The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) at Bradley University recently teamed up with a pair of local artists to create a custom piece of artwork for the Peoria Public Library. In a class entitled “Create an Art Installation for Public Viewing,” artists Barbie Perry and Jaci Musec worked with eight OLLI students who acted as studio assistants to bring the vision to life.
The output of their effort, a custom mobile-style piece of art, will hang in the Main Library atrium in downtown Peoria through July. Entitled “A Soothing Cascade - mOLLIfying Edges,” the piece was designed to soften the angular edges and utilitarian feel, bringing a feminine and ephemeral quality to the space. The OLLI students involved in its creation were Cris Potthoff, Mimi Evans, Laura Nelson, Jana Maxwell, Melody Delzell, Jayne Ferguson, Carol Romanowski and Ken Ferrino.
Karla Wilkinson, who manages the Main Library’s gallery installations, notes that the library atrium was designed with the idea of hanging artwork. “We’ve had some beautiful pieces in the past… but one reason we’re so excited about this is that it was such a community project,” Wilkinson says. “Not only is the look unique and custom-made for us, but with Barbie and Jaci doing this as part of an OLLI class, it brings education into the mix, which is what libraries are all about.” peoriapubliclibrary.org PM
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