More than 500 people submitted their names into the running to become one of this year’s Parade of Hearts artists. Abby Gust Hutter was one of the 150 artists selected to design a heart. The local jewelry designer said she’s never done a project of this magnitude.
Hutter said when she saw the redesigned hollowed center of the heart, the vision of a functional little library popped into her head right away. But once she learned she was selected as an artist the reality of actually designing it sunk in.
“I was like, ‘Uh-oh, I have to build this in real life now,’” Hutter said.
In three months, Hutter brought her vision to life using foam to create books that surround the disc, a shelf within the shape of the heart, and doors to enclose the library.
Hutter’s ambition brought plenty of challenges. She said the timeline in her head didn’t translate to real life. She had to make several pivots in the design process, but the 90-day timeline didn’t allow for do overs.
“It was a labor of love,” Hutter said.
Since April, nearly 200 people have logged a visit to her “Read it Forward” heart that sits outside Rainy Day Books in Fairway, Kansas. Hutter spoke with KCUR's Up To Date in a live broadcast from the bookstore, just feet away from her heart.
“I've never done anything this public facing, and so, to receive this much feedback is just so gratifying and heartwarming,” Hutter said.
- Abby Gust Hutter, 2026 Parade of Hearts artist.
