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Size: 5'-4" x 15'-4" x 2 ”
This mosaic honors the building's namesake, William Holmes McGuffey, professor at Miami University (1826-1836) and the author of the McGuffey Readers. This significant literacy tool unveiled the magical and powerful world of books for millions of English, German and Spanish speaking children. With the creation of the readers, McGuffey put this wonderful source of enlightenment and sheer delight within the reach of every American.
Throughout our lives, books continually educate, entertain, and challenge us, forever becoming a part of who we are. The written word with power "greater than the sword" is unequaled in its ability to touch the soul, influencing individuals and nations alike.
The horizontal blue form within the mosaic is symbolic of the pages of a book opened wide. The blue is rich in color, expansive in shape, pulling us into its depths. The brown border is the cover of the book. Because every book leads us on a journey of the mind, the green and red/orange forms suggest stones within a path, each leading us to the next journey. These two forms purposely have different shapes and colors because every book offers a unique perspective. Over the years these various "journeys" layer one upon the next, each expanding our horizons. The whimsical black lines speak of the sheer joy of abandoning ourselves to a good book, that state of being oblivious to our surroundings as the words on the page pull us deeper into a world beyond.
