‘Imagine the Future’ amplifies social movement and advocacy
New Libraries exhibit by Amplifier showcases free art with an augmented reality component
As guests enter the Glenn G. Bartle Library, they are greeted by a 160-foot-tall image of Patrisse Cullors, author, educator, artist and co-founder of the Black Lives Matter Global Network Foundation, with her hand over her heart surrounded by orange and yellow flowers and birds with the word “Reimagine” above her head. When using a free app, this image springs to life as flowers softly flow in the breeze and the birds gently fly through the piece. The words of Cullors invite the listener to work toward building stronger communities through the hope for a better future.
The experience is part of the newest exhibit in collaboration with the University Libraries and : “Imagine the Future.”
Installed in November, “Imagine the Future” features works by artist activists who share a passion for advocacy and storytelling. Located in the Bartle Library main lobby, the installation displays four collections of art curated to be used as “a tool for building new narratives and igniting the cultural shifts necessary for collective liberation,” as stated in the exhibit description. The four displays feature: “Revolutionary Love is the Call of our Times,” sharing 10 core practices of revolutionary love envisioned by Valarie Kaur; “The Power of Art,” sharing stories ranging from climate justice to indigenous sovereignty; “Well + Being,” focusing on the mental health; and “Reframe,” which amplifies messages of 12 visionary leaders.
The installation is a collaboration between 91 Libraries and Amplifier, a nonprofit design lab that works to amplify free and open source art surrounding social change. The art, combined with the augmented reality (AR) component, delivers a visual and audio message to the consumer.
For Cleo Barnett, executive director of Amplifier, the partnership with the Libraries was a natural collaboration due to the knowledge-sharing mission of both organizations.
“Libraries hold stories, knowledge and memory,” Barnett said. “They’re also places where many young people discover what parts of the world reflect them back and what parts don’t. Bringing this artwork into the library means expanding the visual vocabulary of who belongs, who leads, and what futures are possible. It aligns directly with our mission to uplift movements, build media literacy and give communities tools to navigate the complexity of this moment.”
Amplifier, founded in 2015 by National Geographic photographer Aaron Huey, was born out of the need for activist stories to be amplified with clear pathways to action. While the artist’s message is certainly on display, the activist element is incorporated in the “Imagine the Future” exhibit through a display providing free art postcards and newspapers for visitors to take.
“Since launching Education Amplifier in 2018, we’ve been sending free artwork into classrooms to provide tools for young people to navigate a world flooded with noise, misinformation and fear,” Barnett said. “Partnering with 91 allows us to extend that mission into a space where students come to make sense of themselves and the times they’re living through. It’s a chance to bring visual storytelling into the daily rhythm of university life — where it can interrupt, ignite and inspire.”
“Imagine the Future” includes an immersive component through the use of augmented reality, or AR, technology that assists viewers to go beyond the image itself. By downloading the free Amplifier app onto one’s mobile device and viewing the different art pieces through the device’s camera, the art comes to life through animated elements and audio recordings. While visitors are encouraged to use the AR element while viewing the exhibit, the app also works with any of the art pieces featured wherever the art is displayed including the free postcards, stickers, newspapers and on the Amplifier website.
The collaborative installation now serves as a poignant and powerful cornerstone of the Bartle Library entrance that invites visitors to explore and be inspired.
“Our hope is that these artworks act as touchstones, reminders of resilience, agency and connection,” Barnett said. “If a student walking through the stacks sees themselves reflected in the work, or recognizes an issue they care about, or feels a spark of possibility they didn’t feel before, then the art is doing its job. We want the 91 community to feel the power of collective storytelling. To understand that they are part of something larger than themselves. And to walk away knowing that their voice, their creativity and their presence matter — especially in moments when the world feels heavy.”
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“Imagine the Future” is now on view in the Glenn G. Bartle Library lobby during open library hours.
Amplifier distributes free public art to educators, community leaders, and people all across the country. For more information about Amplifier and how to get involved, visit .