2007 Yale Library Staff Art Exhibit

Each summer, the Library Staff Association organizes an exhibit of art by Yale Library staff members. This internal library forum for the arts was originally introduced by the M&PSA in 1998. For almost a decade this event has supported artists in the library system by showcasing their amazing talents and artistic abilities.

By hosting this exhibit in the library, the show encourages staff members to submit their photography, paintings, drawings, sewing's, sculpture, crafts, and other creative works for display in Sterling Memorial Library. This event enriches the creative environment in the library and fosters growth in individual artists as well as with co-workers through a general appreciation for the arts and crafts.

Participants:

Artist: Anthony Riccio
Department: Access Services
Title: Women's Table Reflection
Medium: Photographic Print
Artist’s Background:                              
Anthony Riccio grew up in New Haven’s Annex section, a working class neighborhood where the steady hum from
the local American Steel and Wire factory could be heard in the well-tended backyard gardens of Italian immigrants.
Anthony received his M.A from Syracuse University in Florence when he traveled throughout the south, documenting
small village life and "il senso di quotidianita," or the deeply-rooted ritual of daily life in black and white photographs.

Returning home in the late 70’s he became the director of the North End Senior Citizen Center in the heart of Boston’s
North End, one of the last intact Italian American neighborhoods in the United States. He interviewed and photographed
community elders in oral history sessions and published, “Portrait of an Italian American Neighborhood: The North End
of Boston” in 1998.

In 2006 he wrote his second book, “The Italian American Experience in New Haven: Images and Oral Histories,” a
collection of oral history interviews and his photographs of Italian American elders from New Haven’s old neighborhoods.
The book begins with stories of life in Italy at the turn of the century and ends in the late 50s with tragic stories of
neighborhood loss when the city destroyed its ethnic neighborhoods during the urban renewal project of the 1950s.

Anthony is working on a women’s working history, “The Italian American Women in the Sweatshops and Factories of
New Haven.” www.anthonyriccio.com

Artist: Kari Swanson
Department: Kline Science
Title: Caitie
Medium: Painting from Digital Photograph
Artist's Background:
I have been teaching myself children’s portrait photography for about a year.  I enjoy creating “pixel paintings” using Corel Painter 
from photographs I have taken.

Artist: Ewa Duszkiewicz
Department: SML Cataloging
Medium: Book Binding

Artist: Betty Whittemore and Aletia Garvey Department: Medical Library Medium: Counted Cross Stitch Artist's Background: Aletia has taught herself to do wonderful handicrafts. Her work is impeccable and very detailed. Since I have so many different crafts started and “almost finished” I asked Aletia to help me finish some of them.

Artist: Robert Babcock Department: Beinecke Library Title: Spice Cabinet Medium: 17th Century Oak Artist's Background: During my college years I was apprenticed to a cabinet maker. I make furniture in 17th and 18th century American styles for my home.

Artist: Karen Nangle Department: Beinecke Library Title: Yale Collages Medium: Mixed Media Artist's Background: B.A. Vassar College in History of Art Foundation Courses in Studio Art at Parsons School of Design
Life Member of The Art Students League NYC
These collages are part of a project I started when I began working at Yale full-time. My goal was to complete one work a day for a year. I succeeded. The resulting 365 pieces were exhibited at the 2006 City Wide Open Studios, hung with clothespins from clothesline.

Artist: Rebecca Hatcher Department: Manuscripts & Archives, SML Title: Keyhole Cable Socks Medium: Wool Knitting Artist's Background: I’ve been knitting since I was in elementary school and creating my own designs since college. I particularly enjoy socks for the balance of freedom (they’re small, so it’s easy to try something new) and limits (they need to fit a human foot). Here, I played with the interaction of the straight lines of the plain ribs with the curves of the cables.

Artist: Elizabeth Duenkel Department: Kline Science Title: Piggy Pitcher Medium: Glass Artist's Background: I was educated at Southern Connecticut State College 1977-1979, during that period I studied Glassblowing. Glassblowing is still one occupation that involves an apprenticeship program in many instances. I apprenticed at Hergisvil Glass Works in Hergisvil, Switzerland. After one and one half years I returned to New Haven and began, with my partner Conrad, to build Fair Haven Glass. Fair Haven Glass has been blowing since 1990. Conrad is the main gaffer and I am often his assistant. This piece "The Piggy Pitcher" was collaboration between the two of us. http://fairhavenglass.com/

Artist: Betty Whittemore Department: Medical Library Medium: Quilt - machine sewn and quilted in the ditch Artist's Background: As far as quilting, crocheting, knitting, sewing,counted cross stitching – learned at my grandmother’s side as I grew up. She taught me everything she knew. I have taught a crocheting class during lunch.

Artist: Charles Summa Department: Arts Library Subject: Photographs of India Medium: Color and black & white photographs from film negatives. Artist's Background: Education: University of Connecticut: BA and MA, Philosophy Yale University: Special student, Religious studies, Photography Department, informal study and auditing. Other interests: travel, book collecting, architecture and urban environments, financial markets.

Artist: Kelly Ann Perry Department: Medical Library Title: Untitled Medium: Photography Artist's Background: I grew up in Maine with several photography enthusiasts in my family, leading me not only to seek a position behind the camera rather than in front of it, but also lead me to take both a photography class, as well as an independent study in high school. To make a very, very, very long story short, I’ve been in New Haven for almost ten years, having transferred from Lyndon State in Vermont to Southern Connecticut State University. After I graduated in 2000, I decided I liked this place enough to stick around for a while, which was just as well, because I began work at the Cushing/Whitney Medical Library in 2003.

