BOOK LAUNCH at BibloHub, Depot Artspace, Saturday, 29 September, 2:00 - 4:00pm : Mickey Smith:  As You Will: Carnegie Libraries of the South Pacific
 

Scottish-American philanthropist Andrew Carnegie believed in giving to the "industrious and ambitious; not those who need everything done for them, but those who, being most anxious and able to help themselves, deserve and will be benefited by help from others." ¹

It is a sentiment well suited to author Mickey Smith who shows amazing strength and industriousness in the face of great tragedy. 

Smith is a successful New York artist and author who moved to New Zealand in 2012 with her kiwi husband, multidisciplinary designer and musician Aaron Pollock.  The couple moved for the lifestyle, and built an inspired home in Auckland, Devonport (http://urbismagazine.com/articles/inside-story-aaron-pollock-and-mickey-smith/#img=0).  Sadly Aaron died in December last year after being diagnosed with a brain tumour.  Mickey Smith’s new book As You Will  which was started during his good health and completed after his death, is dedicated to Aaron.  It is a legacy of love.

As You Will documents the historic legacy of Andrew Carnegie, who established a philanthropic trust responsible for the building of 2,509 library buildings throughout the English-speaking world between 1866-1917.  As You Will looks specifically at the 23 Carnegie Libraries erected across the South Pacific, 18 of which were established in NZ.

The New Zealand Carnegie libraries were built by local architects in Fairlie, Hokitika, Greymouth, Levin, Cambridge, Balclutha, Gore, Dunedin, Alexandra, Timaru, Westport, Dannevirke, Marton, New Plymouth, Hastings, Thames, Hamilton and Onehunga. 

Six buildings were demolished or destroyed by earthquake or arson.  Of the twelve libraries that remain, many of which were saved from council demolition by their local communities, only two continue to operate as a library (Balclutha and Marton).  In a 2005 National Geographic article on ‘Carnegie’s legacy’, Kerry Rodgers noted that this proportion (11%) compares favourably to the proportion that continued to operate as libraries in the United States (3.5%).

The history of these libraries, their legacies, touched American author Mickey Smith.  Mickey, who is now a NZ citizen, is a conceptual artist exhibiting internationally.  She moved to Devonport, Auckland in 2012 with her kiwi husband, multidisciplinary designer and musician Aaron Pollock. Sadly Aaron died in December last year after being diagnosed with a brain tumour. As You Will is dedicated to Aaron who was alive and well at the inception of the book and passed away before its completion.

https://www.mickeysmith.com/about.htm
https://nzhistory.govt.nz/media/interactive/carnegie-libraries
https://aaronpollock.com/about

1.  Andrew Carnegie, "The Best Fields for Philanthropy" The North American Review, Volume 149, Issue 397

Please join Depot Artspace, publisher Te Tuhi and artist Mickey Smith for a brief talk and celebration of this new publication.

The Depot Artspace Devonport, Auckland
Saturday, 29 September, 2:00 - 4:00pm