This fall, students in the Three Dimensional Design course led by Amir Saber Esfahani, Professor of Art, have transformed everyday materials into immersive, three-dimensional spaces for the “Fort Exhibition,” a special installation presented in collaboration with the campus library. The exhibition is currently on view from October 27 to November 14, turning the library into a playful, reflective, and imaginative gallery. This project was made possible through a creative partnership with the Skyline College Library and coordinated by Pia Walawalkar, Professor and Outreach and Equity Librarian.
Inspired by the childhood tradition of building forts, students constructed personal spaces using familiar objects—blankets, chairs, pillows, and meaningful items from home. Each fort represents more than a temporary structure: it’s a reflection on memory, comfort, and creative expression.
A key element of the project is the act of “doing nothing,” drawing on ideas popularized by artist and writer Jenny Odell in How to Do Nothing: Resisting the Attention Economy. Students set aside their phones and spent quiet time inside their forts, reflecting on their own histories, surroundings, and the meanings embedded in these makeshift sanctuaries. By slowing down and reconnecting with their imaginations, they explored how simple materials can hold deep personal resonance.
For two weeks, the library has been transformed into a landscape of intimate spaces—some playful, some serene—all inviting visitors to pause, look closer, and rediscover a sense of wonder.
The Fort Exhibition remains open through November 14, and all are welcome to visit, wander the installations, and experience the creative energy of our students firsthand.
