Sculptures adorn USM as part of centennial

Several sculptures have shown up around campus as part of the centennial celebration.

The four sculptures, which are part of an exhibition for the celebration of the USM centennial, are the brainchild of Denise Vonn Herman, dean of the college of arts and letters.

According to Susan Fitzsimmons, associate professor of art and design at USM, the idea for the statues came about on a trip with Von Herman and other COAL faculty members to a college in Georgia.

 “A college in Georgia was having a similar exhibition, and we decided that it was something that we should bring to our campus as well,” said Fitzsimmons.

The sculptures are submissions from artists internationally, with the winners chosen by a jury of Ed Blake, a Hattiesburg area architect; Jennifer Torres, a sculptor and associate professor of the Art and Design department; and Sidney Krhut, the Director of Grounds for USM.

According to Fitzsimmons, the university sent out a call for artists internationally. Each artists was allowed to submit two ideas for sculptures.

“We received over 140 entries, from which we picked five winners,” said Fitzsimmons.

Fitzsimmons added that there were entries from everywhere from Mississippi and Florida, to India and Italy.

The statues will remain in place for one year as part of the celebration of USM’s centennial year.

Of the five winners, four have already been installed, and one has yet to be put in place.

According to Tearrany Street, who is the head of PR for the project, the winners, in addition to having their work in the exhibition received a cash reward for their participation.

“The winners had $10,500 split between them for their work,” said Street.

Jessie Pennypacker, a junior history major from Navarre, Fla. is not a fan of the sculptures. Pennypacker feels that the placement of the sculptures could have been better thought out.  

“I’m all for art, but this does not look professional, nor is it aesthetically pleasing,” said Pennypacker.

Pennypacker added that more consideration should have been put into the symmetry and placing the sculptures where they would have had more function.
“Currently, they are an eyesore,” said Pennypacker.

Martina Lindstrom, an exchange student from Stockholm, Sweden, expressed mixed feelings on the various sculptures.

She is not a fan of the sculpture in front of the LAB, but says that she does like the one that is in front of the international building.

“I really don’t understand that one [outside the LAB], It doesn’t go with the building at all,” said Lindstrom. “I really like the one with the guy sitting cross legged in front of the international building.”

Lindstrom says that the sculpture, called “Inside/Out” by Jason Kimes, compliments the building well.

The exhibition will run until February 2011.