The next time you visit Hayner Library at Alton Square Mall, be sure to look to your right as you enter the facility to view the artwork of Dr. Pat Dailey. Dr. Dailey, an Alton resident, is a man of many talents.
Originally from Warren, Ohio, Pat attended Youngstown State University in Ohio and graduated with a BA in Education. He continued his education at Bowling Green State University, earning a Master’s degree in Biology and a PHd in Entomology, the branch of zoology dealing with insects. As a graduate assistant at Bowling Green University, he worked part time as a biological illustrator. In 1981 he accepted a job at the SIUE Dental School in Alton. There he was employed as an electron microscopist. Electron microscopy is a function of cellular biology requiring the study of cells through an electron microscope. While employed by SIUE, he also illustrated a chapter in the medical text Ten Cate’s Oral Histology. He illustrated the chapter on Bone Development written by Dr. Bill Witson of the SIUE School of Dental Medicine.
In 1982, Pat accepted a full-time position as a professor in the Biology Department at Lewis and Clark Community College. There he created and taught the courses Human Sexuality and Reproduction, Ecological Principles, The Biology of Nutrition, Evolutionary Theory, Human Genetics, Field Biology, Fundamentals of Biology, Zoology, Medical Terminology, and Human Diseases.
Now retired from full-time teaching, Pat has more time to pursue his other passions, including painting, photography, and singing. Pat started painting as a child at age 10. Though never having formal training, Pat’s artistic talents are remarkable. He mostly prefers to work with watercolors but also enjoys working in pen and ink and pencil.
For several of the paintings on display, Pat starts by creating an original watercolor template block that is then manipulated through computer graphic design programs to create exquisite mixes of patterns called tessellations. Look closely at the paintings. They are intricately interwoven mixes of biologically correct insect forms. See what you can find. There are dragonflies and ladybugs, insect wings, spider abdomens, damselflies, and more. On the side wall of the display are dramatic photographs of red belt and coral fungi that Pat captured during his explorations of The Nature Institute in Godfrey.
Pat also designed a print, “Celebrating the Renewal of Hayner Library.” Copies of this original print were given out at the grand opening of the Hayner Library of Genealogy & Local History in the spring of 2011.
Pat’s artistic talents also include musical performance. He has a beautiful bass voice and has been a member of the wonderful Lewis & Clark choral group Limited Edition and the Lewis & Clark Concert Choir for the past six years.
The next time you visit the mall library, be sure to leave time to view Pat’s work. You will be mesmerized. These donated pieces will be placed in various parts of the library following the showcase of his works.
An ongoing design objective for the mall library is to rotate displays of work from local artists. Prior to the display of Pat Dailey’s work, the library showcased the original oil prints of Alton artist Jeffrey Vaughn. These paintings are currently displayed in the quiet reading area of the mall library.