Sep. 18 — The Making of a College is a foundational text in Hampshire College’s history. Written in 1996 by Franklin Patterson, the first president of Hampshire, and assisted by Charles R. Longsworth, the second president of Hampshire, the 193-page paper is functionally a design document for Hampshire College.
Among the many quotes regularly taken out of it is its commentary on the role and structure of the library, which now proudly adorns the previously blank concrete wall on the right as you enter the library.
The installation was a year in-the-making, starting last fall in a class taught by Professor Tom Long. Students were tasked with creating proposals for an installation that would highlight the passage. Ultimately, the proposal of Kat Brown, F23, and Mount Holyoke student, Catherine Kazel was selected. The spring semester was spent bringing the design from paper to reality, and finally installed in August.
The installation consists of laser-cut wooden letters stacked to create depth, with some words emphasized by being thicker. The sides of some words are painted with color to make them subtly pop with slight changes in perspective. The word ‘aorta’ in particular is painted in red, yellow, green, blue, and purple.
Complimenting the installation is a colorful illustration of an anatomical heart, installed as a decal on the library window, and is also available on a variety of clothes in the Hampstore.
