hamersly library – The Western Howl

April 2, 2025

Written by: Sadie Latimer | News Editor

With springtime just around the corner, ‘tis the season to start the term with a fresh mindset. A good mindset can be cultivated by many factors, including staying organized, sticking to a routine and having a designated spot for work.

Organize one’s space — Having an organized room is crucial for the start of a term. It is much easier to focus on classes and other important things if supplies are readily available. In my experience, having an organized space helps declutter my own mind. I become more focused and productive when my surroundings match that mindset. It can be very easy for an area to become disorganized, so one should try to take a little bit of time each day to make sure that everything is back in its correct place.

Create a routine — Make sure to know one’s class schedule in order to plan meals, study time and other events around it. I like to dedicate at least one hour a day outside of class to productivity, for things like checking emails, performing chores or doing that task that I’ve been putting off for a while. I also try to make time to be active, whether it’s going to the gym, doing yoga in the comfort of my room or going on a walk around campus. Don’t forget to carve out time for rest and relaxation. It’s important to remember that what works best for someone might not work for others. Taking a nap or relaxing in between classes might be a great idea for one person, but personally, naps make me unmotivated and groggy for the rest of the day. Figure out what works best for oneself, then try to stick with it for the whole term.

Find a good study spot — Beds are for sleeping, not studying. It may be tempting to write an essay or study for an exam from the comfort of one’s own bed, however, research shows that it may be harder to fall asleep if people do homework or scroll on their phone in bed. Studying outside is a great alternative, especially with the warmer weather of spring. My favorite outdoor spots are the Grove, the tables outside the Richard Woodcock Education Center and Main Street Park in Monmouth. When the weather isn’t ideal for an outdoor study session, Hamersly Library or one’s favorite cafe are great alternatives. If certain spots are only used for studying, one can trick their brain into being in a productive mood by simply going to that spot.

Contact the author at howlnews@mail.wou.edu

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“Patterns in Nature”

March 5, 2025

Written by: Sadie Latimer | News Editor

A new art exhibition, “Patterns in Nature,” was created by Jennifer Bracy, an art and design professor at Western. It was put on display Feb. 20 and will run through March 21. Located on the second floor of Hamersly Library, the exhibition stays true to its title, depicting many patterns that are commonly found in the natural world.

Bracy has been a professor at Western for 16 years. She created the exhibition while on sabbatical.

“I just look at (the exhibition) and it feels very rewarding,” Bracy said. “I made a lot, I accomplished a lot. I was productive, but also I was ready to get back in the classroom and was feeling refreshed and rejuvenated.”

Seven years prior, while on another sabbatical, Bracy created a set of works also inspired by nature’s patterns, however, she knew that she wanted to explore deeper within that subject.

“Patterns in Nature” contains many series of works, with some being deliberately planned and others being more spontaneous.

Bracy explored techniques, specifically in print-making, that were experimental or non-traditional. One thing that surprised her while creating this exhibition was how many different tools she could experiment with, including a potato masher and foam rollers wrapped with bubble wrap or string.

Bracy wanted play and experimentation to be the driving force. “Some whole series in here came about just through play. No plan, no idea, no research necessarily.”

Contrarily, Bracy has researched and planned out many of the other works.

“I really enjoy the research part of things, like learning more about what those patterns reveal, what nature can do, how efficient it is or how strong it is, or how good it is at adapting … these are all things that kind of show up when you start looking at those patterns,” Bracy said.

One pattern that Bracy researched was the connection of opposites, such as the pattern of DNA.

“The DNA helix is actually a pairing of opposites. This idea of nature putting things — opposites — together and it forming something incredibly meaningful or useful, it’s just one of thousands of ways we as humans can learn,” Bracy said. “We are more divided than ever right now. There’s so much we can learn in that lesson of acknowledging that we are connected and working through those differences and figuring out how to go forward anyway.”

At the heart of the exhibition is the series that inspired the name “Patterns in Nature.” It includes six works of art with different patterns, each accompanied by a homophone pair — two words with the same pronunciation but with different spellings and meanings.

One piece in the series showcases the words “hours” and “ours,” with concentric circles to represent the rings of a tree. “They represent time passing and growth. ‘Ours’ speaks to the arrogance of humanity and thinking nature is our domain, we own it, we can do what we want with it.”

Bracy’s favorite homophone pair in the series is “vein” and “vain,” which is shown with branching patterns similar to the veins in leaves or the veins in humans. “Vain” refers again to humanity’s hubris and arrogance.

Another series surrounding words and typography, titled “Wordcraft,” is viewer interactive. It was Bracy’s way of letting the viewer experiment and play, just as she did while creating the series. Each work in the series is color coded to distinguish prefixes, base words and suffixes. Viewers can create new words by making different combinations of the fragments of words.

Words are an area of interest that Bracy finds fascinating, often incorporating them into her works, just as she incorporates her other passions into her art.

“The subjects that creep back in recurrently are nature, especially from an environmental standpoint, how humans mess it up and other things related to social justice. So I do look at art and design as a way to talk about important things,” Bracy said.

