist Jolino Beserra is known for his whimsical, colorful and intricate work, which can be seen in many Southern California locations, including the Alhambra and Camarillo public libraries. Beserra works in a style called pique assiete, which incorporates tile shards, broken chinaware, glass, and other found materials. The genie lamps at the base of each side of the mosaic echo the lamp motifs found in the Carnegie era windows in the Library Community Room, and are the primary inspiration for the artist.
Beserra explains that “when I was scouring the flea markets I came across an Aladdin’s lamp style teapot. I spent the day thinking about the story. All of the children are like Aladdin. They can find anything that they wish for when they enter this special room. If my mosaic story inspires a child’s imagination and curiosity to tell their story, I have been successful.”
