News & Blog

The UCF Libraries Special Collections & University Archives is pleased to announce the UCF Student Book Arts Competition Exhibit. Each year since 2005, Special Collections & University Archives invites UCF students to submit one of a kind books called artist books. Unlike traditional books, artist books are handmade to reflect personal artistic visions of their creators ranging from narrative storytelling through writing, drawing, painting, printmaking, and/or photography. The UCF Student Book Arts Competition Exhibit is a showcase of all entries created during the 2016 academic calendar year including past winners.

We are pleased to announce our winner is Jessica McRory for her artist’s book “Familiar”. The winner was selected based on creativity, craftsmanship, content, and design from our three judges – book artists Peter and Donna Thomas, and UCF Libraries Special Collections & University Archives Department Head David Benjamin. Jessica McRory won a purchase award for her artist book to be included in the permanent Book Arts & Typography Collections at Special Collections & University Archives. To celebrate the innovative work of all the participants, the UCF Student Book Arts Competition Exhibit will be on display during the month of February 2017 in the exhibition area on the 5th Floor of the John C. Hitt Library.

Join us for a lunch break Open Heart Open Mic on Tuesday, February 7th from 12-1:30PM in John C. Hitt Library room 223. The UCF Libraries is partnering with the Women’s & Gender Studies Program to present an ongoing open mic event series.

You are welcome to bring a story, poem, song, or any other vocal presentation to share – on any topic.

For more information, check our event page.

In the past few days, some news sites have described uncertainty for the future of the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH). With NEH under discussion, we will take this opportunity to highlight good news from the NEH by celebrating winners of a 2016 NEH contest. (more…)

The Citizen Curator Project of Central Florida invites Citizen Curators to create a series of exhibitions for display at the John C. Hitt Library, the UCF Art Gallery, and online focused on the theme “Eliminationism and Resistance.” A particularly potent example of eliminationism, defined as social policies that seek to censor, suppress, exile, or exterminate others, is the recent Pulse nightclub attack, whereas the Orlando United campaign may be viewed as an act of resistance and reconciliation.

We urge participants to experiment, not only with a range of perspectives on the theme and historical source material, but also with the idea of what an exhibit can be. Anyone with an interest in affecting social change through exhibitions can be a Citizen Curator. This includes, but is not limited to, students, artists, activists, educators, and members of the community. No previous experience with curating is required.

How to Apply

To apply, email a 250-word description of your project to citizencurator@ucf.edu by February 15, 2017. Please include the type of materials you will be using, the desired or proposed location of your exhibit (UCF Art Gallery, John C. Hitt Library, online, other galleries or venues of your choice), your vision (include a sketch or image if applicable), and how your project relates to the theme “Eliminationism and Resilience.” Individuals or small groups are welcome.

More information is available at: http://www.cah.ucf.edu/citizencurator/

This project was made possible in part by the Institute of Museum and Library Services.

Book artist Bea Nettles will be speaking Tuesday, January 24, 2017, from 2:30 – 3:30 in the School of Visual Art & Design Gallery. This is a program sponsored by Special Collections & University Archives and the School of Visual Art & Design. (more…)