Conceived by Gary Simmons as a living, evolving project and an extension of the exhibition, the Reading Room gathers titles and reflections that accumulate over time, forming a collective library that resists forgetting.
These books reflect themes of erasure, silencing, and mythmaking. Among them are banned and challenged works from schools and libraries across the United States. By bringing these together in an open, accessible environment, Simmons exposes what is being erased and reveals what such censorship says about those who enforce it. The Reading Room keeps knowledge alive and underscores the urgency of sharing it.
The selections weave together themes central to Simmons’s practice—history, migration, expansionism, fragmentation, and erasure—while connecting to marginalized voices in the American West. Enriched by contributions from local scholars, thinkers, Cookie Factory staff, and community members, the list builds on prior iterations of the project and deepens its ties to Colorado’s histories and communities.
The Reading Room is both sanctuary and act of resistance: a space to preserve voices and imagine other futures. It is open during exhibition hours, during gallery programs and by appointment. Visitors are encouraged to browse freely, mark pages, leave notes, suggest additions, and carry the conversation forward.
