Some might think it is unusual to be in the library considering it is only the second week of the semester, but it was surprisingly busy for a Thursday afternoon.

Are students really that diligent following a three day weekend? The reason for my library adventure was to check out the Ganser Gallery which is now hosting an exhibition from Karl Hluska.

Hluska uses patterns throughout his paintings and his main drawing tool seems to be a pencil. When coloring, he uses watercolor and a form of chalk, which make his pieces eye-catching and unique. Hluska’s painting range from simple with little design to elaborate and colorful; his use of pattern and watercolor really bring out the focus of the painting. These drawings are just detailed enough to show what the piece is about. The subjects are clear.

Noticing that I was alone in the gallery, I asked sophomore Rachael Pearson, library student worker, if the gallery had been busy. She replied, “No, the gallery has not been busy at all. I don’t think that many people know that there is even a gallery in the library.” Many people seem to be unaware of Ganser’s Art Gallery, and because of this, art exhibits like Hluska’s will not get as much recognition as they deserve. Pearson also mentioned that exhibits change approximately every two months, so students could miss the opportunity to see the work of various artists.

An entire wall in the gallery is devoted to Hluska’s pencil drawings, which I personally thought were unique because of their subjects as well as the tool he used to create them.

Since he used a pencil for each of them, it was interesting to see a different medium contrasting the opposite wall. I also took notice that each drawing had a certain subject and that it appears that each subject was working towards something. Even though none of these drawings had titles, you could decipher what was trying to say.

I think by not giving these pieces titles, Hluska wanted the viewer to draw their own conclusions about what each drawing means. I enjoy this approach because it gives the viewer something to really think about.

One drawing that particularly interested me showed a mother and child. This picture draws the viewer in because you focus right on the two subjects. The mother is helping the child with what appears to be a bag of groceries in a busy city. As Krysten Souders, a junior, said about the picture, “You always need your mom.” Souders was also captivated by the drawing because it truly depicts life and that is what she thought was the meaning behind this drawing. Another one of the drawings is a firefighter watching over a woman as she walks down the street.

My interpretation was of a firefighter watching over his community. There is also one with a policeman talking to a man and it appears to be the same scenario: a man helping out another member of his community.

A drawing showing a garbage man lifting a trashcan into a dumpster is also a subject in one of Hluska’s drawings. Again, this shows the same sense of community and hard-work.

So take some time and check out the Karl Hluska exhibition.

Benefit the artist and the art department by taking a look at the various exhibitions that appear over the school year. You just might find a new favorite artist.

Hluska’s work will be on display until October 13.