Illinois College Campus Sculpture Walk invites public to explore art
The art exhibit is the first of its kind at Illinois College and grew out of a project completed by students in a spatial understanding and 3D design class.
The public is invited to participate in a month-long, interactive art exhibit featuring work created by Illinois College students. Events include an outdoor tour of sculptures on campus, online auction to benefit the arts and a reception.
The exhibit opens November 4, when the steel sculptures will be displayed throughout campus in the various locations selected by each art student. Individual signs will be placed at each sculpture to identify the work and explain the artist’s concept. Members of the public are invited to walk through campus and tour of the artwork during daylight hours while they remain on display until Wednesday, November 29. Tour maps are available on campus weekdays, from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. in Tanner Hall or anytime in Baxter Hall. Maps can also be downloaded here.
The Illinois College Campus Sculpture Walk will feature a guided walk on Saturday, November 18 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Faculty and students will be present to answer questions and speak about the project. The event is free of charge and participants will have the opportunity to make their own sculptures on a smaller scale. Tours will start at the top of each hour and hot chocolate will be provided.
Those interested in purchasing any of the sculptures can participate in an online auction with bidding available November 13-27. Each piece will start at a minimum $100 bid, with a portion of proceeds to benefit The Dreaming Zebra Foundation, a nonprofit that provides art and music supplies to underprivileged children throughout the world.
Winners of the auction will be announced during a special reception on Wednesday, November 29 at Barnes House. Additional details about the reception will be available through the auction website after the page becomes live on November 13.
The art exhibit is the first of its kind at Illinois College and grew out of a project completed by students in a spatial understanding and 3D design class. Jeff Garland, associate professor of art, said he has done a similar project in his class over the last few years, but this is the first class whose work was at the quality level needed to produce the large, steel installations that will be displayed on campus.
Students conceptualized and constructed their artwork through various steps, resulting in the final sculpture. Jerry and De Anne Hemberger of Hemberger Blasted Farm Inc. donated their labor and time along with the materials needed to sandblast and paint each sculpture.
Garland hopes the exhibit will attract the local art communities from Jacksonville and Springfield, area art teachers and their classes and those people who may not have experienced art in this way.
Adding sculpture to a landscape changes how people perceive the environment. You start to understand the nuances and appreciate the way art can be incorporated into everyday life. This is a great way to showcase what IC art students are working on and share a new experience with the community.
Illinois College students presenting work in the exhibit are Nicole Bergschneider ’18, Ryan Bickhaus ’18, Shelby Carey ’18, Jessica Davis ’18, Allison Gerlt ’19, Erica Kemple ’18, Benjamin Kettelkamp ’19, Michael Koos ’20, Joshua Lacey ’18, Tarron McElroy ’20, Christopher Moore ’19, Cassandra Mueller ’19, Kaitlyn Prehoda ’18, Meghan Ruyle ‘19 and Tanner Stockton ’20.
Images of the sculptures are available on the IC Facebook page. For more information, contact Jeff Garland at jeff.garland@ic.edu.