Presentation Title: From Overlooked to Understood: Rediscovering Art in the Library

Presenter(s): Aryn Prestia

Abstract: Noticing that not much is known about the artwork that adorns the walls of the 100 year old private school library where I work, I began the process of creating an online database through AirTable to catalog the pieces. Using in-house archive records and online research databases such as ArtStor,  I researched and wrote a short artist biography, acquisition information, and other notable findings for each piece of art to add to the database entry for each piece. The sculptures, posters, photographs, and original oil paintings now have a permanent digital home online for future staff members to view. To maintain the requested privacy and anonymity of some donors, a limited version is being built for student use. Until that is complete, I have been designing and writing up small informational placards to place near each piece of artwork to allow students to learn more about the piece.

While many of the pieces tie back to the earlier years of the school more than a century of the world, modern tools like AirTable and Canva are allowing the pieces to take on new life. ”

Link to Recorded Presentation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QXJpLGu0f7Y