Art adds splashes of color to library atrium

At least until the end of the semester visitors to the Georgia College & State University library will be able to enjoy decorative artwork by their own professors and colleagues.

Professors Jorge Zapata and Sandra Trujillo created the art displayed in the facility’s atrium. The exhibition was for Hispanic Heritage Month, and the library was chosen as the location because of the lack of color and empty wall space the first floor had.

Bill Fisher, curator and chair of the art department, worked with Nancy Davis Bray, the university librarian, to coordinate the displays.

“This exhibition generally challenges the notion of a monolithic/stereotyped reading of contemporary Hispanic and Latino art,” Fisher said. “The art shows a great range of influences and technical skills, attitudes and relationships of the artists to multiple cultures.”

Maggie Dorriety, senior English major, admired the art while waiting for some of her classmates.

“It is a nice thing to have in the library because when I am waiting in the library for group projects, it gives me something interesting to look at,” Dorriety said. “The color contrast in the paintings done by Jorge Zapata is very visually appealing, and the ceramics by Sandra Trujillo look very intricate. I can tell they are both very skilled.”

Sandra Trujillo has been a ceramics and design professor at GCSU for two years. All her pieces on display are surface porcelain with over glaze enamel and gold luster.

“Last summer I participated in a Fulbright-Hays seminar to Czech Republic and Hungary,” Trujillo said. “I think what inspired me to work with shadows in these ceramic works were the stories and legends that many of the buildings were famous for.”

On her trip, Trujillo was impressed by the art and architecture within the larger cities like Prague, Czech Republic, and Budapest, Hungary. Some of her ceramics came from the images she saw, others came from memories of her family.

“The adage ‘living amongst the shadows of the past’ came to mind and became the seminal thought behind the imagery painted on these objects,” Trujillo said. “Here, these small ceramic square teapots and tea caddies serve to remember stories from my family and past generations.”

“It is wonderful that the art department and the library can collaborate in this way,” Fisher said. “I am happy the library personnel wanted to expose visitors to a different range of experience by putting the art up.”

Suzy Spiccia, senior marketing major, likes the new displays because of the feel it gives the first floor.

“I like the art because it is modern and funky and matches Apple products,” Spiccia said.

Posted by Colonnade Archives on Dec 4 2009. Filed under Features. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry