Those of you who don’t keep up with Edinburgh’s literary world through Twitter may have missed the recent spate of mysterious paper sculptures appearing around the city.<\/p>\n
Guardian article, 3rd March 2011<\/a>.<\/p>\n One day in March, staff at the\u00a0Scottish Poetry Library\u00a0<\/a>came across a wonderful creation, left anonymously on a table in the library. Carved from paper, mounted on a book and with a tag addressed to @byleaveswelive – the library’s Twitter account – reading:<\/p>\n It started with your name\u00a0@byleaveswelive<\/a>\u00a0and became a tree.\u2026 … We know that a library is so much more than a building full of books\u2026 a book is so much more than pages full of words.\u2026 This is for you in support of libraries, books, words, ideas\u2026.. a gesture (poetic maybe?)<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Nobody knew where it came from, nor was anyone forthcoming with information in person or online, despite a fair amount of local news coverage. It looked like this was a one-off, a beautiful and delicate piece of art created by a fan of the Poetry Library. Until, in late June, the\u00a0National Library of Scotland<\/a>\u00a0found themselves the recipient of a similar piece.<\/p>\n For\u00a0@natlibscot<\/a>\u00a0– A gift in support of libraries, books, words, ideas….. (& against their exit)<\/p>\n And soon afterwards, the\u00a0Filmhouse\u00a0<\/a>had a pleasant surprise!<\/p>\n Guardian article, 30th June 2011.<\/p>\n The tag?<\/p>\n For\u00a0@filmhouse<\/a>\u00a0– A gift in support of libraries, books, words, ideas….. and all things *magic*<\/p>\n Amongst the audience is a figure with Ian Rankin’s face, clutching a Deuchar’s.<\/p>\n Scotsman article, 11th July 2011<\/a>.<\/p>\n For\u00a0@scotstorycenter\u00a0<\/a>– A gift in support of libraries, books, works, ideas….. Once upon a time there was a book and in the book was a nest and in the nest was an egg and in the egg was a dragon and in the dragon was a story…..<\/p>\n Nobody knows whether there are more to come and if so, where they might appear. Some say the newly opened National Museum, others suggest the Edinburgh International Book Festival. It’s all a bit exciting!<\/p>\n Having been on display in the Scottish Poetry Library for a few months, the poetree is now kept behind the counter for safety, but if you ask nicely I’m sure they would let you have a look.<\/p>\n The National Library’s gramophone is in a display case near the front door.<\/p>\n The Filmhouse’s cinematic diorama is currently not on display.<\/p>\n The Scottish Storytelling Centre’s dragon is probably going to estivate during the Festivals to avoid any possible manhandling by infant hordes but will surely make a return in the autumn.<\/p>\n UPDATE:<\/strong>\u00a0The dragon has been moved out of harm’s way but is still visible to the public!<\/p>\n <\/p>\n UPDATE 24\/08\/11:<\/strong>\u00a0Two more appeared today at the Edinburgh International Book Festival!<\/strong><\/p>\n One, addressed to @edbookfest (the Book Festival), was left on one of the signing tables in the Bookshop.<\/p>\n The tag on this reads:<\/p>\n To\u00a0@edbookfest<\/a>\u00a0‘A gift’ This is for you in support of libraries, books, words, ideas…… & festivals xx<\/p><\/blockquote>\n It includes a teabag filled with cut out letters, on the tag of which are the words “by leaves we live”. The cup on the top has a swirl of words which read ” Nothing beats a nice cup of tea (or coffee) and a really good BOOK”, and on the ‘tray’ next to the cupcake it says “except maybe a cake as well”.<\/p>\n The other, addressed to @edincityoflit (UNESCO Edinburgh City of Literature<\/a>), was secreted about their stand in the entrance tent.<\/p>\n The tag reads:<\/p>\n To\u00a0@edincityoflit\u00a0<\/a>‘A gift’ LOST (albeit in a good book) This is for you in support of libraries, books, words, ideas…. “No infant has the power of deciding….. by what circumstances (they) shall be surrounded.. Robert Owen<\/p><\/blockquote>\n Intriguingly, this is crafted from a copy of\u00a0The Private Memoirs and Confessions of a Justified Sinner<\/em>by James Hogg.<\/p>\n This book is not only a favourite of the City of Literature team but is also known to have been an influence on Ian Rankin’s work. So far quite a few of these sculptures have overt links to Mr Rankin, suggesting this is no coincidence. As Ian was due on site later in the day and had not yet met any of these creations face to face, the @EdinCityofLit team introduced him to their new baby.