Rockland — Sunday, Sept. 9 marks the date for the first opening of the 2012-13 art season at Sanctuary Gallery in the Rockland Congregational Church, 180 Limerock St. A reception will be held from 4 to 6 p.m. for Appleton artist Abbie Read, who will display her recent wall installation "Library."

"Library” is an 18-by-7.5-foot mixed media construction made up of individual handcrafted artist books, altered books, shadowboxes and found objects. Inspired by the future prospect of books as physical objects becoming less and less pertinent in our culture, “Library” is intended to conjure in the viewer's mind  memories of meaningful objects, images, moments and associations with books that are part of a collective cultural memory of reading and research as well as books as cherished objects to collect.

"My medium is a collection of painted paper, paint, binder's board, scavenged paper and books, discarded books and found objects. I construct what is essential to a book: two covers, binding, content. I then invent a     conversation between covers and within the overall construction. Metaphors of collecting, memory and cultural references come into play," Read said of the installation which will remain in place through the end of October.

Read is a graduate of Oberlin College and received her master of fine arts degree from the University of Michigan School of Art. She has taught painting, printmaking, drawing and design over the years and currently teaches workshops in bookbinding, altered books and related topics. Her work has been shown in Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan and Ohio and is in collections all over the country.

The Sanctuary Gallery can be entered from the church’s upper level parking lot. For more information, call 594-8656.

Courier Publications' A&E Editor Dagney C. Ernest can be reached at (207) 594-4401 or dernest@courierpublicationsllc.com.