Hutchins Library News Blog

Hutchins Library is pleased to announce the exhibit "Americans Who Tell The Truth" by Robert Shetterly on display now on our main wall. The exhibit runs from now to March 31. This exhibit is part of a larger exhibit presenting a sample of his paintings for the AWTT Project. You can view an additional selection of paintings over at the Ullman Galleries. To learn more, QR codes are provided next to the paintings. The QR codes will take you to the AWTT website where you can learn more about the artist, the portraits, and the overall project.

The exhibit is free and open to the public during library regular hours.

Mr. Shetterly will be the campus convocation speaker for March 28, 2024. Convocation will take place at Phelps Stokes Chapel starting at 3:00pm.

We would also like to invite the community for the unveiling of the next portrait in the Americans Who Tell The Truth series: Berea's own Craig Williams. Mr. Williams is the Director of the Kentucky Environmental Foundation (KEF).  The KEF was instrumental in assuring the safe destruction of chemical weapons last year at the Bluegrass Army Depot in Richmond, Kentucky. The unveiling will take place at Hutchins Library on the main floor after convocation on March 28, 2024, at about 4:30pm.

Hutchins Library is pleased to announce that the Feminist Artists of Kentucky (link to their Facebook page) are presenting their 2024 exhibit in the main floor of the library. The exhibit is in honor of Women's History Month. The exhibit runs throughout the month of February and into middle of March. It can be viewed during library regular hours. The exhibit is free and open to the public .

The Feminist Artists of Kentucky are:

• Pat C. Jennings
• Mary Ann Shupe
• Patricia Watkins
• Karen Tillquist
• Heather Dent
• And guest artist Jackie Pullum

The artists provided the following statement for the exhibit:

"We are still here...

We are still working...

We are still relevant...

2024

Welcome to our celebration of Women's History Month. We are pleased to return to Berea College Hutchins Library for another year celebration of women and art. We are a group of mature working artists who combine our efforts and talents to expand our creativity and create art for social justice causes.

As a group, we meet weekly to create, critique, and expand growth in our art. We enthusiastically support social justice and work to bring light to the needs of our community and our world.

We believe women and art can change the world.

If you wish to purchase the for sale art, commission a custom piece, or make a donation, you can message us and follow us on Facebook at feministartistsofky.

Thank you for coming and we hope you enjoy our exhibit."

Amanda Peach, assistant library director is pleased to announce the following:

Berea student Florence Wright invites you to interact with her sculpture, Gaia’s Dream, currently housed in the lobby of Hutchins Library for this week only, November 15th - 19th. You may write directly on it or attach items to its trunk and/or branches, using glue, twine, tape, or staples. A box of supplies are housed next to the sculpture and is available immediately for you to use, but you are not limited to just those. You may add anything to the sculpture, as long as it is not wet/smelly/dirty.

Here is her artist statement:

Gaia’s Dream:

Gaia is the goddess of the Earth. She is a symbol of life on Earth, and she is used as a representation of the environmental activism movement.

Gaia’s Dream is a tree built entirely from recycled paper and plastic. I want for each viewer to find a way that they can contribute to this sculpture. The goal is to build something beautiful together as a community to bring awareness to the need for sustainability and waste minimization. Our sculpture is a collective work that belongs to the hands of the Berea community; use glue or string or staples to attach your own contribution. Feel free to use the flyer or program as your contribution or use biodegradable pigments to add something (ie. wax, natural pigments etc.)

The world is a dark place, but each step we take together to better it is a drop of light in an ocean of void.

Hutchins Library is pleased to announce "Feminist Expressions in Action", an art exhibit by  Berea College student Malaya Wright. The exhibit runs from August 23, 2021 through September 30, 2021. You can view the exhibit in the library's main floor on the center wall.

This event is free. However, due to COVID-19, Admission will be limited to Berea College faculty, staff, & students, and masks must be worn by all who attend.

The artist provided the following statement:

"I often question feminist theory; I ask: "How can we visualize these critiques? How can we navigate change?". These pieces are a response to my queries. Feminism addresses the uncomfortable - the muffled screams and fleeting glances. The whispers of change. I hope my art provides solace for the hushed and offers unabashedly bares nakedness to your soul. May you stare at them as they stare back at you."

There will be an artist talk and reception on Friday, September 3, 2021 from 4pm to 6pm. Light refreshments will be served. This event is free and open to the campus community.

This program has been funded by the Berea College Women and Gender Studies Program.

May's reference book of the Month:  Dictionary of Symbols.

This remarkable and wide-ranging book is an inventory of symbols and the symbolic imagination. The editors and their fifteen contributors are drawn from a variety of scholarly backgrounds--including anthropology, ethnology, psychotherapy and art history. This diversity of approach is responsible for the book's unique character, a reflection of the multiplicity of symbols and signs and the phenomenal range of possible interpretations they offer.

