Literary mural brings love of books to Dalston square PIC: Hackney Council Local artists are asking Hackney residents to submit their favourite first sentences from books to be hand-painted by artists for a public art installation on hoardings next to Dalston CLR James Library. ‘First Words in Dalston’, painted on hoardings beside the library, currently showcases over 50 sentences from beloved books in the library. The artists hope the installation will encourage locals to visit the community library as it reopens after being shut for months due to numerous lockdowns. The artists behind the creative wall, Mike Abrahams and Francesca Guiliano said: “People feel really isolated during lockdown as so many of our cultural activities have been closed… Those who have participated in contributing the first sentences of books or poems they love are providing opportunity for essential human connection as well as helping everyone enjoy art outside of the traditional gallery context.