Celebrating Diversity

LGBT History Month Library Exhibition

February 2012

Anne-Marie Hayes

Subject Librarian: Art & Design and Media & Communication

Since it opened in 2000 the Lanchester Library has displayed work by staff and students from Coventry School of Art & Design, Coventry University, however we had never held an exhibition before

Background to the exhibition• In June 2011 I attended The Artist in the Library a one day conference held

at UEL University of East London, organised by Arlis UK & Ireland (Art Libraries Society)

• Speakers from UEL, University of the West of England, Lancaster University and The New Art Gallery, Walsall discussed their innovative exhibition projects

• Inspired by this event I decided to make an exhibition project one of my objectives for 2011-2012

• Suzanne White and Lisa Lawrence, Library Diversity Champions, wanted to hold an event in the Library to celebrate and raise awareness of LGBT History Month, which takes place every year in February. The idea of organising an exhibition was suggested

Organising the exhibition• November 2011 - initial meeting with Suzanne and Lisa and confirmed that

Caroline Rock, the University Librarian, supported the project• December 2011 - contacted academic staff in the Coventry School of Art &

Design (CSAD) to inform them of the exhibition and ask for their support• December 2011 - publicised the exhibition to students in CSAD via the

Student Portal and by email inviting them to a meeting in January 2012 • January 2012 – 12 students came to the meeting from Fine Art, Illustration &

Graphics, Photography and Media Production. Some brought images of their work. Students filled in a form with their contact details and information about the type of work they wished to exhibit. It was explained to students that we would publicise the exhibition and produce a small catalogue

• January 2012 - I met with the students to see the actual pieces and to decide where in the Library the work would be exhibited. Three students produced films, showings were arranged as timed events in a room in the Library

Organising the exhibition

Publicity• With the help of my colleague Gill Evans,• Subject Librarian Performing Arts, we worked

with with staff from Print and Graphic Services to • produce a poster for the exhibition• Posters were sited in the Library, CSAD,

other other University Faculty buildings, the Hub • and the Herbert Art Gallery • Flyers were also produced to publicise the

films film showings

Organising the exhibition – The Catalogue

• We asked the students to provide an image of their work, a statement and a photograph of themselves for the exhibition catalogue

• The catalogue was designed by staff in Marketing & Communications at Coventry University in collaboration with myself and Gill

The ExhibitionMarta Kochane – BA Hons Photography

John Yeadon

Violetta Jara - Fine Art

Violetta Jara – Fine Art

Violetta Jara – Fine Art

Emilia Moniszko – Fine ArtPlayground

Elizbieta Walczyk – Fine ArtForms of Ways

Megan Jeffs – Illustration and GraphicsUntitled

Reece Kennedy – Fine ArtUntitled #3

Reece’s statement

“With these pieces I wanted to explore the history of LGBT culture looking at its past and the people who have famously been part of its community. I chose screen printing for the ‘mass produced’ nature of its format. The jumbled black text represents a lack of intellect which the viewer can openly engage with and resolve; this battles the bold red borders extending far beyond the paper’s edge. The pieces represent a kind of visceral poster based on the taxonomy of the building. The sea of letters are the un-spaced surnames of people I’d researched chosen for their contribution to their field of work and the recognition they received”.

Jade Savill – Fine Art1942

Bethany Ray – Fine Art & IllustrationUntitled #1

Bethany Ray – Fine Art & IllustrationUntitled #2

Bethany’s statement

“These four works were made especially for this exhibition. The emphasis of the pieces is on language and word play, providing a humorous outlook on issues with a turbulent history. By using words with derogatory connotations but in a phrase with a double meaning, I sought to make people question the use of these words and their impact on those that might have the words used against them. It is my belief that language should be used to celebrate rather than depreciate. I chose to cross-stitch these phrases because this method is linked to crafts and a sense of innocence and homeliness, whereas the phrases themselves are rather crass and rude”.

Escaping the ClosetA film by Emma Fielder and Jenny Sheen - Media Production

A short documentary that tackles the subject of suicide of young people within the LGBT community featuring the accounts of two students, who show that “it gets better”

Feedback “It was good to see not just the LGBT Society and the SU getting involved

with history month but the library willing to help too. From me and members looking around the artwork it really did help to show a different side to the LGBT community other than that seen stereotypically. The library itself is an incredibly high-demand place on campus. The art work displayed was tasteful, thought provoking and provided an ideal opportunity for art students to exhibit their work (with no cost but high impact) and helping to raise awareness around issues that face / challenge members of the LGBT community or those that define as LGBT.

As president of Coventry University Student Union’s LGBT Society, myself and the committee would like to thank the library for its support”

Adam Simmonds