Art & design students, faculty bring a new view of trees to McIntyre Library

Jyl Kelley, professor of art and design, has designed a stained-glass mosaic window display in McIntyre Library with several student assistants and volunteers. While Kelley completed the concept and designs for the panels, the role of students has been to work with her to create, lay out and install these mosaic designs inspired by trees. Wanrudee Buranakorn, professor emerita of art, is volunteering to assist with the project.

The student assistants are: 

• Will Horohoe, a senior integrated visual arts major from Manitowoc.
• Haylee Schreiber, a senior integrated visual arts major form Edgar.
• Sarah Warren, a senior integrated visual arts major form Lear Lake, Minnesota. 

Kelley says the mosaic imagery "celebrates ideals relevant to the library space, plus has a beneficial and clean component while coexisting with and honoring nature."

"With this proposed two-piece mosaic mural, visitors can partake in the decor and celebrate their natural surroundings," Kelley says. "UW-Eau Claire exists where it is, in part, because of our forests, water and other natural resources. Since the library is losing its view of the river and surrounding trees, this design brings a new vision of trees to the space."

For Schreiber, the opportunity to work on this project since July 1 has been both a learning process and a rewarding expression of her creativity and skill as an artist. 

"I was very excited about this opportunity to work with the community to create a public art exhibit," Schreiber says. "My hope is once these panels are installed, students and faculty will take time to find our mosaics, learn about the ecosystems that inspired them and find their own inspiration to take from them."

McIntyre Library director Jill Markgraf is looking forward to this new art installation and says she is grateful that the artist community on campus always keeps their building in mind for places to showcase public art.

“What I appreciate most about these collaborations are the artists’ abilities to see the possibilities in our building. They take ordinary spaces and make them extraordinary," Markgraf says. “The panels will be installed in the windows of a popular first-floor study area overlooking the campus quad, where they can be enjoyed by people both in the building and outside. Thanks to the work of Jyl, her art colleagues and art students, McIntyre Library is becoming an art destination.”

The project is funded by the Office of Research and Sponsored Programs, art & design department and a grant from the UW-Eau Claire Foundation. 

Explore the series of images below for an introduction to the upcoming installation.