Behind the exhibits: Creating space for student work

We showcase the talent, curiosity and impact of Western students by featuring student art and research in Waldo Library. Librarians Micky Carignano, Dylan McGlothlin and Kate Langan launched the Libraries’ student exhibit program in fall 2023.

In this reflection, Carignano and McGlothlin share their experiences and insights from building and sustaining the exhibit space.

The University Libraries added Waldo Library’s second-floor exhibit space in fall 2023. We wanted to create a space for students to share their research and creative work with others across campus and beyond their departments. We have displayed student art and research posters each semester, including winners from the Graduate College’s research poster competition.

We’ve been really impressed by the students and their work. It has been wonderful to highlight students' academic and creative pursuits, as both are important parts of their lives here at the University.

Creative submissions range from huge paintings and collage pieces to small, intricate embroidery or photography prints. The wide variety has made it tricky to write up our policies and procedures—when we think we’ve covered all the different kinds of creative work we might encounter, the students surprise us with something new.

We’ve had to find ways to hang all kinds of materials—paper, wood, canvas and textiles—in different sizes on a curved wall, which has been challenging. But it is worth it to include the full breadth of our students’ artistic endeavors. If a piece is mostly two-dimensional, fits on our wall, and can be attached to our hooks, we make it work.

By submitting research posters, students can share their academic work with people outside their field. We require them to submit a plain-language summary to display next to their poster, which can be challenging for some who haven’t previously explained their work without using their discipline’s jargon. The posters showcase the variety of interests across the University and can inspire students who have not yet participated in original research projects.

For the students submitting artwork, it’s amazing to see how many of them are not art majors. They are creating art as a hobby. Several students have said that this is their first chance to share their work with the public. 

Interested students can submit work online for fall and spring exhibits.