The technical aspect of the exhibition that Bracy is most proud of is the incorporation of thread and cross stitch. She loves “the symbolism of something being stitched, the idea of a thread in the work as a theme, the idea of interconnectedness.” The thread in “Patterns in Nature” shows how humans and nature are intertwined.

Bracy used thread to create topographic maps in a series about climate change. The six small pieces of art that make up the series distinctively stand out in “Patterns in Nature.” According to Bracy, “it’s a more overt statement about our interfering and messing up with nature, whereas the other ones may be a little more nuanced and a little more subtle or open to different interpretations.”

Bracy wants viewers to tap into their curiosity and dig deep to see these patterns in a new light. She wants people to realize how extensive the patterns are, how much depth they really have and how many different settings they occur in.

After people see “Patterns in Nature,” Bracy hopes that “maybe next time they’re in nature, they’ll see the fallen tree and the pond ripple and (see that) those are related and they share some kind of common DNA.”

Contact the author at howlnews@mail.wou.edu

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LGBTQ+ Exhibition

Written by: Hannah Field | News Editor

The second traveling exhibition from the Stonewall National Museum & Archives has found a temporary home in the Hamersly Library at Western.

The exhibition, titled “Transcending Gender Bodies and Lives,” illustrates the stories of many LGBTQ+ figures and a timeline of gender identity across the globe. “Gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people have faced a long history of shared systematic oppression by gender and sexual norms,” said the exhibition’s description. “This exhibit examines ways that gender identity, gender expression and sexual orientation intersect.”

The LGBTQ2SIA+ Student Success Grant, awarded to Western in partnership with Central School District from the Oregon Department of Education, paved the way for the exhibition’s showing.

In the exhibition, a timeline of events spanning from the 1700s to the modern age highlights the growing understanding and acceptance of transgender people alongside many other monumental moments. According to Grant Coordinator Melody Barrett, the timeline allows for viewers to “walk from the past to the present and read about individuals and events which have shaped and impacted the LGBTQ2SIA+ community, and specifically those who are transgender in a chronological way in American history.”

One section of the exhibition, titled “The Teachable Moment,” explores the duality of increased acceptance but a continued lack of awareness. “The increased visibility of transgender people in the media has made wins in educating the public. However, beneath the stories of success and recognition, there remains an epidemic of serious issues in the lives of many trans people, including housing and job discrimination, poverty, HIV infection, drug abuse and suicide.”

“As gender expression, sexual identity and a sense of community are very important facets of LGBTQIA+ culture, the exploration of our similarities and differences can teach us how to support one another so that we may live our lives truly, and safely,” said the exhibition.

“By bringing these exhibitions to campus, our goal is to share, educate and expand understanding of gender diversity, expression and identity,” said Barrett.

The exhibition can be found in the main lobby of the Hamersly Library with a secondary LGBTQ+ exhibit found on the second floor.

Contact the author at howlnews@mail.wou.edu

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Art at Western

Art exhibits open for viewing this October at Western

Camille Lenning | Entertainment Editor

Western’s galleries are open again after an 18 month hiatus, and pieces in galleries such as the Student Gallery in the ITC, the Cannon Gallery of Art and the second floor gallery in Hamersly Library are open for public viewing during normal building hours, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. until Oct. 29.

The Annual Juried Student Art and Design Exhibition returns in its 53rd iteration to the newly remodeled ITC, featuring the talented students who entered in last year’s online exhibit.

Senior nontraditional transfer student Melody Barrett has two collage pieces in the student gallery, “Frida Rides Again” and “Ladies in Waiting.” A dedicated artist, Barrett has also sold a print of her piece “Ladies in Waiting” to the City of Monmouth Arts Committee.

“I believe art is an expression of the artist, what we see and feel, experience and imagine,” Barrett said. “That is why I love using a wide range of mediums including collage, acrylic painting, soft pastels and mixed media, because each one allows my thoughts, feelings and ideas to come through in very different ways.” To see her other work, check out Barrett’s website at www.melodybarrett.com.

Graduate student Genvieve Hardin has two pieces in the gallery, sculptures “D20” and “Be Not Afraid.” Hardin is in the Master of the Arts in Teaching program, and has expressed her excitement for having her work in the ITC gallery.

“My art is a way to connect with others and express myself. It is wonderful to have my art on display; I always wonder what people see and feel when they view my work!” Hardin said.

Senior zoology and art and design double major Tobin Roark has three pieces on display.

“’Liquescent Shift’ was a tribute to my gramma opening up and freeing herself from the grief of her husband passing,” Roark said of their art. “’Burning at the Stake’ was commentary on the demonizing of sexuality and women linking burning witches at the (stake) with pole dancers. And lastly ‘Touch of Menace’ … was commentary on how appearances can be deceiving and corruption and greed.”

Senior art major McKenna Suarez displayed her digital pieces “Photoshop Series” in the exhibit. Her art was the only digital entry.

