Nestled between the mop that was used to clean the floor last night and a few dirty buckets, a true cultural treasure can now be found in the cozy first-floor maintenance closet of Devlin Hall.
Located just past the stairwell near the main entrance, but before the bathrooms, this quaint venue hosts a wide array of pieces on loan from the Nova Scotian Art Gallery. Despite the limited square footage, the space hosts both traditional and contemporary works from Southeastern Canada that highlight the rich cultural diversity of the isolated region.
The exhibit also features a range of mediums, including several three-dimensional works showcased on the shelf in the back, artfully displayed in the company of a bottle of bleach and a toilet plunger.
In an exclusive interview with that one freshman that religiously attends every arts event in Devlin Hall, The Heights learned that the creative new setting could have perhaps been a larger attempt at social commentary. According to the educated and undoubtedly cultured first-year undergrad, the unique locale parallels the nature of Nova Scotian art itself.
“Somewhat hidden and poorly lit, the storage closet reflects the relative darkness that has surrounded the art movement itself, as very few know about the cultural history of Nova Scotia,” she said. “The placement of this exhibit was clearly an intentional move.”
Sources from the nearby Admissions desk say, however, that the metaphorical location might have lost its meaning this time, as the devoted Devlin art connoisseur may have been the only one who attended the exhibit at all.
“We’re at this desk all day, five days a week, with a great view of the closet through our windows!” an admissions officer said. “Unless we missed someone on lunch break .…”
According to the actual janitor who overheard the conversation unfold, this is a regular turnout for most exhibitions. “What else is new?” he said as passed through the office, grumbling about the inconvenience the exhibit has caused him as he exited.
*This story is part of The Depths, a collection of humorous, fictional portrayals of campus life, written in the spirit of April Fools’ Day. Some names of “sources” have been changed to maintain ambiguity and humor.
