“Dancer,” stainless steel, by James Havens
The pieces are two of the 10 new works installed for the fifth annual Outdoor Sculpture Exhibition. In addition, a few favorites have been purchased or retained.
Nearly 100 artists submitted entries for consideration to the Midwest Sculpture Initiative. The UT Campus Beautification Committee reviewed the submissions and selected the pieces on display.
“I want people to be visually entertained by the works,” said Tom Lingeman, professor of art and member of the Campus Beautification Committee, who chaired the selection committee. “From an educational point of view, I want students to come away with an understanding of how sculpture enhances the environment.
“That’s what we tried to do — enhance the physical environment,” he said of Campus Beautification Committee and selection committee members Richard Eastop, former UT administrator; Dan Klett, director of facilities planning; Joel Lipman, professor of English; and Dr. Celia Regimbal, associate professor of early childhood, physical and special education.
New works on Centennial Mall are “Puzzler” by Calvin Babich, “Harp” by Michael Sohikian and “Dancer” by James Havens. Staying in the mall will be “Darters” by Tom Rudd.
“Viking Totems” by Ric Leichliter is located between University and Gillham halls, and “Flutter Archway III” by Jim Gallucci is on the hilltop between Libbey and University halls.
Dr. Steven LeBlanc, associate dean in the College of Engineering and chair of the Campus Beautification Committee, said a piece from last year’s exhibit, “Balancing Act” by Calvin Babich, was purchased by an anonymous donor in honor of the 100th anniversary of the College of Arts and Sciences and was moved to the east side of University Hall.
Mark Chatterley posed for a photo by his sculpture, “Fairy Circle,” after installing it on Health Science Campus.
Other new pieces on Main Campus are Dave Vande Vusse’s “Sun Over the Red Sea,” which is located near Ottawa East and the University/Parks Trail; Ken Thompson’s “Western Trilogy Revisited,” which sits near the Driscoll Alumni Center; and Ray Katz’s “Construction,” which is near the main entrance to Nitshcke Hall.
The two new works placed on Health Science Campus are Mark Chatterley’s “Fairy Circle,” which is located near the entrance to UT Medical Center by Mulford Library, and Austin Collins’ “Temple VI,” which sits on the south side of the Health Education Building.
“I hope when people look at the work that they realize the arts are very important at The University of Toledo,” Lingeman said. “And even though the Department of Art is located on the Toledo Museum of Art Campus, its effect reaches all campuses and the community.”
“The motto of the Campus Beautification Committee is ‘The beauty of the campus is our gift to the future.’ We hope that the entire UT community will enjoy the beauty of these sculptures that we have brought to the campus,” LeBlanc said.
All artists received a $250 stipend for their artwork, which will remain in their current locations for the next year. This exhibition is funded by the Campus Beautification Committee.
