What is usually a quiet, bland place to study has turned into a place of wonder — where animals, not books, are the main attraction.
The School of Veterinary Medicine is sponsoring the Eighteenth International Exhibition on Animals in Art, held in the SVM Library.
The colorful and interesting exhibition features 75 pieces of varying media that wind its way around the walls of the library — over bookcases and on desks. From bronze sculpture to oil paintings and photographs, each piece is more unique than the next.
Sue Loubiere, director of the SVM Library, said the exhibition originally began in 1987 as a way to acquire art for the bleak walls of the Vet School. Over the years, the school acquired a sufficient amount of art and eventually redesigned the exhibition into a juried art show. The show serves as a fundraiser for the SVM Endowment Account and the Wildlife Hospital of Louisiana, she said.
The SVM Endowment Account assists in the attainment of learning resources for the library, including books and electronic items, Loubiere said.
The Wildlife Hospital of Louisiana is a full-service wildlife rehabilitation, research and education facility. Loubiere said support from the Animals in Art exhibition helps the hospital fund its activities. 
Loubiere said this year more than 770 entries were received, from 43 states and four other countries, many of them featuring pigs.
“Each year is different,” she said. “You just never know what to expect. I didn’t expect this many pigs, but that’s what we got. It’s so interesting how it worked out.”
Loubiere said this year the show was judged by Judith Goldsmith, a prominent local artist who has been featured across the country.
Ginger Guttner, public relations coordinator for the SVM, said because the exhibition is open to the public, it gives visitors the opportunity to explore the school.
“It’s great because it promotes the human-animal bond,” she said. “It shows animals in a new light and promotes animal welfare, which is a big deal in veterinary medicine.”
The exhibition runs until April 17. There is no cost for admission.