Art in the Libraries celebrates 10 years of impact
Art in the Libraries (AiL) began from a vision for WVU Libraries’ future as a vibrant hub of local and University art.
Libraries offer distinct spaces for gathering and learning, and AiL capitalizes on the natural link that ties art and libraries together — being incubators for ideas that stimulate conversation, inquiry, discovery and reflection.
“I feel fortunate to have been a member of the Art in the Libraries Committee since its inception. The breadth of exhibits means there’s always something interesting to see, from beautiful art works to collaborative exhibits on contemporary themes,” said Beth Royall, WVU Libraries university librarian and original AiL Committee member. “Curator Sally Brown continues to bring together the creative and scholarly work of faculty and students from across the University and beyond, generating fascinating exhibits and engaging discussions.”
Throughout the 10 years since its inception, AiL has enriched connections across disciplines that build bridges between WVU Libraries’ collections, library services and new ways of seeing, learning and understanding. Developing exhibits and related programming, AiL highlights the creative endeavors and scholarship of WVU faculty, staff and students, reaching across campus, the Appalachian region and the broader academic community.
Now under the guidance of Dean of WVU Libraries Karen Diaz and AiL Curator Sally Brown, with advisement from the AiL Committee, this commitment remains strong, ensuring the Libraries continue to thrive as vibrant hubs of artistic expression, cultural enrichment and visual displays of scholarship and social issues.
Art In the Libraries Retrospective: 2015-2024
In the fall of 2024, AiL celebrated 10 years of impact with the “WVU Art in the Libraries Retrospective: 2015- 2024” exhibit and a multidisciplinary panel launch event. Like the exhibit, the panelists and their discussion at the public launch event explored a broad spectrum of pertinent subjects, from addressing environmental concerns to exploring food justice, ethics, voting, healthcare, contemporary art, literature and more.
Their contributions and the exhibit represent the best of the AiL initiative and celebrate its impact on the campus, community and beyond. Embodying the University’s focus on prosperity, AiL has opened opportunities that empower and inspire individuals and communities to reach their full potential and will continue to do so into 2025 and beyond.
“WVU Art in the Libraries Retrospective: 2015-2024” was on display at the Downtown Library in Morgantown for the 2024-25 academic year and will travel to the WVU Institute of Technology Library in Beckley for the 2025-26 academic year. See for yourself the retrospective exhibit that spans disciplines, fosters interactivity and speaks to the pivotal role of the humanities.
The full exhibition can also be found on the WVU Research Repository at researchrepository.wvu.edu/retrospective2015-2024.
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2014
A Vision is Born
Former Dean of WVU Libraries Jon E. Cawthorne, PhD (2014-17), envisioned transforming the Morgantown campus libraries into vibrant hubs of local and University art.
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2015-2016
Availing Libraries and Its Multifaceted Spaces
AiL began by using WVU Libraries spaces for enriching connections across disciplines with engaging exhibits, serving as an incubator for ideas that stimulate conversation, inquiry, discovery and reflection.
“Anglerfish Ovary Cross-Section,” by James E. Hayden, The Wistar Instit ute, Philadelphia. From the National Institute of General Medical Science’s visiting “Life: Magnified” collection.
Photograph from exhibit “Fractured Spaces: Stories of Resistance and Resilience” by journalist and WVU Reed School of Media and Communications faculty member Lois Raimondo.
Painting by Max Hayslette, romantic landscape painter and abstract expressionist, from the West Virginia & Regional History Center (WVRHC) collection.
Dean of the Libraries Award
Since 2015, AiL has annually awarded two WVU art students the Dean of the Libraries’ Award, which includes a monetary prize and an exhibition opportunity.
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2017
Amplifying Student Success via AiL
AiL became a pillar for strengthening student engagement and success by fostering academic partnerships with colleges and units like the College of Creative Arts and Media and the WVRHC.
Art students used photos from the WVRHC archives as inspiration to paint pieces for an exhibit about the Russian Revolution and its 100th anniversary.
Photo (background) of Russians shopping in 1962 courtesy of WVRHC and a resulting student painting (top right).
Sculpture, chemistry and engineering students from across the country came together to brainstorm, design and build artistic representations of a scientific concept, which were then displayed at Evansdale Library .
Images of Community Engagement in Science through Art (CESTA) sculpture “D4H,” a 2017 study of molecule shape and symmetry.
“It was fantastic to work with students in a cross-disciplinary environment. In truth, Art in the Libraries saved the CESTA Program! The Libraries provided a space and exposure for the student artists.”
JASON LEE, Bernard Schultz Endowed Professor in Art, Sculpture and Foundations, School of Art and Design, WVU College of Creative Arts and Media
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2018
Launch of the Multidisciplinary Feature
AiL embarked on a journey to feature multidisciplinary scholarship each year with guidance from a subject matter expert committee of WVU and regional scholars, artists and community members.
The first multidisciplinary feature exhibit was “Water: A Cross-disciplinary Exhibit Exploring the Significance, Power and Play of Life’s Critical Resource,” an educational project to help spread awareness about stormwater management.