Artist: Amanda Patrick Department: SML Development Title: Window of the Soul Medium: Colored pencil and mixed media Artist's Background: Amanda Patrick was born and raised in Yorkshire, England. From an early age, she loved drawing, often expressing her feelings and thoughts through her art. After graduating from university in the UK, Amanda went on to work in Africa for several years and consequently much of her work reflects the beauty and challenges of life in Africa, as well as expressing her own passions and convictions. Amanda's dream has been to find a way, not only of creating art which carries real depth and meaning, but producing something that can also have a positive and practical impact in the developing world. As a result, a percentage of all art sold or any piece commissioned is donated to a childrens’ home in Nairobi, Kenya which rescues abandoned babies with HIV. http://www.greatcommissionart.com/essentials.htm http://www.newlifehometrust.org

Artist: David Lavorgna Department: Web, Workstation, & Digital Consulting Services, SML Title: Basura Solamente Medium: Multi-media Artist's Background: Born and raised in Hamden, CT. Arrived at Yale August 25, 1997 (Yale Center for British Art) and November 15, 2004 at Sterling Memorial Library. A struggling
musician, artist, actor, comic, writer, geek, portmanteau morphemologist – and now, struggling computer support specialist.

Artist: George Moore Department: Medical Library Title: Untitled Medium: Photographs Artist's Background: George W Moore is an award winning filmmaker and photographer. His work has been published in the New Haven Register and the New Haven Advocate. He has given numerous exhibitions and has been on display at The Atlantic Gallery and The John Slade Ely House as part of group exhibitions with the Photo Arts Collective. He purchased his first camera at the age of sixteen from the now defunct Fair Haven Camera shop.

Artist: Melissa VanTine Department: Medical Library Title: Flying South Medium: Watercolor Artist's Background: I have worked for Yale for over a year. I am currently working on my MLS degree. I have a MS in horticulture and an undergraduate degree in agriculture with a minor in art. I enjoy creating and I like to dabble in a variety of mediums.

Artist: Susan Jaffe Department: Business Office, SML Other: Activities with My Shelties Artist's Background: I got my first Shetland Sheepdog in 1970 and it’s been a love affair ever since. I have dabbled in obedience, agility & conformation with my dogs who have received numerous titles in each venue over the years. Then we found herding and we’ve never looked back. My dogs at this stage only herd ducks or sheep but more advanced dogs can also herd cattle. There are a couple of organizations which hold herding trials starting in the spring through the fall months. The course consists of panels set up at certain spots. The handler directs the dog who herds the stock through the panels. The score is based on time & accuracy. There are many websites that can be looked at for more information. If anyone would like to attend a trial go to www.northeastherdinginfo.com for a calendar.

Artist: Yasmin A. Ramadan Department: Electronic Collections Title: Albertus Magnus College Medium: Black & White Photo Artist's Background: I took these images when I was taking a photography class at Albertus in the spring of 2006.

Artist: Van-Yen Huynh Department: Preservation Title: Harmony Medium: Quilt Artist's Background: Born in Vietnam, I learned to sew in Elementary School. I have been working at Yale University Library since July 1970. My hobbies include gardening, hand quilting, watercolor, and woodcut.

Artist: Kathleen Burns Department: Beinecke Library Title: Flown and Reversed Medium: Embroidery Artist's Background: Kathleen Burns has a B.A. in History from Yale University, and a Joint Masters degree in Library Science and Archival Studies from the University of British Columbia. Working together with her fiancé, Christopher Sleboda (Yale MFA ’03) under the moniker Gluekit, they have produced a number of playful projects that investigate three and two-dimensional space, design motifs, fragments, textiles, and the flexibility of language and representation. Gluekit’s work has been published in a number of arts magazines, including The Drama, Faesthetic, and Exit Strategy. Work by Gluekit will also be featured in an upcoming book on hand drawn type due out in the fall from Princeton Architectural Press, and in Contemporary Graphic Design, out on Taschen in August. Burns and Sleboda will be launching “Part of It” [www.partofit.com] in Summer 2007, an international charitable t-shirt boutique (“not for profit, for change”), which will highlight and donate funds to causes identified by participating designers Genevieve Gauckler (France), Jeremyville (Australia), Dustin Hostetler / UPSO (U.S.), Michael Perry (U.S.), and Ryan Waller (U.S.). http://www.gluekit.com http://www.partofit.org

Artist: Alicja Jedrzejewski Department: Law Library Title: Sunflower pickers; Mountain summer Medium: Canvas and acrylic Other: Necklaces made of glass beads and crocheted wire. Artist's Background: Alicja works in the Law School Library. She has 25 years of work experience in the Yale library system. Some of the skills presented in her pieces are from class instruction (design, painting, and calligraphy). She enjoys using different colors schemes to present a mood or sense of movement in her pieces.

Artist: Jerry Anne Dickel Department: Hebraica Team, SML Title: 1) Reflections, Vienna 2) Fountain, Vienna Medium: Photograph Artist's Background: I was born and grew up in New Jersey. I was a painting major at Syracuse University and graduated in 1976. I moved to New Haven in 1989, and have been working at Yale Library for 7 years. These photographs come from a trip to Vienna with the American Chamber Orchestra in 2005.

Artist: Brian Kiss Department: Access Services, SML Title: Afternoon Silhouette Medium: Digital Photograph Artist's Background: I began making photos in college. After school I did not have access to a darkroom and thus did not use my cameras for a few years. Shortly thereafter I found how simple and low cost digital imaging is. I bought a digital camera three years ago and have been very active once again in making photos.