By Lookout Staff

December 2, 2011 -- In 1988, retired computer entrepreneur Peter Norton and his wife, Eileen Harris, began commissioning world-renown artists to design multiple edition Christmas projects they mailed as holiday greetings to friends and colleagues.

During they past decade, their exhibition has become a holiday tradition at the Santa Monica Main Library thanks to community activist and art collector, Doris Sosin, who donated most of the Norton Christmas Projects on exhibit to the Library between 1999 and 2001.

The works range from drawings and sculptures to doll houses and tea cups by artists represented in Norton's vast collection of contemporary art.

The artists include Christian Marclay, Marc Swanson, Lawrence Weiner, Luciano Perna, Pae White, Brian Eno, Takashi Murakami, Lorna Simpson, and Yasumasa Morimura.

The works are often whimsical. Robert Lazzarini's "Teacup" is a traditional china cup, plate and spoon, only twisted into a wave designed to be viewed from all angles.

Most of the works were designed to be interactive. Turntable artist Christian Marclay's "Tinsel," for example, is a small box with the word "silent." Open the lid and the word "listen" is written on the inside of the box, which contains a music box mechanism that plays a seamless melodic loop that slows and unwinds.

Composer and multi-media artist Brian Eno created a fourth edition of his famous Oblique Strategies, a set of cards that contain "worthwhile dilemmas."

The works from Sosin's collection are currently on display through Thursday, December 29, on the second floor of the Main Library, 601 Santa Monica Boulevard.

For more information, call (310) 458-8600; or visit the Library's website smpl.org.