By Shirley Wilson
UHCLIDIAN STAFF

As students rush from class to class focused on their academic goals, they may barely notice the campus sculptures complementing the scenic, natural beauty of UH-Clear Lake.

The university has 16 sculptures on campus-four displayed outside and 12 in the Bayou Building. Nature, society and communication are common themes in many of the works.

"Spiritus Mundi," "The Firebird" and "Flight" are three exterior sculptures. Pablo Serrano, a renowned Spanish sculptor, created "Spiritus Mundi." The abstract sculpture, acquired in 1977, is in front of the university. The translation of "Spiritus Mundi" is "Spirit of the World." Serrano's concept is described as "the juxtaposition and tension within each pairing of life." The two bronze objects are arranged in an adversarial pose. Each object has a polished side and a dark-patina side with handprints. The two halves represent something separated, yet is part of itself. Serrano died in 1985.

"[In Spiritus Mundi], I see Yin and Yang, or good and bad in the human condition," said Jennifer Carnes, humanities major.

Richard Hunt, internationally renowned Chicago sculptor, created "The Firebird." "The Firebird" was installed in 1978 next to the student parking lot. The abstract bird is made from corten steel. Hunt's work symbolizes the link between nature and the urban, industrial society.

"The Firebird's" curvilinear wings create movement and the wavy shape symbolizes fire, an element of destruction and purification. Hunt's prolific career has produced more than 55 public sculptures. His work is found in prominent collections such as the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Museum of Modern Art and Cleveland Museum of Art. Even at age 67, Hunt still uses a 60-pound sledgehammer to create his sculptures, said Eric Stephenson, Hunt's studio assistant.

"Corten is an industral material used in shipbuilding that was being used for sculpture during the '70s. It was durable and good for exterior use," Stephenson said. "There is no patina on the sculpture. Corten is alloyed silver that forms a rough encasement and seals itself when exposed to the elements."

H.J. Bott, a Houston sculptor, created "Flight." In 1976, "Flight" was installed near the bridge over Horsepen Bayou. The sculpture is on a time-capsule pedestal to be opened in 2076. The pedestal has a plaque that says "Man Passes from the Scene But His Works Remain." Bott's concept is related to a NASA space flight. The bronze statue has a polished, rhomboidal shape mounted on a black base. The abstract wings are curved to reflect light at each end.

The cut-away-back and tilt of the sculpture creates a feeling of movement. Bott, who teaches at Houston Community College, works and exhibits in the Houston area.

"[The concept] was tied into the school and NASA, since many of the things in the time capsule had to do with NASA," Bott said. "The whole idea of flight is more than just a bird. This concept came from an organic series that I did on flight since 1972 called Bott 'Burds.' It was an ongoing series of 1,024 pieces and every piece was made of different material."

Masaru Takiguchi, internationally recognized sculptor, created the two marble, abstract statues by the library in Atrium I. "The Ocean" was installed in 1975 and "Embracing" in 1977. Takiguchi sculpts and exhibits in Houston since moving from Japan in 1968.

"'The Ocean' is made from Alabama marble and has tiny crystals," Takiguchi said. "I wanted 'The Ocean' to look like an ocean wave; nature's energy. I wanted to accomplish a feeling of nature. 'Embracing' is made from Georgia marble and has medium crystals."

The curvature of the line in "Embracing" represents arms reaching, stretching, holding and touching as it moves around the surface of an openly defined space and its center.

Kurt Delbanco created "Quasi One" and "Quasi Two" in Atrium I, installed in 1976. The abstract, laminated-wood sculpture is in three movable sections expressing different emotions when rearranged. Delbanco, now deceased, was a Jewish-German immigrant affected by fascism during the '30s and '40s.

"The interesting thing is that each time you look at it, you see something else," said Josh White, computer science major. "I've seen people doing different things and imagined what they're doing."

Other sculptures in the Bayou Building include "Flying Birds" by David Parsons; "Steel Study" by Richard Crovello; "Black Leaf" by Haydn Larson and "Ancient Order" by Benji Hutchins.

"Alfred Neumann, the founding chancellor, and Calvin Cannon, former dean of human sciences and humanities, selected the earlier sculptures," said Nick de Vries, professor of fine arts.

Now, an Art Acquisition Advisory Board, with broad university representation, will recommend art for the new building, de Vries said. This board works with a system-wide art acquisition committee advising the University of Houston System.

From top to bottom: "Black Leaf," Haydn Larson; "The Ocean," Masaru Takiguchi; "Spiritus Mundi," Pablo Serrano; "Flying Birds," David Parsons; "Flight," H.J. Bott; "Quasi One," Kurt Delbanco; "Steel Study," Richard Crovello; "Embracing," Masaru Takiguchi; "The Firebird," Richard Hunt.
photos by Shirley Wilson






Many of the sculptures at UH-Clear Lake are purchased with art acquisition funds available through state funding. This funding requires 1 percent of the cost for new construction projects in excess of $1 million be set aside for art.

Top of Page | Front Page