NPL 2025 Unbannable Library Proposals
Branches:
- Bellevue – The People’s Champ by Lance Scruggs & Gloria Carter
Lance Scruggs and his wife Gloria Carter are a creative force in Bellevue, TN. Lance(painter) and Gloria(writer and dancer) are collaborating to reimagine the classic boxing story of the People’s Champ from a women’s perspective. Here is a link to a recent interview of Lance from Shoutout Atlanta Magazine: LINK - Madison – On James Baldwin by Henry Jones
The esteemed Henry Jones is the First Poet Laureate of Hendersonville, TN. Henry is an artist, Poet, Playwright, Author and Performance Artist. Among his recent distinctions are: Arts Fellow of Nashville Symphony Orchestra, Art Wire Fellow of The Porch Writers Collective & OZ Arts Nashville, Converge Fellow of Converge Arts Center, and Poet of the Academy of American Poets. Henry is writing a book of poetry and expressionist responses in a book inspired by James Baldwin, the poet of Radical Love. LINK - Edgehill – The Forest Blooms from What it Breaks by Casey Kaufman and Alex Lockwood – Casey Kaufmen is a local children’s book author and Alex Lockwood is a nationally exhibiting artist and director/owner of Elephant Gallery in Nashville. Alex has shown his work extensively with local shows at Red Arrow Gallery. Oz Nashville, Zeitgeist and the Metro Parks Centennial Art Center. Casey and Alex are collaborating on a largely pictographic book about growing up through the lens of a dandelion lifecycle: LINK
- Southeast – Southeast Teens Program Book, currently in progress. The Southeast Teens program has been making their own book all summer with the hopes of displaying it in their library.
- Green Hills – Art from the Heart by Friends Life Community. I emailed about this book last week. It is amazing and inspiring! – LINK
- Bordeaux – Dylan Camp & Mouminatou Thiaw. Title forthcoming. Dylan Camp is a Nashville artist whose work delves into the depths of African Americana, capturing its raw beauty, quiet mysticism, and the stories woven into its landscapes. Her work is a testament to the richness of life—its solitude, folklore, and fleeting moments of magic—preserving its essence while reimagining its possibilities. Mouminatou Thiaw is a Senegalese American artist born in Dakar, Senegal. She explores memory, grief, faith, migration, isolation and organic life in her works to develop Africanist and Womanist iconographies for storytelling. I do not have images of this work in progress yet.
- Donelson – Sula by Ciona Rouse and Karen Seapker. I include this hear because Donelson is their library branch! Images and bios at link – LINK
Other Books available:
The Unbannable LIbrary 