Artwork copyright Kathryn Glowen. Photo courtesy of Washington State Arts Commission, 2017.

Artwork copyright Kathryn Glowen. Photo courtesy of Washington State Arts Commission, 2017.

Artwork copyright Kathryn Glowen. Photo courtesy of the artist.

Ex Libre, 1994

Kathryn Glowen
(American, born 1941)

Location: Franklin Middle School, Yakima

ABOUT THE ARTWORK

Ex Libre is a whimsical, mixed-media sculpture by artist Kathryn Glowen. The composition features painted silhouettes of dragonflies, botanical images and a background pattern of book pages. These images surrounds a line of metal-plated doll arms and legs. These found objects feature small, hand-written quotes from literature. The title references the Latin phrase "ex libris" meaning "from the library of." It is a term for a bookplate, used to identify the owner of a book.

This artwork was acquired for the State Art Collection in partnership with Yakima School District.

ABOUT THE ARTIST

Northwest Artist Kathryn Glowen creates sculptures using recycled objects and materials.

Born in Seattle, Glowen has lived with her family on a farm in Arlington, Northwestern Washington since 1978. She studied fine art and graphic design at Washington State University in Pullman, Eastern Washington, and the University of Tulsa in Oklahoma.