Picture 5:
Date Collected: April 9th 2008
Location: Read Center Building
The work on this door was done by the residents of the room, Ben and Lindsey. The idea is the shapes representing different seasons.
The colors relate to the seasons the stencils portray: orange and brown for autumn and white snowflakes for winter season. The stencils have both the residents’ names written on them, simply done by a sharpie. There is also another image of a Wizard of Oz quote that talks about how fun it is to live at Read.
Meanings and Functions:
The function of the art and the images in the dormitories is to create a relaxed, fun, and easy going environment amongst the residents and the people in charge. The personality and individuality of the people came out in their drawings and art work, which appealed to people at a personal level. The detail of the shapes, sizes, and colors of each piece of art work and the main subject addressed give character and expression to the work. The purpose was to unify, inform, or ease the tension of the residents in the dormitories.
The meaning of the art work varied depending on the location of the piece. Typically the ones in the main building or the lobby of the residential halls were either informational or fun. The ones on the floors were typically on the doors of the students, who essentially were expressing themselves or making comments about others though art.