The Campbell Library Art Gallery
“Full Circle,” an art exhibit in Campbell Library
Artist: Maureen St. John
The Rowan University Libraries is pleased to announce our inaugural exhibition for our new gallery space on the second floor of Campbell Library. The exhibit features the semi-abstract watercolor paintings of Maureen St. John, a retired art teacher and an alumni of Glassboro State College. Maureen invested a lifetime exploring what it means to live a creative life. She is an award-winning artist and has widely exhibited her paintings and photographs, inspired by her life and extensive travels. Her professional experiences include fine art, design, teaching, and grief counseling. Stop by and explore Maureen’s beautiful collection while reflecting on the library's role in promoting creativity.
Location: Campbell Library, 2nd floor
Parking is available through entering the guard station on Route 322 across from Campbell Library. See Map
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Maureen St. John's artist statement:
When I produce an artwork or a series of artworks, my theme is not always that of the image produced but rather the story behind the image. In other words, my artworks translate into my story. They are all images of meaningful events, people, places, or things that have affected the person I have become. Whether the image represents a memory of happiness, sadness, joy, or sorrow, they all come from experiences of significance.
I have learned that to achieve happiness, one must experience life, including its ups and downs. As a visual person, regardless of the event I am experiencing, I seek beauty and pleasure in what I observe. This practice leaves me with the peace, serenity, and freedom I seek in my daily life.
This series of landscape artworks were created during the past few years of my experiences with the pandemic, my health issues, and my desire to live as normally as possible through all of it.
It is titled “Full Circle” because my desire to be a studio artist began with my college days here at Glassboro State. Now, after so many years, a college rename, Rowan University, and my retirement as an art teacher, I am the studio artist I always desired to be. It is a thrill for me to return and exhibit my studio artworks.
The work is sub-titled “Experimentalism” because it is exactly that: a series of semi-abstractions and abstractions created through observation and experimentation.
What I observe becomes my art. What I observe is my life.
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About the Campbell Library Art Gallery
Located on the second floor of Campbell Library, the gallery will feature the creative works of faculty and staff hobbyists. We plan to have three exhibitions each year, depending on Library renovations. If you are a faculty or staff hobbyist and are interested in sharing your creative work with the Rowan community, please get in touch with us at DSC@rowan.edu to explore exhibiting your creative work.
Andrea Baer, Public Services Librarian
Mike Benson, Coordinator of the Digital Scholarship Center
Christine Davidian, Electronic Resources & Serials Librarian
Laura Daniels, Program Assistant, Performing Arts Center
Rob Hilliker, Associate Provost of the Library
Jon Jiras, Technology Services Librarian
Sara Morgan, Secretary to the Associate Provost of Rowan University Libraries
Marryam Naqvi, Marketing & Communications Coordinator
*Special thank you to Nate Todd and Manny Moralese, from Facilities Services, who installed our art hanging system.