Twelve students from Mary Visser’s abstract sculpture class will showcase their work around campus. The students range from freshman to seniors and will showcase their works in a variety of mediums.

Each piece is intended to relate to the three-dimensional and physical aspects of the site by using elements of the site to develop a relationship between the forms and the environment. The abstract sculptures range from organism relationships, continuous change, and interaction between life and technology.

The site locations and sculpture details are as follows (starting from south to north campus):

1. Sarofim School of Fine Arts (South Lawn)
Portrait of a Ladder by Chandler Johnson ’14 and Jake Pawelek ’15
Portrait of a ladder represents the ever-changing human struggle for “success.” Due to the nature of its pseudo-random construction it is deeply personal, much like the fingerprint of every individual. Portrait of a ladder symbolizes the human ascent to goals and aspirations. This is carried out through the connection of boards in a sporadic vertical fashion. Portrait of a ladder makes use of Johnson’s consistent minimalist/postmodernist design compositional approach and Pawelek’s hard edge details to achieve this composite sculpture. Influences: Bruce Beasley’s Foray III and Frank Aurbach.

 

2. Sarofim School of Fine Arts (Southwest Lawn)
Deliverance by Tate Taylor’17 and Jesus Lucero Jr. ’16
An uplifting form constructed in 20-gauge sheet metal; invokes the feeling of an offering through its sweeping curves and flower shape basket. The eyes of the viewer are pulled to the sacrifice held within the basket by the ascending curves of the two lower triangular pieces. The pieces white wash finish creates a stark contrast between the self and the surrounding. Influences: Allison Shotz.

 

3. Library (East Lawn), Sarofim School of Fine Arts (Northwest Lawn and North Lawn)
Rock Cairns by Kron Heilman ’16
Stone shape trail markers are used in many National Forests. These circular stacks of stone mark hiking trails and paths throughout the area. These three Cairns represent the strength, and permanence in a changing landscape. They are arranged to form a straight line a planned path for some, but the view is blocked by other man made structures, which is often the case when trying to follow any life plan. Influences:  Robert Smithson Spiral Jetty.

 

4. Library (Front Entrance Lawn)
16 Degrees of Separation by Najmu Mohseen ’16
This project represents the intertwined nature of everyday lives, although we may not realize it, almost every aspect of our lives are connected in one fashion or another. Sources: Audrey Hemenway.

 

5. Roy H. Cullen Academic Mall (in front of the small fountain)
Uncertainty by Rebecca Huteson ’17
This sculpture represents the uncertainty of life. The flags are always changing directions in the wind and there is no way to make them stop moving. Similarly there is no way to pause life and everything continues and will continue to change. Sources: Wolfe Gordon.

 

6. Roy H. Cullen Academic Mall (Northwest of Caldwell Carvey Foyer, near the tree)
Reflect by Kerry Quinn ’15 and John Gramza ’17
This piece represents the viewers place in society: who they are and how they feel in relation to society. Influences: Donald Judd.

 

7. Sarofim School of Fine Arts (North Lawn, in the tree)
The Technology of Life by Krista Nussey ’16
This sculpture is inspired by the organic structure of the Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA) double helix, which is the molecule responsible for the genetic encoding for the growth and development of all living organisms. I use mixed media to create a 3D visualization of the interactions between life and technology and how they have developed a symbiotic relationship. Sources: John Grade and Ai Wei Wei’s installation Descending Light, 2007.

 

8. Roy H. Cullen Academic Mall (Northwest Lawn)
Symbiotic Connections by Bex Petro ’14
This work represents the idea that all organisms are connected; a stargazer lily depends on bacteria to break down the ammonia into usable nitrogen, after this nitrogen has been made, a process known as van der waals interaction takes place as nutrients are then pulled into the lily, and evaporation pulls water out of the leaves new water comes in from the roots bringing nutrients back in. Sources: Ivan Lovatt.

 

9. Lawn between Lois Perkins Chapel and the Olin Building
You Too Can Dream While Parting by Alyssa Lester ’16
This sculpture will represent the visual bridge between reality and unattainable. Sources: Keichi Matsuda, “Prism”, London Design Festival 2012.