Local businesses highlighted in Ulysses Philomathic Library art show

 The photos currently on the walls of Ulysses Philomathic Library are a window into some of the most interesting workplaces that many people have never thought twice about, even if they drive by them all the time.

“People like to see art in the library. It’s nice to have a third space in the community,” said Meredith DeCotiss, director of community outreach at Ulysses Philomathic Library. “As long as they aren’t charging for it, we can show it and support their mission.”

In her search for local art, DeCotiss contacted Tompkins Cortland Community College (TC3) photography professor Harry Littell, who was more than happy to have his students’ art shown off campus. The result is the exhibit “Behind the Scenes: Photographs by Harry Littell and his TC3 Students.”

DeCotiss thought that the theme of Littell’s students’ work was a good fit for the library because it highlights area companies.

“Many are very small local businesses,” Decotiss said.

Featured businesses include Trinity Valley, Cornell High Energy Synchrotron Source, Center for the Arts of Homer, MacKenzie-Childs, Significant Elements and Aurora Shoe Company.

The student artists are Kris Altucher, Robin Botie, Jeanne Cameron, Ben Curtis, Kim Haines-Eitzen, Libby Hedrick, Ray Helmke, Susan Larkin, Connie Thomas and Jane Walker. Littell has some of his work on display, as well. The library will hold a reception for the exhibit with refreshments on Jan. 13 from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

Many of Littell’s students are retirees interested in lifelong learning. These nontraditional students often take the class repeatedly, as they get a different experience every time.

The class Littell teaches falls under the umbrella of the Applied Learning Experiences (ALEX) approach, which strives to have students interact with the community, putting them in real-world situations. The class goes on “field trips” throughout the semester.

“What we’ve found is that these local businesses and organizations are just incredibly generous and receptive,” Littell said. “During the tour we learn about the operations and we have the opportunity to take photographs, and then the next week we meet back at the college and critique them and do more editing, and then we share them with the host location.”

The businesses are given the photographs to use as they like. Littell mentioned that he is currently looking for locations to visit in the fall, and any interested businesses may contact him at littelh@tompkinscortland.edu.

“For me, what’s exciting is we all go to the same place, but we come back and look at the images, and everyone sees something different,” Littell said.

“It’s really fun to get out there and see the businesses, many of which I would never be exposed to otherwise,” said Jan Walker, one of the student photographers, on Friday morning when the class gathered at the library to install the show.

Student Susan Larkin said she felt very drawn to the Homer Center for the Arts, both the church that was repurposed as the popular venue and the newly acquired nearby church, which is slated for renovation by the center.

“It stayed closed for a bunch of years, and they bought it for a dollar,” Larkin explained. “It still looks like my little church in Slaterville.… I’m glad it’s being put to reuse, thank goodness. Otherwise, it was going to just collapse.”

Student Ben Curtis was particularly struck by the work being done at Aurora Shoe Company, and by the people who work there, one of whom is 82 years old.

“I asked him when he was going to retire, and he looked at me and said, ‘This is my retirement,’” Curtis said. It turned out the man had been a dairy farmer.

“[Dairy farming is] a pretty demanding profession,” Curtis said, adding that in comparison, the shoe company offers less physically demanding work. “I think he’s going to work [at Aurora Shoe Company] until he drops,” he said.

Trinity Valley was a favorite location for student Connie Thomas, “because of the animals and also because it’s a family-run business,” she said. The class found out during their visit to the farm that almost all of the employees are women and that it appeared the cows are treated very well — things they would never have known if they hadn’t been able to drop in and witness this local slice of life.

The students imagine that the employees must find the experience interesting, as well.

“We focus on things they probably take for granted,” Walker said. “Sometimes they are surprised at the things we find interesting: the details and so on.”

Upcoming exhibits to look for at the library include Barbara Page in March and April, Treacy Ziegler in May and June, Jane Jenner in July and August, Illuminated Press in September and October and Patty Porter in November and December.

In brief:An Intro to Woodworking class will take place Jan. 19-21 at Hammerstone Carpentry for Women, 3825 Jacksonville Rd. This three-day class is organized around the construction of a bookcase that students can take home at the end. Students under 18 may attend with parental permission.