“These pieces to me mean a lot, as they help to represent or show what Social Anxiety is like to me, and the ‘tricks’ I use to help me talk to people or interact in public,” Suarez said. “Similar to the phrase ‘Just think of them in their underwear!’ when you ask someone for tips on public speaking. I just imagine everyone with a bird head with a cool aesthetic background.”

Senior art major David Tomasiewicz has one piece displayed in the gallery, “MotoDrop #3.” Different from the peers he shares the gallery with, Tomasiewicz’s preferred medium is animation or film.

“I see art as a tool and means to create the animated fantasies that exist in my collective dreamscape,” Tomasiewicz said, “a way to invite people to peer into the landscapes existing within my conscious.”

Also included in the exhibit are students Marilyn Bergsma, with “If Wishes Were Horses Beggars Would Ride” and Mitchel Garson, with “Image of Guitar,” “Insomnia,” “Why,” “Untitled” and “Unfortunate Futures.”

Venturing outside of the student exhibits, Eric Tautkus, an aerosol and graffiti artist, has unveiled his newest art installation, “Derailed Marginally” in the Cannon Gallery of Art in Campbell Hall. This new work is a colorful, immersive piece spanning an impressive 50 feet — split between two walls. Smaller paintings by Tautkus are on display as well. When the exhibit closes on Oct. 29, two-foot square sections of Tautkus’ work will be sold to help fund the student gallery in the ITC.

Additionally, in the second floor gallery of Hamersly Library, local artist Diane Elizabeth Wilson debuted her exhibit titled “On Bended Knee, We Honor Thee,” in reference to the symbolic act of kneeling in protest for civil rights. The exhibit features 60 oil painted portraits of civil rights leaders and activists that have made an impact on society.

Contact the author at entertainmenteditor@thewesternhowl.com

A portion of Eric Tautkus’ graffiti creation, “Derailed Marginally.”
Geneveive Hardin’s sculpture, “Be Not Afraid.”
Marilyn Bergsma’s artistic bowl, “If Wishes Were Horses Beggars Would Ride.”

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Hamersly Library adapts to student needs, extending hours

Due to suggestions from students, Hamersly Library extends hours, ensuring students have access to facilities

Stephanie Moschella | Digital Media Manager & Cora McClain | Editor-in-Chief

Starting Sep. 27, Hamersly Library opened its doors past closing to Western students and affiliates. In addition to the 24-hour room being available, Hamersly will be open for additional evening and late night hours: Monday – Wednesday 6 p.m. – 12 a.m., Saturday 4 p.m. – 9 p.m., and Sunday 4 p.m. – 12 a.m.

Students have already begun using these extra hours and resources, found across all three floors of the library.

Pre-nursing first-year Finn Jennings explained that the extended hours would give more access to library resources. “There are more opportunities to check out books,” Jennings said, “if you forget, you can come in late.”

Along with increased access to library resources, these hours also give students another place to go to get work done or gather safely for group work. The study rooms in the library have been reopened with mask requirements, even if students use them alone. Reservations for study rooms can be done online or by calling the library. Walk-ins are available, but they work on a first come first serve basis.

First-year education major Alexis MenkeBowers said she will be using the extended hours a lot.

“I only get stuff done if I’m in a third location,” MenkeBowers explained, “I’m not very good at keeping myself accountable in my room.”

Jordan Bell, first-year psychology major, agreed that the ability to study in a different location is beneficial, “especially for students who have a roommate who isn’t quiet, or who can’t work in their room.”

Run entirely by student employees, Hamersly will only be available for people affiliated with Western. Working closely with campus security, student employees ensure a Western-only library during the nighttime hours. Before entering the building, all must show their Western IDs in the lobby. If students do not have their IDs on them, they can also successfully log in to their portal on a shared laptop at the new concierge desk.

The additional hours also created new student employment opportunities, such as the peer advocate. A peer advocate is the stand in lead of the library once all Western faculty leaves. They are the most trained person that can aid anyone coming into the library and are essential in training new student employees as well. Peer advocates perform regular walkthroughs of the entire library, establishing safeguards to check that patrons are adhering to mask mandates and the Western exclusive rules.

Public services librarian Janeanne Rockwell-Kincanon described how, during the 2020–21 school year, multiple groups of students criticized the shortened library hours. Many students explained how they were in need of the free and public resources. The additional hours were opened because students showed an interest in late night hours.

For instance, sophomores Lindie Larson and Kaiya Leamy, social science major and biology major respectively, explained how Western athletes benefit from these hours.

“We’re both student athletes so we can fit (these hours) around our schedules with practices,” said Larson; “especially on the weekends,” Leamy added.

Hamersly Library is taking steps to adapt to students’ needs with these extended hours. Not only are the resources available, but they are being managed in a safe way. As Rockwell-Kincanon described, it is “a student run library, for students.”

Contact the authors at westernhowleditor@thewesternhowl.com and digitalmediamanager@thewesternhowl.com.

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Art at Western

Hamersly Library adapts to student needs, extending hours

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