[img_inline align=”right” src=”http://padnws01.mcmaster.ca/images/Zajacz_art.jpg” caption=”Fourth-year student Laura Zajacz’s artwork was the winning submission in an art competition sponsored by the Library and organized in partnership with the School of the Arts. Photo by Judy Major-Girardin.”]Students working in the Mills Learning Commons now have a piece of art on the wall to inspire them. The painting by fourth-year student Laura Zajacz (Combined Art and Multimedia) was the winning submission in an art competition sponsored by the Library and organized in partnership with the School of the Arts. The theme of the competition for 2006/2007 was “inquire.”

“Laura's painting presents an active array of images that reference graffiti, pop culture and her own experiences,” said Judy Major-Girardin, associate professor in the School of the Arts. “Her work is seemingly casual in execution but demonstrates a sophisticated handling of drawing and painting elements and a rich layering of ideas.”

The art competition, open to students enrolled in Honours or Combined Honours Art Programs, will continue annually for the next four years. Each year, the theme will be one of the words used in the branding for the Mills Learning Commons: inquire, explore, discover, create, learn. A prize of $1,000 is awarded for the winning submission.

“When we first opened the Mills Learning Commons, we asked students what they liked and what they did not like about the new space,” said Vivian Lewis, associate university librarian. “They told us quite clearly that they wanted artwork — preferably by students themselves — hanging in the space. We are thrilled with the selection of Laura's piece as the first art installment in the Commons. We view it as a clear and very powerful statement of students' commitment to enriching their own learning spaces on campus.”

The Library will host a formal recognition of Laura's winning submission on Thursday, Nov. 15 at 5:30 p.m. in the McLay Reading Room at Mills (2nd floor). We invite the McMaster community to join us for an opportunity to view the installation and to meet the artist.