Issue date: 11/30/07 Section: News

Media Credit: Kyle Hampton Photography major Guadalupe Romero is inspired to take pictures on Thurs., Nov. 29. [Click to enlarge]

Media Credit: Kyle Hampton Held by a single limb on a tree, 12 books symbolically hang in the grassy area near the transit center on campus. [Click to enlarge]

Usually students are accompanied by their fellow classmates or squirrels while relaxing on the fields near the Riverfront Center. Little did they know that they would exhibit a mysterious art display of books hanging from a tree.

"It's very interesting and creative. It makes you stop and look at it," said Guadalupe Romero, graphic design major.

Some of the books hanging from the tree include: "Under the Sea Wind," "Gravity and Grace," "Coming through Slaughter," and "Running in the Family."

Many students had different interpretations as to what the art piece symbolized.

One student believed that the artwork represented the environment.

"It's art that I've never seen before. I like how it conforms to the environment," said Melanie Pemberton, psychology major. "Like when the wind blows or people mess with it, the books move like it's part of the tree."

One student said that the books were open to a specific page that represented why the books were hanging from a tree.

"When I got here, the books were all open to a page, but the wind and people were messing with it's hard to find out," said Cindy Shimkus, interior design major.

Another student believed that there was a racist connotation behind the artwork. A book, which he believed dealt with racism, symbolized the hate crimes blacks went through in history.

No one has taken credit for the artwork and many students said that they didn't see anyone hanging the books.

Students also could not recall a time in which the artwork may have been displayed. Some said they saw the display as early as 10 a.m., while others said the art was put up a little bit after 4 p.m.

Although students could not determine the meaning and the time of the display, they do agree that the piece is interesting.

"Students have been stopping and taking pictures all day. It really opens your mind and broadens your horizon," Shimkus said.

Charles Weinstein can be reached at cweinstein@statehornet.com.

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