New artwork adorns campuses

May 22, 2012 | Arts, UToday
By Vicki L. Kroll



“Dragonfly” by Pamela Reithmeier

A silver dragonfly shimmers in the sunlight in Ravin Plaza on Centennial Mall. A tall, yellow work reminiscent of origami rises on the east side of the Collier Building. And a long-legged loper strides across the mall in front of the Memorial Field House and the Student Union.

Pamela Reithmeier’s 100-pound stainless steel “Dragonfly,” Brian Ferriby’s painted steel “Semaphore” and John Merigian’s “Ensemble 1” are three of the 10 new pieces installed for the seventh annual Outdoor Sculpture Exhibition.

More than 100 entries were submitted for consideration to the Midwest Sculpture Initiative. The UT Campus Beautification Committee reviewed the submissions and selected the sculptures that were installed earlier this month.

“The placement of the new sculptures each spring is an exciting event for the University,” said Dr. Steven LeBlanc, executive associate dean of academic affairs in the College of Engineering and chair of the Campus Beautification Committee. “We hope that the entire UT community will enjoy the beauty of this artwork that we have brought to the campus.”

Todd Kime’s 700-pound “Through,” a colorful doorway complete with glass accents, beckons north of Ottawa House East and West. Jim Gallucci’s “Garden Gate” offers a gray, metal portal with an ivy theme in Ravin Plaza on Centennial Mall.

“Alchemy of Time,” a blazing figure composed of aluminum rods by Bruce Hathaway, sits near the west entrance of Gillham Hall. And Mike Sohikian’s “Homage to Iron Work” pays tribute to da Vinci in this steel, cast iron and stainless steel kinetic sculpture atop the hill on the west side of University Hall.

Glenn Zweygardt’s steel “Liminal State” weighs in at 1,800 pounds on the east side of Dowling Hall. “28” by Calvin Babich is located near East Rocket Drive by the Student Recreation Center, and Ray Katz’s “Sentinel,” 400 pounds of welded, fabricated and painted steel, can be found on the east side of the Health and Human Services Building.

All artists received a stipend for their works, which will remain on display for the next year.

This exhibition is funded by the Campus Beautification Committee.

“The motto of the committee is ‘The beauty of the campus is our gift to the future,’” LeBlanc said.

He stressed that the annual exhibit is made possible through donor gifts.

“If members of the campus community would like to see this exhibit continue, they should please consider a donation to the Campus Beautification Fund through the UT Foundation,” he said.

The University owns 16 sculptures to complement the annual works on display.

“Semaphore” by Brian Ferriby

“Ensemble 1” by John Merigian

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