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James Joyce Seat of Learning
26 August 2004
The world's second-only James Joyce Seat of Learning was unveiled at the State Library of Victoria's forecourt on 26 August. Christened by Irish writer, Colm Toibin who was in town for the Melbourne Writer's Festival, the chair incorporates a brick from James Joyce's house in Ireland.
The installation of the seat was organised by Mary Dalmau of Reader's Feast - longtime supporters of the State Library and one of Melbourne's leading bookshops. She was entranced by Dubliner Brendan Kilty’s quest to preserve some of James Joyce’s house, ‘Drumcondra’. After purchasing 18 truckloads of bricks when the Joyce house was demolished some years ago, Kilty was inspired to create Joyce Seats of Learning around the world – each incorporating one of the bricks – which would commemorate Ireland’s most famous writer. The first chair was unveiled in Kuala Lumpur.
Made in a sturdy ‘street sculpture’ style, the Joyce chair will live on as a reminder of the fine work of the man who wrote Ulysses.
The State Library of Victoria has one of the original, signed copies which resides in the Rare Books Collection.
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