LV Life

Library windows trick eyes

Strolling by the new Wilson Library, students, staff and faculty look up towards the sky in awe. What has caught their attention? The beautiful architecture of the new and almost-completed building? No. It’s those windows.
Whether students feel the European style, called trompe l’oeil, of painted-on windows is appealing, they certainly are attention-grabbers.

The reason for the “fake” windows goes beyond just style. The intensity from the sunlight that would seep in through the windows of the library would bleach the books. These renditions were chosen as an alternative to dozens of glass windows and thousands of damaged books. In addition, some of the windows are painted on the outside walls of what are the attic and bathrooms of the building, places real windows cannot be installed.

The windows, with a dark outline and a gray, cloud-like interior, are meant to tease the eye into believing they are real. The idea for the design of the windows came from the architectural firm of Weese-Langley-Weese, located in Chicago. Several artists actually painted the windows onto the walls.

The Campus Times stopped a few students, directed their attention to the artwork and asked them, “What do you think of the windows?”

“To be honest with you, they look a little off, like the black outline should be the inside. The colors should be reversed. They don’t look real, they look fake.” —Armando Cortez, Junior
“To be honest with you, they look a little off, like the black outline should be the inside. The colors should be reversed. They don’t look real, they look fake.”
—Armando Cortez, Junior
“I didn’t even know they were painted until President Morgan pointed it out to me. I guess they’re pretty cool. It’s some architectural style from Europe or somewhere.” —Heidi Rudin, Senior
“I didn’t even know they were painted until President Morgan pointed it out to me. I guess they’re pretty cool. It’s some architectural style from Europe or somewhere.”
—Heidi Rudin, Senior
“They are going to stay painted on? They aren’t going to turned into real windows? Oh. It’s cool, I guess.” —Kendra Bridal, Sophomore
“They are going to stay painted on? They aren’t going to turned into real windows? Oh. It’s cool, I guess.”
—Kendra Bridal, Sophomore
“They’re interesting. I saw the guy painting them on. It ruined the mystery for me. They should have put real windows on there.” —Summers Askew, Sophomore
“They’re interesting. I saw the guy painting them on. It ruined the mystery for me. They should have put real windows on there.”
—Summers Askew, Sophomore
“I really hadn’t noticed that they’re painted on, but now that you mention it, I think they’re OK. “ —Cynthia Wong, Senior
“I really hadn’t noticed that they’re painted on, but now that you mention it, I think they’re OK. “
—Cynthia Wong, Senior
“I work in the library, so I got the inside view. People will stop and take a look at it and see if they are real windows. Actually, I heard from the architect that it’s his style.” —Cenia Camacho, Junior
“I work in the library, so I got the inside view. People will stop and take a look at it and see if they are real windows. Actually, I heard from the architect that it’s his style.”
—Cenia Camacho, Junior
“I wondered if they were messed up or stupid. Why paint windows if you can put real windows there? They were neat at first, but I think they should put real windows in.” —Ryan Plescia, Senior “What I really would like to see is people in the background. They should put Ronald Mc­Donald in one and Mike Tyson in another. Put Ort­mayer standing in the window.” —Vince Wetzel, Senior
“I wondered if they were messed up or stupid. Why paint windows if you can put real windows there? They were neat at first, but I think they should put real windows in.”
—Ryan Plescia, Senior
“What I really would like to see is people in the background. They should put Ronald Mc­Donald in one and Mike Tyson in another. Put Ort­mayer standing in the window.”
—Vince Wetzel, Senior
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The Campus Times is the weekly student newspaper for the University of La Verne.

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