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Joseph D’Ambrosio (1934-2009), Book Artist

Joseph D’Ambrosio, noted book artist, passed away in September. D’Ambrosio was well known to the State Library. Anyone who walks into the Library & Courts II Building is struck by the beauty of his rotunda floor design of concentric circles of the alphabet with the State Library logo in the middle. Former State Librarian Gary E. Strong commis­sioned him to create this superb example of public art in terraz­zo. First time visitors invariably ask, “What do the letters spell?” The artist always responded, “Nothing.” The design simply celebrates letters. For an artist who created miniature books, the rotunda floor represented a project of gigantic proportions.  More of this brief biography of D'Ambrosio appears on page 22 of the California State Library Foundation Bulletin #78.

Published Wednesday, December 30, 2009 11:51 AM by CSL Info
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