Lobby Installations

Since 2017, local artist Adriane Binky Donley has dreamed up breathtaking installations for the library lobby. 

Her latest installation, “150 Wishes for the Future,” will be on display throughout the summer for the 2026   Join the Party! Summer Reading Challenge. This handmade creation consists of 150 dandelion seeds or "wishes" to  commemorate   the library's 150th anniversary!   

150 Wishes for the Future

May–August, 2026

“Wishes, dreams, and hope. All words that point us toward the future but are influenced by our past and present. Delicate words, somehow possessing immense amounts of power and potential. The 150th anniversary of anything is a time to reflect, to consider all the positives and negatives of that journey, and to celebrate the possibilities of what is next. I considered all of the above when imagining my piece for the library this summer. How could I visually express and honor such an achievement? Then I remembered the dandelion. A humble and persistent plant that was witness to the Pyramids of Egypt and the rise and fall of the Roman Empire. Used in medicine for thousands of years and of course granted countless wishes, the dandelion is a weed that offers so much if we allow it to be part of our lives.”

“A dandelion is the embodiment of a wish, a dream, and of hope. It is both delicate and powerful, just like our beautiful Champaign Public Library. Delicate because it depends
on the community to survive as well as thrive. Powerful because it changes people’s lives every day, enriching individuals and families with literature, arts programs, job fairs, and conversations with authors or musicians. They provide a quiet place and a cozy chair, ready to support a reader while they go on an adventure with Harold and his purple crayon, or with Frodo on his dangerous quest through Middle Earth.”

“I’ve created 150 dandelion seeds or “wishes” to mark this momentous anniversary. All bursting like golden fireworks in the sky, celebrating our Champaign Public Library."

—Adriane Binky Donley

Made possible with support from the Library Friends and Library Foundation.

Made possible with support from the Library Friends and Library Foundation.