<\/p>\n Former local Guardian beatblogger Michael MacLeod and all round top journo was on the scene to file a swift report. The Book Festival’s blogger also shared with the world, and @edinCityofLit’s Anna has a mention of them…<\/p>\n Guardian article, 24th august 2011<\/a><\/p>\n Edinburgh International Book Festival blog post, 24th August 2011<\/a><\/p>\n Anna Not Karenina’s blog post<\/a><\/p>\n Once the latest additions to the family have found offical homes I will update with further images and information…<\/p>\n UPDATE 30\/08\/11<\/strong><\/p>\n Another has appeared in the Central Lending Library on George IV Bridge.<\/p>\n Taking the form of a book with a magnifying glass mounted atop it (made of paper of course!) it was left on a shelf and was unreported for at least a couple of days.<\/p>\n For Central Library \u2018A Gift\u2019\u00a0@Edinburgh_CC<\/a>\u00a0This is for you in support of libraries, books, words, ideas\u2026. LIBRARIES ARE EXPA<\/strong>NSIVE<\/p><\/blockquote>\n <\/p>\n The word “expensive” has had the E crossed out and replaced with an A. No question of the creator’s views on library cuts… The tag then notes, “Words on book – Edwin Morgan”. No talk of Rankin this time!<\/p>\n In the news:<\/p>\n Scotsman article, 30 August 2011<\/a><\/p>\n Library blog post, 31 August 2011<\/a><\/p>\n A plastic cover has been placed on it and for the time being at least it is on display where it was left.<\/p>\n And here’s some coverage from\u00a0STV<\/a>.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n UPDATE 16\/09\/11<\/strong>:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The ‘poetree’ is now on display in the reception area of the Scottish Poetry Library.<\/p>\n UPDATE 20\/09\/11<\/strong><\/p>\n The Edinburgh Evening News\u00a0claims<\/a>\u00a0to have discovered the identity of the sculptor. The general view is that We Don’t Want To Know…<\/p>\n 23\/11\/11<\/strong><\/p>\n “Hopefully next time I’ll be able to linger longer – I’ve left a little something for you near Women’s Anthologies X. In support of Libraries, Books, Words and Ideas….”<\/p><\/blockquote>\n A quick dash into the library led to the discovery of another gift.<\/p>\n The tag on this read:<\/p>\n “To @ByLeavesWeLive……. THE GIFTS “Gloves of bee’s ful, cap of the Wren’s Wings…….” Norman McCaig …. maybe sometimes impossible things… In support of LIbraries, Books, Words Ideas….”<\/p><\/blockquote>\n And with the suspicious addition in the corner reading 10\/10.<\/p>\n So here we have a cap made of a wing.<\/p>\n A wing, of course, made of exquisitely crafted paper feathers.<\/p>\n And with it a pair of paper gloves…<\/p>\n … made in the texture of a bee.<\/p>\n And an explanation!<\/p>\n “It’s important that a story is not too long ……does not become tedious …….<\/p><\/blockquote>\n ‘You need to know when to end a story,’ she thought.<\/p>\n Often a good story ends where it begins. This would mean a return to the Poetry Library. The very place where she had left the first of the ten.<\/p>\n Back to those who had loved that little tree, and so encouraged her to try again …….and again.<\/p>\n Some had wondered who it was, leaving these small strange objects. Some even thought it was a ‘he’! ……. As if!<\/p>\n Others looked among Book Artists, rather good ones actually…….<\/p>\n But they would never find her there. For though she does make things, this was the first time she had dissected books and had used them simply be- cause they seemed fitting….<\/p>\n Most however chose not to know….. which was the point really.<\/p>\n The gift, the place to sit, to look, to wonder, to dream….. of the impossible maybe…….<\/p>\n A tiny gesture in support of the special places…..<\/p>\n So, here, she will end this story, in a special place … A Poetry Library ….. where they are well used to ‘anon.’<\/p>\n <\/p>\n But before exiting …a few mentions. There could be more, because we have all colluded to make this work……. Just a few though.<\/p>\n – the twitter community who in some strange way gave rise to the idea in the first place – and not least\u00a0@Beathhigh<\/a>\u00a0whose books and reputation have been shame- lessly utilised in the making of a mystery ……..<\/p>\n …… But hold on. Someone’s left behind a pair of gloves and a cap……….?<\/p>\n Mercifully the answer was forthcoming the next day. The\u00a0National Museum of Scotland<\/a>\u00a0had received a gift, found on the plinth under a skeletal stag. A consciencious member of staff had found it and passed it to his supervisor, thinking it might be something more than average lost property. It soon made its way up the chain of command until it came to rest in the Director’s office for safety.