USF Tampa, Sarasota-Manatee and St. Pete Libraries each have new connecting murals. ORACLE PHOTO/COLE ABRUZZESE
Three new USF-themed murals now greet students who walk through the university’s libraries.
USF Libraries spokesperson Zibby Wilder said new murals were rolled out across all USF campuses in mid-to-late March.
Wilder said USF Sarasota-Manatee’s Information Commons received the first mural the week before spring break, followed by the USF Tampa Library over the break and USF St. Pete’s Nelson Poynter Memorial Library the following week.
Anthony Freese, a USF graphic design alumnus, designed each of the three murals, which feature unique versions tailored to specific elements of each campus.
USF Tampa’s mural features elements representative of sciences and arts, including microscopes, people studying, papers and a portrait of a bull.
St. Pete’s mural highlights local marine life, boating and people studying and learning together.
And Sarasota-Manatee’s mural emphasizes accessibility, connection and community when it comes to learning and sharing knowledge.
But overall, Wilder said the murals aim to convey the libraries as the “heart” of each campus.
“USF Libraries are more than information repositories — they are active, involved places to make connections, build community and gain knowledge,” Wilder said.
The dean of USF’s Libraries and some USF Tampa students said the mural is a nice addition to the Library and a good representation of the university’s community.
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Todd Chavez, the dean of USF’s Libraries, said the elements portrayed in the murals add a “visual reminder” of the connection between each campus.
“The design that was chosen symbolizes the collaboration, connection, leadership and learning that USF Libraries foster, regardless of location, but the content of each mural is specific to the community.”
Chavez said USF’s libraries provide “critical services” to students, faculty and staff, and double as a safe space for collaboration, connection and learning.
“The USF Libraries have a broader vision that includes collections of biological specimens, data, oral histories and now, public art,” Chavez said. “These murals reflect the growth of USF Libraries beyond traditional boundaries to capture more of the human experience.”
But while Chavez focused on the broader picture of the three murals, Charis Rosemond, a senior international business major, sharpened his perspective on the impact of the mural itself.
Rosemond said he liked seeing the mural in the USF Tampa library, adding that he would like to see similar decorative elements in the building to add more aesthetic appeal.
“I think it’s unique [and] I feel like they could definitely use more stuff of style around the library to make it more interesting, in my opinion,” Rosemond said.
He added that the mural gives the USF Tampa library more energy, because it breaks up the usual interior colors in the building.
“I think it’s nice compared to the bland green and white around,” Rosemond said, “It’s a nice little ‘feng shui.’”
Feng Shui is a Chinese concept intended to enhance the harmony and energy of a space or room, according to Merriam-Webster.
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Similar to Rosemond, Kollyn Lucy, a junior history major, said he goes to the USF Tampa library every day and noticed the mural on his first day back from spring break.
Lucy said he enjoyed seeing more color and character inside the library.
“It can be a little boring in here, but it makes it look a little bit nicer,” Lucy said. “It brings character, and I feel like that’s a big part of USF. We have character.”
Additionally, Lucy said that connecting all three USF campuses through the murals benefits and strengthens the university community by creating a shared work of art that highlights each campus.
“I think it’s really cool bringing all three campuses together with similar murals,” Lucy said. “That just helps bring the USF community together even more.”