Tucked away in a little corner in the first floor of O’Neill library is a room featuring a “spontaneous and constantly updated galleries open to all students for casual creative expression and conversation sponsored by BC libraries and art club.” This exhibit, named The Living Wall, is available to the BC community from January 27 to February 24 to visit at their leisure. It is an informal public sketchbook where students may post up their artwork on any one of the several cork-boards to share with fellow art enthusiasts, peers, faculty, etc.
Striking photographs printed on plain paper, origami, poetry, and paintings have begun to take their places on the large boards lining the walls of this exhibit. The pieces are informal, without any framing or pretentions. In fact, many seem to be products of the wanderings of a creative mind trapped in a dull lecture hall, leaving its mark on scraps of white or lined paper. Moreover, they are largely nameless, even lacking the names of their creators. The pieces have a large range. From doodles and words on half-torn papers to neat studio-finished paintings, the works are as diverse as can be.
Potential contributors may submit their work in a small black box on the drawers on one side of the room. The exhibit is always being changed and updated, and whatever pieces in the box do not remain there long.
“This whole area is actually going to be renovated with vending machines, a circulation desk, and made more like upstairs. The exhibit is going to be up for a while, but then they’re probably going to put something else in there,” said Laura Mujenda, a junior currently working in the Government Documents/Microforms Office next to the exhibit. It seems that the gallery’s original conception may have had to do with simply filling the empty room, and a temporary display featuring student art certainly fulfills that order.
The little exhibit seems humble and inviting, with no claim to fame while offering a chance to let others see one’s work. The librarians who have taken note of this exhibit have done so mainly by passing through on their way out, and many students pay it no particular attention. The few that recall it give it vague descriptions such as “different” and “nice”.
However, one who sits here with a load of work to do would appreciate being surrounded by something other than blank walls. In addition, the existence of such an open and welcoming gallery is important to those who wish to share their work in some way. Even if they don’t want their name attached to it. The “Post Secret” gallery has the same idea, where post cards containing secrets are mailed by thousands of contributors. There is definitely something therapeutic in it.
Visitors of the gallery may find it a pleasant area to do a bit of studying, or to simply take in the pieces done by their peers. The exhibition is temporary, and a taste of the talent that exists anonymously across this campus.
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