Image of displays and boat installation for “Water” exhibit by Adventure WV.
Faculty/ Staff Award
Since 2018, AiL has annually awarded one WVU faculty or staff member for their art and/ or scholarship. Exhibit winners span disciplines and topics, including biology, dime novels, culture, gaming, origami, education and art.
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2019
Multidisciplinary Feature: “Appalachian Futures” was the second multidisciplinary feature exhibit, advancing important conversations about what it means to be Appalachian.
Design by David Smith, teaching associate professor, WVU Reed School of Media and Communications.
Students: Associate Professor of Fashion Design and Merchandising Colleen Moretz’s students filled the Evansdale Library’s second floor with mannequins sporting original 2019 fashion designs.
Images of students and their original fashion designs. -
2020
AiL Goes Virtual
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, AiL went virtual, expanding the reach of its exhibits by producing online versions for people to enjoy from wherever they are.
“If there was an upside to the pandemic, it's that it showed the resourcefulness, the flexibility and the adaptability of our students, accessibility service providers, staff, faculty and cultural programs like Art in the Libraries.”
NICOLE FULLER, Captioner, Office of Student Accommodations, WVU
Multidisciplinary Feature: “Undefeated: Canvas(s)ing the Politics of Voter Suppression Since Women’s Suffrage” highlighted the 100th anniversary of the ratification of the 19th amendment to the U.S. Constitution and the 55th anniversary of the Voting Rights Act of 1965.
Screenshot of the digital version of “Undefeated: Canvas(s)ing the Politics of Voter Suppression Since Women’s Suffrage” exhibit. Cover image designs on website by (left to right) Kim Holt, Eve Faulkes and Travis Williamson.
Button design by Peter Zierlein. -
2021-2022
Renewed Focus Rooted in Social Activism
AiL sought to demonstrate how art, libraries and scholars encourage the community to explore, reflect, discuss and act.
Multidisciplinary Feature: “Food Justice in Appalachia,” was curated in partnership with the WVU Center for Resilient Communities’ Food Justice Lab and Appalachian Farm Collective and explored a multilayered, complex social movement in Appalachia.
Painting by GA Valera.
New Exhibit: The “West Virginia People of Color in Healthcare,” exhibit was created to look at the past, present and future of West Virginia healthcare with historical imagery and text, current perspectives and WVU initiatives and more.
Photo (left) of Dr. Mildred Mitchell-Bateman, courtesy of the WVRHC. Photo (right) of Shelia Price, DDS, EdD, Professor and Associate Dean for Admissions, Recruitment and Access, WVU School of Dentistry (retired).
Students: Funded by Women of WVU and in partnership with the WVRHC, the Inclusive Portrait Project was launched to create three portraits to be painted by WVU arts students or recent graduates.
Photo of Dean of WVU Libraries Karen Diaz (left) with Anna Allen (BFA, 2021) and Allen’s portrait of Victorine Louistall Monroe, the first known Black female to earn a graduate degree from WVU and the University’s first Black faculty member. She taught library science.
Multidisciplinary Feature: “Indigenous Appalachia,” curated in partnership with the WVU Native American Studies Program, encourages observing, listening, feeling, reflecting and questioning.
Image of “Indigenous Appalachia” exhibit displays.
Graduate Student Award
Since 2022, AiL has annually awarded one graduate student each year for their art and/or scholarship. Exhibit winners span disciplines and topics, including literature, digital media, microbiology, ecology, engineering and agriculture.
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2023-2024
Reflecting on 10 Years of Impact
“We have shown that libraries are more than just books — they’re vibrant incubators for ideas that spark conversation, curiosity and reflection. The AiL program transforms these spaces into dynamic areas, connecting students, faculty, staff and the larger WVU community to the Libraries’ collections in new, exciting ways,” WVU AiL Curator Sally Brown said.
Multidisciplinary Feature: “Hacking the Library” was curated to explore the ability to deconstruct and reconstruct information systems.
Art by Jackie Andrews.
Students: Caroline Blumish (MA, Professional Writing, 2023) researched and created the “Banned Books” exhibit on the history of banned books in North America.
Design made from “Banned Books” exhibit.
Multidisciplinary Feature: “WVU Art in the Libraries Retrospective: 2015-2024” was curated in collaboration with the WVU Humanities Center to illustrate and celebrate 10 years of exhibits and programs across the three Morgantown campus libraries, showcasing their scope and impact on the campus and community.
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2025
Moving Toward New, Exciting Engagements
AiL continues to create more engaging exhibits and initiatives that challenge perspectives, deepen understandings and encourage everyone to experience the intersection of art, learning and discovery. Plans for the coming year include new collaborative initiatives such as the West Virginia Feminist Activist Collection Artist in Residency (FAIR) program, a feature exhibition with a focus on artificial intelligence, continued student engagement projects, annual award programs and traveling exhibits. Follow WVU Libraries and WVU AiL so you don’t miss another great year.