The Johnsonian

Issue date: 3/5/08 Section: Arts

You might have noticed the "rock art" appearing around campus, concrete forms that adorn the grounds in front of McLaurin and large rocks and concrete benches exhibited between Margaret Nance and Dinkins.

The two installations are two separate works of art that deal with ideas concerning architecture, the organic and natural and the concept of a gathering place.

The first is a series of untitled student works located in front of McLaurin. The objects are made of concrete over steel frames and were created by Brian Davis's Sculpture II class last semester.

Students involved with the work are junior sculpture major Justin Wilson, senior art major Alyssa Wiener, senior jewelry/metals major Tabitha Ott, senior ceramics Sandy Singletary, sophomore sculpture major Brent Pafford and senior theater major Courtney Blake. A total of six pieces were created, however only five are currently displayed.

Davis describes the work as a result of a collaborative concept derived from the idea of "site construction" discussed in Rosalind Kraussv's "Sculpture in the Expanded Field."

The idea of site construction originates in the 1960's and deals with sculpture that pushes definitions of both landscape and architecture. This series of sculptural seating units does this by creating formal and material relationships with both surrounding architecture and natural elements found on campus.

Students designed the pieces to function as separate seating units in a larger community or gathering area. The work was originally intended to surround the smoking bench nearest Rutledge. Although not intended to expand the range of smoking, the concern arose after partially completed, forcing the installation to be relocated to its current location.

The rock art were intended to further enhance the space as well as encourage student and faculty gathering and interaction.

Senior jewelry/metals major Tabitha Ott, one of the artists, said that the pieces should "allow more seating so that more people can sit together."

She feels the new location severely compromises the success of the work and the piece would have been better accepted and utilized in its original location.

"Now no one sits on them," Ott said. Junior psychology major Jeremy Klutch, however, feels that the pieces are a success.

"The ancient look of the artwork juxtaposes the modern look of campus. It's interesting to walk just a few feet from an academic building to artwork that looks ancient, historic," Klutch said.

Continued...

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