The sculptures were dedicated by the artists in a walking tour on Friday, May 16, which coincided with Arts! Arcata.
The starting point for the tour is Where We Stand, a steel trapezoidal house created by art senior Elizabeth P. Johnson. The house is filled with aluminum fishing floats painted to resemble a large apple and a cluster of oranges, with simulated oil seeping from the apple.
“The sculpture is about the imbalance in our food, clothing and shelter, where some people have too much and some people are struggling to survive,” Johnson said. “After you obtain those basic needs, instead of next seeking knowledge, there’s a tendency toward transportation as the next objective. We identify cars as part of our intellect, when they’re just material wealth. What should be your next step?”
The sculpture has special meaning to Johnson who enrolled in HSU 27 years ago, but deferred her education in order to raise her family. She graduated this last Saturday.
A block to the east rests The Earth Eye, a bronze bas relief rain catcher by oceanography senior Simon Kang that was inspired by the eye of a blue whale. The rain catcher is a low profile piece installed in a planter near the center of the Arcata Plaza.
One more block east is The Infundibulum, a bench composed of steel, glass and redwood boards.
“It’s a transport machine,” said its designer Chris Kieselhorst. “When you sit on the bench you have the potential too be transported anywhere you desire.” It’s located at the bus station adjacent to the Arcata Ball Park.
Kieselhorst is a recent industrial technology graduate who has since founded Ironside Metal Works in Trinidad, producing functional art.
Urban Beautification, Two Years Running
The sculpture project is in its second year, with three sculptures by other student artists dedicated last year. The idea was the brainchild of a handful of landscape design volunteers calling themselves the Arcata Arts and Arbor Committee, in collaboration with the City of Arcata and the HSU Art Department.
Students submitted proposals to a jury consisting of HSU and visiting faculty. Each proposal included resumes, photos of previous work, drawings, models and a budget for materials.
“It’s an excellent senior bridge project, taking you out of the realm of being a student and into the types of activities you plan and perform as a professional artist,” said Sondra Schwetman, assistant professor and project coordinator.
The city provided $4,000 in start-up funds, and a grant of $1,000 was obtained from the Arcata Foundation, with fundraising led by Vice-Mayor Alex Stillman working as a private citizen. The students received up to a $1,500 stipend. The amount varied based upon the scope of, and materials used in, each sculpture. Kieselhorst donated half of his stipend back to the project.
A fourth sculpture by art senior Jimmie Nord was also funded and will be installed in late summer.