There are various art exhibits and pieces that adorn NSU’s campus. While most of these may be well known, such as the shark statue in front of the Don Taft University Center or the shark fin floating in Gold Circle Lake, their histories and how they came to be may be a mystery to some. To shed light on both the origins and history of the various installations of art around campus, The Current will explore the readily noticeable pieces in this issue and the more mysterious pieces found around the campus in a later issue.
The Shark Statue
Rising majestically before the doors of the Don Taft University Center, the shark statue was crafted by famed international wildlife sculptor Kent Ullberg and commissioned by NSU’s Pan-Student Government Association. The Mako shark is sculpted from bronze and bears a mouth filled with 76, individually sculpted, stainless steel teeth. The entire statue weighs 3,000 pounds and is 17 feet high. The statue was unveiled during NSU’s 2009 Homecoming ceremonies on Feb. 11, an evening that also saw the formal naming of the University Center in honor of philanthropist and businessman, Don Taft.
The Chihuly Exhibit
The NSU Glass Garden in the Alvin Sherman Library’s mezzanine, at the summit of the grand staircase, was originally commissioned in 2007 by the Circle of Friends for the Library. The Glass Garden was created by world renowned glass-blower Dale Chihuly and was funded as a permanent installation by private donations. The exhibit was originally designed to resemble botanical forms, and meant to be placed within public gardens. The garden may not look natural, but they definitely are based upon the natural world. More information and examples of Chihuly’s work can be found at his website www.chihuly.com.
Withstanding Presence
Standing proudly in the center of the Alvin Sherman Library atrium, the spire of stone that bewilders freshmen and seniors alike was donated in part by the Circle of Friends for the Alvin Sherman Library in 2000. A permanent installation on the atrium floor, the Withstanding Presence is crafted from 160 million year old Chauvigny Stone (French Limestone) and stands 12 feet high. The monument was realized by world-renowned sculptor Beverly Pepper as an interpretive work with a heavy air of abstraction. Pepper’s work has graced many locations worldwide, and she is represented in many public and corporate collections. For more information about Pepper and her art, visit her website at www.beverlypepper.org.
