Purdue University North Central celebrates the 13th anniversary of its Odyssey Arts and Cultural Events Series with a public opening and reception of its multi-piece contemporary sculpture exhibit on Saturday, Oct. 22, from 5 to 6:30 p.m. in the Library-Student-Faculty Building Assembly Hall, Room 02.
Visitors to campus are welcome to arrive early to take a self-guided tour of the 35 sculptures located throughout the PNC Westville campus.
In Assembly Hall, refreshments and conversation will begin at 5 p.m. Remarks by PNC Chancellor Dr. James B. Dworkin and Judy Jacobi, assistant vice chancellor of Marketing and Campus Relations, will begin at 5:30. Jacobi will introduce this year's Odyssey sculptors and their sculptures. A number of the exhibiting sculptors and artists will be on hand to speak about their work. Refreshments will be served.
Following the Odyssey opening activities, guests are welcome to view the art currently on display at PNC. This includes the exhibits "Expressions in Watercolor" by Pat Lansford, in the Library-Student-Faculty Building student lounge, Room 062 and "The Surreal Art of Science by Jack Harris" in Assembly Hall. "Illuminations & Explorations: Drawings of the Aurora Borealis" by Olivia Petrides, is in the Technology Building first floor north study lounge. That building will be open until 7:30 p.m.
PNC is the permanent home of a section of a steel beam recovered from the World Trade Center in New York, after its Sept. 11, 2001 collapse. It is displayed in the LSF Cybercafé, Room 114, off the first floor foyer.
The artwork of noted 20th century artist, George Sugarman is on display in the Library Odyssey Gallery on the second floor of the LSF Building. This collection includes sculptures, a variety of framed paintings, a tribute wall of 35 framed works, a montage of photographs depicting the artist and his biography. The library, usually closed on Saturdays, will be open from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m.
The Odyssey 2011 -2012 exhibit includes four new pieces bringing the total to 35 sculptures that grace the 268-acre campus of the PNC Westville campus and PNC - Porter County, 600 Vale Park Road in Valparaiso.
S. Thomas Scarff, in his 13th year as curator of the PNC Odyssey sculpture exhibits, remarks, "The Odyssey series is the largest outdoor art installation in our area and it is one of the premier art installations in Northwest Indiana and Lower Michigan. The exhibit offers breathtaking, dynamic and thought-provoking pieces that cannot be seen elsewhere. I invite everyone to come out to enjoy this unique exhibit."
The Odyssey Cultural Series also includes a number of events throughout the year, including exhibits of art, film showings and presentations.
Sculptors who will debut works as part of Odyssey 2011 - 12 are:
Visit the PNC Website
1401 S US 421
Westville, IN 46391
Phone: 219-785-5200
Ron Gard - "The Struggle Against Death" is a stainless steel and bronze sculpture measuring 9-feet by 3-feet by 4-feet. The title is an excerpt from the anonymous quote, "All the Arts and Sciences have their roots in the struggle against death." Guard interprets that to mean that everyone's aspirations strive to transcend mortality. He dedicated this piece to his recently deceased brother who has already transcended his own mortality. "In this piece, my hand for his, I hope to have made something that will pay appropriate tribute to him," said Gard.
Mike Grucza - "Lake Street Lovely" measures 15-feet by 9-feet by 9-feet and is composed of powder -coated and painted aluminum, and stainless steel hardware. This was inspired by the artist's love for structures built of steel and rivets, such as those of the Chicago bridges and rail lines, and it is his homage to ironworkers. Grucza enjoys using steel in its simplest form and exploring the beauty of ironwork. The sculpture's bright colors and figurative qualities emerged from his fascination with primitive art and children's drawings and toys.
Jason Hawk - "Don't Panic, The World Isn't Flat." This sculpture is made of concrete and polychrome steel and measures 8 -feet by 2-feet by 7-feet. The artist explained that he intends for this piece to serve as the catalyst for viewers to create a unique narrative. His work is driven by simple joys and beauties found in everyday life. But he also intends for the work to evoke a critique on society's values and hang-ups. He asks, "What will people think they when look back at our society in a thousand years? Will they laugh or will they cast down their eyes in shame?"
Jaci Willis - "Effervescence" is a stainless steel and glass piece measuring 10-feet by 8-feet by 12-feet. "Effervescence" conveys life's twists and turns and the artist's elation of finding what her journey in life was about. She expresses the currents that run through life as waves running through a spiral. The spiral is a symbol for life's continuous and ever-flowing journey. Small rings are a reminder of bubbles in the water. In some rings, blue glass symbolizes that life is a spiritual journey and we are all in this together. Never be afraid to jump in.