Oberlin art program allows students to rent pieces of art

OBERLIN -- Students at Oberlin College, have the chance to take home a piece of artwork for less than the price of lunch.

Matisse. Picasso. Dali. Warhol. Imagine works by some of the great art masters adorning a dorm room

Twice a year, Oberlin College students stand in line, some camp out all night, for the chance to rent original and limited edition artwork for the semester.

They pay just five dollars!

Professor Ellen Johnson started the art rental program in 1940 to get students excited about contemporary art. She's left quite a legacy because students are still enthusiastic 67 years later.

I think it's pretty amazing that this program exists here and that it's continued so long successfully,? said Natasha a junior. ?These pieces are just really amazing and for us to have the opportunity to have them is pretty spectacular.? The art is not priceless but students believe the opportunity is. It's not a privilege the students take lightly.

?People ask what happens when college students spill beer on their Picassos,? said Raphael a junior. ?The only answer is: They don't. ?

Alexa, a senior creative writing student said the program has helped enrich her life. ?I'm a creative writing student so I probably won't be an art collector. But I've been going to museums a lot more since this experience.?

Most of the pieces in the collection are valued under $5,000.

The museum director says, they do pull pieces from the rental library and put them in the permanent collection, if they appreciate in value.