Share your experience with the GALC!

The Graphic Arts Loan Collection (GALC) at the Morrison Library was created in 1958 by Professor Herwin Schaefer, who believed the best way to foster an appreciation of art was for students to live with actual art. With that in mind, we would love to hear about your experience living with your GALC piece.


Artemio Rodriguez’s Sinfonia Para Los Dioses & Yolanda M. Lopez’s Tribute to Dolores Huerta

Sinfonia Para Los Dioses Tribute to Dolores Huerta (Homenaje a Dolores Huerta)

By Jessie Rosales

It was my first time using the GALC loan program. It was a good experience. I reviewed aimlessly through the available art pieces. However, I stumbled across two art pieces from Latinx artists. I decided to rent them out and place them in my barebones office. Unfortunately, I found out about the program a bit late, so the art pieces were only in my office for less than a month – but they did bring a lot of character and fullness to my office.


Ryoko Tajiri’s Figure I & Theo Wujcik’s James Rosenquist

Figure I James Rosenquist

By Anonymous

I am a Berkeley staff member and first learned about the GALC through enthusiastic co-workers who had just chosen and hung their prints for the year. Because my work is based at an institute focused on robotics and automation, I sought out two prints that were deeply humanistic in both subject and medium. Both were portraits of human (or humanoid) figures looking contemplative about their roles and places in the world. In contrast to the uniformity of mass-produced art prints from the home decor store, these pieces also stood out because a human hand was so evident in their creation…from delicate and irregular pencil strokes to the hand-cut paper canvas.

After participating for one year, my conclusion is that the GALC is the coolest program on campus! I’ve told dozens of colleagues around the world about it. They were shocked that the University allows this intimate and democratic engagement with fine art. Bringing art and the artists’s stories into our office spaces helps to elevate the professional environment — in ways that reflect the thought-provoking work we all do on behalf of the University. Thank you for providing this very special program.


Man With Plate & Coygon Robinson Jr.’s Mr. Charles

Man With Plate Mr. Charles

By Clifton Damiens

I loved having those prints in my office. I have an office in the basement; no windows and no natural light. The posters brought a bit of sunshine into my workspace. I only wish I could keep them through the summer.

I am grateful for this program and look forward to reserving two more pieces for the 2019-20 academic year.


Apollo

Apollo

By Joshua Dullaghan

For the 2017-18 academic year, I kept the graphic art print “Apollo” in my office.  It became a wonderful talking point with students, faculty, and staff.  I look forward to next year and can’t wait to see what piece might adorn my office for 2018-19.  I greatly appreciate the Morrison Library for providing this opportunity.


Eduardo Paolozzi’s Experience

Experience

By Andrew Stevens

I borrowed artwork from the GALC every year during my time at Berkeley as a graduate student. The GALC helped me realize that “Art” – curated, original, unique art – is something that can be accessible and engaged with on a personal level. One ought not believe that “Art” is only for museums or the wealthy. Indeed, I have now decided to try and buy original art from emerging artists to decorate my home rather than purchase mass-produced plastic canvases from big-box stores. The GALC had a large role in shaping my views on how one can choose to engage with art.


John August Swanson’s Rainy Day

Rainy Day

By Nick Pingitore

The GALC is something unique to Cal. Although it is a relatively small part of a massive university, it is one of the many things that collectively make it the amazing place it is. It’s simply amazing that anyone with a student ID can check out artwork of almost any subject and bring a little piece of Cal back into their dorm room or apartment for the year.  I love it!