During Homecoming week, the Welshimer Library at Milligan hosts a showcase featuring art created by using books. The Stampede sat down with Jude Morrissey, the user services librarian, who oversees the showcase this year.
Q: When did the Book Art event start?
A: We began Book+Art in 2013, so we are now on our 5th annual Book+Art event! We thought it was a wonderful way for the library to engage Milligan College students, faculty and staff, as well as alumni coming in for Homecoming. It also serves, we think, as a nice fall complement to our Spring Edible Books Festival.
Q: What is the purpose of the event?
A: We are well aware that books can outlive their usefulness, for various reasons. Some, like well-loved novels, simply wear out from too much handling. Children’s books often get shown extra love by kids who decide to add their own illustrations, which can sadly leave them unreadable. Others contain outdated information and should be replaced by current editions–medical books from 20 years ago, for instance, can actually be more dangerous than helpful! Still others are no longer relevant for technological reasons–periodical guides, for example, have been replaced by database search engines, which are honestly so much easier to use. For whatever reason, then, these books no longer fit in our collections. We wanted a way to celebrate what books mean to us and to encourage others to express their love and appreciation for books by transforming these books, which have served us well but no longer do, into something beautiful (or, at least, interesting)!
Q: How has the event changed from the previous years?
A: We have not actually changed the event itself much, although we do find new ways to encourage participants and provide some inspiration. Every year, we have provided the basic raw material–books and periodicals that outlived their usefulness and are ready to be made into something marvelous! This year, we have also provided a station with stencils, colored pencils, pages pre-cut to origami size, etc., so that those feeling a bit hesitant can play with some of the ways books can be turned into art. We have also posted some inspirational examples from other participants over the years, to show how wide the possibilities are, and we’re excited to see what new forms people come up with.
Q: Is there anything else you would like to add?
A: There’s still plenty of time to create something for this year’s event! Entries will be displayed beginning on Friday, October 27, and we’ll finish up on Thursday, November 2. We hope everyone gets a chance to come over and check out the artwork, too–it’s very neat to see up close how much love was put into each piece. Entries will also be posted on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and our blog–so if you can’t make it to the library, make sure you’re following us online!