R. Steve Dick/University Relations
"Bottled River" is a part of the exhibit "Niche: Nature Morte and the Simulated Garden" at the Commons at Spooner. The work shows the environmental hazards involved in the production and shipment of bottled water. The exhibit is just one of the possible uses for the newly-renovated space, which encourages collaboration throughout the university community.
Commons opens doors for new joint efforts
The plastic bags and junk mail fashioned into tree roots and the "river" of water bottles inside Spooner Hall are an appropriate microcosm for the space's newest purpose.
The artwork, part of "Niche: Nature Morte and the Simulated Garden" by Marguerite Perret, Bruce Scherting and Betsy Knabe Roe blend several disciplines at "the Commons," the newly renovated space on the main floor of Spooner.
"The notion of the exhibition reflects what we're doing in the Commons by tying together the arts, sciences and humanities," said Jordan Yochim, assistant director for administration at the Biodiversity Institute, and acting director for the Commons.
A year's worth of renovations to the space are complete, and the Commons is now hosting exhibits, lectures, performances, honors classes and meetings. The door is open for new ideas as well. The hope is the space will be home to endeavors that are collaborative in nature. By crossing disciplinary lines, the goal is to help form the next generation of research and new academic programs.
The Commons is administered by the Biodiversity Institute, Spencer Museum of Art and Hall Center for the Humanities. However, it is open to the entire university, and Yochim said there are plans to extend that welcome to the Lawrence community in the future.
"We've designed the space to be incredibly flexible," Yochim said. "People are welcome to come here for events or to discuss ideas," related to the mission of the Commons -- to explore the relationships between natural systems and cultural systems across the sciences, humanities and arts.
The renovations to the facility have made it more suitable to host events and meetings. It includes a new floor, an acoustic ceiling, two large projection screens, upgraded electrical and lighting systems and wireless Internet access. A gift from KU alumni Tom and Jann Rudkin, the provost's office and a state tax credit for historic buildings funded the $500,000 project. Barry Newton, professor of architecture, oversaw the aesthetic design of the renovation, and Sabatini and Associates worked with Design and Construction Management on the architectural design, with the building's history in mind.
History is something Spooner has in abundance. Built in 1891, it was KU's first library. It has also housed an art museum and anthropology museum in addition to countless classes. Spooner still hosts classes and scholars conducting research with the ethnographic collections, now part of Spencer Museum of Art, and the archaeological collections that are now a unit within the Biodiversity Institute.
"We're carrying on the tradition of Spooner Hall," Yochim said. "It has always been a place where people from different disciplines have come together, and we hope to expand that practice."
The exhibition is open 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. The collections are available for use by appointment. Yochim said there will be an open house in the fall to help bring the space to the attention of faculty, staff and students. For more information about the Commons, call Yochim at (785) 864-2343 or e-mail thecommons@ku.edu.
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