Two interesting sculptures of “book gnomes” sit on platforms outside the East Washington Public Library Branch, one reading a book and the other holding a closed book and peering down at passers-by. The branch was a 2002 recipient of the Historic Preservation Award for Continued Use from Indiana Landmarks and Historic Preservation and is the oldest continuously operating building in the library system.
Alexander Sangernebo was born in Estonia, Russia but left for the United States in the ... view more »
Two interesting sculptures of “book gnomes” sit on platforms outside the East Washington Public Library Branch, one reading a book and the other holding a closed book and peering down at passers-by. The branch was a 2002 recipient of the Historic Preservation Award for Continued Use from Indiana Landmarks and Historic Preservation and is the oldest continuously operating building in the library system.
Alexander Sangernebo was born in Estonia, Russia but left for the United States in the early 1880s. He first lived in St. Louis before settling in Indiana. He became chief sculptor of the Indianapolis Terra Cotta Company in Brightwood. A century later, he would be described as a master terra-cotta designer and sculptor who created most of the architectural terra cotta ornamentation, along with several examples of applied sculpture in stone, in Indianapolis before 1930.
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