The typical library is considered a sterile place of learning, but Ball State University's Bracken Library has spiced up its visual appeal over the last year and has given Ball State staff, faculty and students the chance to display their work before a steady flow of people.
Dean of University Libraries Dr. Arthur Hafner began conceptualizing the idea in February of 2004 as a service to the Ball State artistic community. Bracken staff began working with students and staff in April last year to get the first round of pieces up for Spring semester.
"It's an activity that we started because we wanted to give an opportunity to give our students, faculty and staff a place to hang their artwork," Hafner said. "Not only do we hang their work up, we offer an artist's statement and information on how to buy it."
Along with monthly music and dance performances, 37 pieces, including drawings, prints, paintings and graphics works, by eight different artists, six students and two staff members, pepper the library walls, giving Bracken a unique touch, said Bracken Library Marketing and Communications Manager Susan Akers.
"It makes the area more homey," Akers said. "It gives it personality... We really want to be supportive of the students' broadening exposure to the arts. We're more than a library. We're more than a building with books and computers. We also do it through music and dance."
Artists interested in having their pieces hang in the library must submit an application via the Bracken Library Web site and have it go under review, but neither Akers nor Hafner have had a problem finding material.
"I think we've found some artists who are really excited to be here," Hafner said.
"So far, every thing that we have seen has been what we could use," Akers said. "Since we get the art in at different times, and other art comes down at different times, it's always on a rotation."
Art professor David Johnson is one of the artists whose work is currently on display. Johnson says his four woodblock print pieces, "Big Shots," "Hot Shots," Wise Guys" and "Smart Ass, Dumb Ass" were inspired by other print art, as well as "the political nature of our interpersonal relations."
"The reason I do woodcuts is because they're bold, they're simple," Johnson said. "I'm interested in prints because they're often considered the democratic artform. Not everyone can afford a Goya piece."
While this may be an innovation for Ball State, Johnson says that displaying art in libraries is nothing new.
"When I was in college some of my teachers had work in their libraries," Johnson said. "It's a good place for it, it's a public place."
While some students may hesitate to display their artwork, Akers says that finding art to fill the previously vacant wall space has not been a problem.
"We haven't had much trouble keeping the walls filled with beautiful artwork," Akers said. "It has just worked out so well, its really made the place come alive. When you put art up in your space it just makes the personality come out... I think we're more than the traditional stereotypes of a library."
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