In 2023, the Columbus Metropolitan Library (CML) celebrated its 150th birthday by partnering with Columbus Downtown Development Corporation (CDDC) to host a temporary public art installation called Egg Prize. It dispenses plastic eggs (capsules, or gashapon) filled with pieces of miniature art designed by 10 local artists and members of the community. The eggs contained magnets, pins and stickers featuring original work by the artists. The artwork is inspired by the theme “150 years of reading”.

A year or so after the Egg Prize Machine left the Columbus Commons, a new friend of mine excitedly showed me his collection of artworks from the machine, including my stickers and magnet! It was a special moment for me to have been in someone’s life before we connected personally.