<\/p>\n Meanwhile the museum staff were abuzz with the imminent arrival of their millionth visitor since reopening (which was a surprise as that wasn’t really expected until about August 2012) so they didn’t have time to tell the world about it until that had died down.<\/p>\n And so another is unveiled!<\/p>\n A Tyrannosaurus Rex, bursting from the tattered leaves of a book. And what book could it be other than Arthur Conan Doyle’s The Lost World?<\/p>\n “For @NtlMuseumsScot A Gift Your friends at @edbookfest suggested you might like this. …. In support of libraries, books, words, ideas and those places that house our treasures……”<\/p>\n And in the corner, 9\/10.<\/p>\n Hidden amidst the tattered leaves of the book are tiny men with weapons that probably wouldn’t do much damage to the beast, as its bloodstained jaw seems to prove.<\/p>\n The museum hope to exhibit this as part of the\u00a026 Treasures<\/a>\u00a0series.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n And what of the last?<\/p>\n Yesterday afternoon staff at the\u00a0Writer’s Museum<\/a>\u00a0found something atop the donations box in the Robert Louis Stevenson room.<\/p>\n A wonderfully atmospheric street scene with what appears to be a silvery moon with wisps of cloud hanging from it. This tag reads:<\/p>\n “@CuratorEMG<\/a>\u00a0A Gift “The stories are in the stones” Ian Rankin In support of Libraries, Books, Words, Ideas …… and Writers.”<\/p><\/blockquote>\n And the 8\/10 in the corner, confirming that we’ve found them all!<\/p>\n The cover says, “the stories are in the stones \/ Ian Rankin” …<\/p>\n Inside the book are an array of people with birds on wires and a streetlight…<\/p>\n There are even goings-on visible behind some of the windows, as well as a pentagram scrawled on a wall in red with the signs of the zodiac around it.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"http:\/\/blog.evolvetheconversation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/12\/1-300x300.jpg\" "\\"1\\"")
<\/a>
\nNext to the ‘poetree’ sat a paper egg lined with gold and a scatter of words which, when put together, make “A Trace of Wings” by Edwin Morgan.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"http:\/\/blog.evolvetheconversation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/12\/2-300x199.jpg\" "\\"2\\"")
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<\/a>A gramophone and a coffin, sculpted from a copy of Ian Rankin’s Exit Music, and again deposited anonymously. The tag in this case read:<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"http:\/\/blog.evolvetheconversation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/12\/5-199x300.jpg\" "\\"5\\"")
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<\/a>This time the sculpture is a complex scene in a paper cinema; punters arrayed on seats watching men and horses coming alive from the screen and charging outwards.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"http:\/\/blog.evolvetheconversation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/12\/7-300x199.jpg\" "\\"7\\"")
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<\/a>Finally (so far), in early July the\u00a0Scottish Storytelling Centre<\/a>\u00a0found a dragon nesting in a window.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"http:\/\/blog.evolvetheconversation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/12\/9-300x199.jpg\" "\\"9\\"")
<\/a>Once again carved from a Rankin novel, they don’t know how long it might have been sitting there unnoticed as it’s quite well hidden. Perhaps the loveliest tag so far:<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"http:\/\/blog.evolvetheconversation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/12\/10-300x199.jpg\" "\\"10\\"")
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\n–@chrisdonia<\/a>\u00a0who gave the story a place, a shape and some great pictures<\/p>\n
\nX<\/center>A wonderful end to a wonderful story and a lovely mention for a humble photographer! But talk of ten sculptures had everyone a-flutter. There were only eight we knew of, what of the remaining two? Could they have been lost? stolen? or worse, thrown away by someone who didn’t realise what they had found?<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"http:\/\/blog.evolvetheconversation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/12\/6395286183_d48a97fdd1-300x199.jpg\" "\\"6395286183_d48a97fdd1\\"")
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\n<\/a>![\"\"](\"http:\/\/blog.evolvetheconversation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/12\/hh-199x300.jpg\" "\\"hh\\"")
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