“The UI Library was my portal to the world”

A Minnesota native, Gerri Sayler is a Northwest installation artist and winner of the Juror’s Prize in the 2007 Idaho Triennial.  After a successful career in journalism and marketing, she returned to college to earn a BFA in Studio Art at the University of Idaho.  She graduated summa cum laude in May 2007, a recipient of the UI Alumni 
Award for Excellence.  Since then, she has exhibited her work at the Boise Art Museum, Sun Valley Center for the Arts, Lewis and Clark Art and History Center and the Prichard Gallery at the University of Idaho.

“The UI library was my portal to the world while I studied for my BFA in studio art.  Its extensive holdings of books and periodicals were critical to cultivating my understanding about art and its role in society throughout the ages. The staff of professional librarians introduced me to a wealth of resources—such as electronic data bases and full text access to scholarly journals—that I didn't even know existed.  I felt like a kid in a candy shop!  I am especially grateful that the university library is a participating member of World Cat, which made it possible for me to borrow from collections around the world.  By connecting me to the global arts community, the library was critical to the transformative power of my student experience.”