This book draws together folklore, literary and artistic sources, and focuses on the symbolic dimension of every color, number, sound, gesture, expression or character trait that has benefited from symbolic interpretation. The conscious and unconscious minds are explored, desire and dreams are treated alongside the known and the chronicled. Extraordinary in its range and eclecticism, this dictionary was originally published in French as the Dictionnaire des Symboles, and it is regarded as the standard work on the subject.

~ Recommended for students majoring in Art History~

Dictionary of Symbols This remarkable and wide-ranging book is an inventory of symbols and the symbolic imagination. The editors and their fifteen contributors are drawn from a variety of scholarly backgrounds--including anthropology, ethnology, psychotherapy and art history. This diversity of approach is responsible for the book's unique character, a reflection of the multiplicity of symbols and signs and the phenomenal range of possible interpretations they offer. This book draws together folklore, literary and artistic sources, and focuses on the symbolic dimension of every colour, number, sound, gesture, expression or character trait that has benefitted from symbolic interpretation. The conscious and unconscious minds are explored, desire and dreams are treated alongside the known and the chronicled. Extraordinary in its range and eclecticism, this dictionary was originally published in French as the Dictionnaire des Symboles, and it is regarded as the standard work on the subject. by Jean Chevalier; Alain Gheerbrant (Editor); John Buchanan-Brown (Translator)

Call Number: 302.222 C527d 1996

ISBN: 0140512543

Publication Date: 1997-03-01

This remarkable and wide-ranging book is an inventory of symbols and the symbolic imagination. The editors and their fifteen contributors are drawn from a variety of scholarly backgrounds--including anthropology, ethnology, psychotherapy and art history. This diversity of approach is responsible for the book's unique character, a reflection of the multiplicity of symbols and signs and the phenomenal range of possible interpretations they offer.

This book draws together folklore, literary and artistic sources, and focuses on the symbolic dimension of every colour, number, sound, gesture, expression or character trait that has benefitted from symbolic interpretation. The conscious and unconscious minds are explored, desire and dreams are treated alongside the known and the chronicled. Extraordinary in its range and eclecticism, this dictionary was originally published in French as the Dictionnaire des Symboles, and it is regarded as the standard work on the subject.

Hutchins Library is pleased to announce that Dr. Valeria Watkins will present her solo exhibit entitled "New Visions" during the month of February 2020. The exhibit of abstract art in celebration of Black History Month can be viewed in the main floor of Hutchins Library during library regular hours throughout the month of February.

In addition, there will be a reception with the artist on Thursday, February 6, 2020 from 4:30p to 6:00p in the library's main floor. Refreshments will be served. Come and meet the artist, ask questions and take some time to enjoy this great and colorful exhibit.

All events are free and open to the public.

Dr. Valeria Watkins submitted the following biographical and artistic statement to go with the exhibit:

Welcome to the 2020 celebration of Black History Month at the Hutchins Library Gallery at Berea College. A collection of 15 new, interesting and exciting Abstract Paintings are on display for the month.

This is the fifth solo exhibit by artist Valeria Watkins. This year’s collection is entitled “New Visions”. She uses bold, colorful acrylic paints to express the creative spirit. Usually, by using two to three colors she finds nit easy to express formless connections with the colors. The work is highly intuitive while invoking strong emotional connections with the images or colors.

It is still a challenge to allow the paints to be themselves as opposed to being something specific. So, take your time with each painting and get a feel for what the painting is saying to you. Everyone has a difference experience as they listen.

"A Joyful Noise" by Valeria Watkins. Acrylic on canvas

"Peaceful" by Valeria Watkins. Acrylic on canvas

Hutchins Library is hosting an exhibit of Lakota artifacts and cultural objects in the library's main floor during the month of April 2019. The exhibit is presented in conjunction with the college convocation "History and Culture of the Lakota" featuring speaker Vance Blacksmith on April 4, 2019. Exhibit can be viewed during regular library hours. It is free and open to the public.

Statement for Lakota Cultural Exhibit

Hide painting, from Lakota Cultural Exhibit

Hutchins Library is proud to announce that the Feminist Artists of Kentucky have set up a beautiful art display in the library's main floor. The display can be viewed during the month of March 2019 during regular library hours. The display serves to honor Women's History Month.

The artists provided the following short statement about the exhibit:

In recognition of Women’s History Month 2019, a new exhibit is on display at the Hutchins Library, Berea College for the entire month. The Feminist Artist of Kentucky are exhibiting their creativity by showing a range of individual talents and skills representing art through various mediums. The artist are six women who work collectively and individually to use their creative talents to engage in various forms of service projects and involvement locally, regionally and internationally that expresses art as social and political statements.

In addition, the artists will participate in an artist talk during a reception at the library. The reception details are as follows:

When: Thursday, March 14.

Time: 4:30pm to 6:pm

Where: Hutchins Library Main Floor

Refreshments will be provided. This event is free and open to the public.

Here are some photos from the exhibit: