Introduction to a Powerful Exhibit
As guests enter the Glenn G. Bartle Library, they’re greeted by a 160-foot-tall image of Patrisse Cullors, writer, educator, artist, and co-founder of the Black Lives Matter Global Network Foundation. The image features Cullors along with her hand over her heart, surrounded by orange and yellow flowers and birds, with the word “Reimagine” above her head. When viewed through a free app, this image involves life as flowers softly flow within the breeze and birds gently fly through the piece. The words of Cullors invite listeners to work toward constructing stronger communities through the hope for a greater future.
The "Imagine the Future" Exhibit
The experience is a component of the most recent exhibit in collaboration with the University Libraries and Amplifier. Installed in November, “Imagine the Future” features works by artist activists who share a passion for advocacy and storytelling. The installation displays 4 collections of art curated for use as “a tool for constructing latest narratives and igniting the cultural shifts needed for collective liberation.” The 4 displays feature:
- “Revolutionary Love is the Call of our Times,” sharing 10 core practices of revolutionary love envisioned by Valarie Kaur;
- “The Power of Art,” sharing stories starting from climate justice to indigenous sovereignty;
- “Well + Being,” specializing in mental health; and
- “Reframe,” which amplifies messages of 12 visionary leaders.
Bringing Art to Life with Technology
The installation is a collaboration between Binghamton University Libraries and Amplifier, a nonprofit design lab that works to amplify free and open-source art surrounding social change. The art, combined with the augmented reality (AR) component, delivers a visible and audio message to the patron. Using a free phone app, the photographs animate and share a message pertaining to their theme. This technology allows viewers to transcend the image itself and explore the artwork in a more immersive way.
Partnership and Mission
For Cleo Barnett, executive director of Amplifier, the partnership with the Libraries was a natural collaboration resulting from the knowledge-sharing mission of each organizations. “Libraries hold stories, knowledge, and memory,” Barnett said. “They’re also places where many young people discover what parts of the world reflect them back and what parts don’t. Bringing this artwork into the library means expanding the visual vocabulary of who belongs, who leads, and what futures are possible.” Amplifier was founded in 2015 by National Geographic photographer Aaron Huey, with the goal of amplifying activist stories and providing clear pathways to motion.
Amplifying the Message
The “Imagine the Future” exhibit includes an activist element, with a display providing free art postcards and newspapers for visitors to take. “Since launching Education Amplifier in 2018, we’ve been sending free artwork into classrooms to offer tools for young people to navigate a world flooded with noise, misinformation, and fear,” Barnett said. The exhibit goals to bring visual storytelling into the every day rhythm of university life, where it could possibly interrupt, ignite, and encourage.
Conclusion
The “Imagine the Future” exhibit is now a poignant and powerful cornerstone of the Bartle Library entrance, inviting visitors to explore and be inspired. The collaborative installation serves as a reminder of resilience, agency, and connection. As Barnett said, “Our hope is that these artworks act as touchstones, reminders of resilience, agency, and connection. If a student walking through the stacks sees themselves reflected within the work, or recognizes a difficulty they care about, or feels a spark of possibility they didn’t feel before, then the art is doing its job.” The exhibit is open to the general public during library hours, and Amplifier distributes free public art to educators, community leaders, and other people across the country. For more information, visit Amplifier.org.
