At the end of the semester in Jann Nunn's intermediate and advanced sculpture class, the final step was to put the work in a public space on the SSU campus.
Last week, students hurrying to their finals began to see some unusual looking figures around the university-- from a homeless man on the Commons, to a man in prayer by the butterfly garden, to a concrete peace goddess by the Toast snack bar.
It was all part of the final step in a process for the art students to understand the realities of public sculpture-making where proposal writing, making a scale model and seeking approval for the siting of the work are as much a part of the process as creating the actual piece.
Sculpture students went through these hurdles this semester as they designed, and then set up, their pieces for display.
Then a final hurdle showed up for extra credit — the harsh winds of a wet winter storm made its way to SSU for an added dose of reality.
Stephanie Paul,
Desperate Prayer
A human scale figure sited in the Butterfly Garden (north of parking lot G) made of cob and other natural materials.
Anneliese Vobis, Reflection
A copper pipe sculpture in the style of a folded book reveals the artist’s personal associations with the form of a lantern. Sited near the pond behind the art office.
Kara Cross, Ladder
A painted red steel ladder that twists and gyrates up the hill in front of the Student Union Building.
Joey Castor, Self Reflection
A life size sculpture of a "homeless" person resting against a tree with their belongings. The hooded face is mirrored to remind us that any one of us could be in a homeless situation at any time in our lives. Sited north of Salazar Hall.
David Groode, Up in Arms
12 life-size painted figures on wood panels, 6 foot each, erected at various locations throughout campus.
Karen Rose,
The Opposite of War is Love
This sculpture is conceived as a response to the possible war against Iraq. Sited north of "Toast" snack bar.
Jennifer Richards,
Fallen Soldier
Olive drab canvas stretched over a geometric steel armature the repeats the form of a body in repose.Sited south of the art building on the lawn to the east of Carson Hall.
Melissa Coelho,
Elaboration on an Umbrella
What an umbrella would look like if it were blown up with air and cut open and arranged into ways that make it impractical for use. Sited at the edge of the large pond across the path from the Alumni Grove
Photos by Paiville Tarvainen
