As Earth Day — and Earth Week — 2013 get underway, some MTSU art students are reminding library patrons that excess printing can have scary consequences.

The waste-paper monster created by students in MTSU associate professor Erin Anfinson’s Drawing 2 class bares its fangs at colorful waste-paper airplanes in an Earth Day display in the James E. Walker Library’s first-floor atrium. (photo submitted)

“Stop Feeding the Monster: Think Before You Print,” a student art creation, will remain on display in the James E. Walker Library’s first-floor atrium through Friday, April 26.

Members of associate professor Erin Anfinson’s Drawing 2 class created a paper monster out of reused paper from the library recycling bins as a whimsical personification of the environmental and economic consequences of wasting paper.

In 2012, Walker Library visitors used more than 9.6 million sheets of paper, the equivalent of nearly 1,371 trees.

Library officials say extra funding spent on printing paper means less available funding for technology and educational resources.

All materials used to create the “monster” will be recycled at the conclusion of the exhibit.

Students participating in the project are Jacob Bagby, Morristown, Tenn.; Jessica Booker of Nashville; Kenzie Haro, Dickson, Tenn.; Alex Hibbard of Murfreesboro; Megan Huffman, Mt. Juliet, Tenn.; Denesha Jones, Brownsville, Tenn.; Chelby Pickett of Memphis; Ben Rasmussen of Urangsvaag, Norway; Kelsie Richards, Old Hickory, Tenn.; John Saad, Smyrna, Tenn.; Tasha Storie, Allardt, Tenn.; and Charles Williams of Lebanon, Tenn.

For more information, contact Kristen Keene at 615-898-5376 or Kristen.Keene@mtsu.edu.

— Gina K. Logue (Gina.Logue@mtsu.edu)