Purdue University North Central celebrates the 16th anniversary of its Odyssey Arts and Cultural Events Series with a public reception and opening of its multi-piece contemporary sculpture exhibit on Saturday, Nov. 8 in the Library-Student-Faculty Building Assembly Hall, Room 02.
The Odyssey 2014– 2015 exhibit includes five new pieces bringing the total to 42 sculptures that grace the 269-acre PNC Westville campus and PNC – Porter County, 600 Vale Park Road in Valparaiso.
Guests are welcome to arrive early to take a self-guided tour of the sculptures located throughout the PNC Westville campus.
The opening will begin at 5 p.m. with a book signing by PNC Chancellor James B. Dworkin, author of the recently published children’s book, “The Dog and the Dolphin.” Books will be available for purchase.
The program will begin at 5:30 with welcoming remarks from Dworkin. Judy Jacobi, PNC assistant vice chancellor of Marketing and Campus Relations, will introduce the new exhibiting sculptors and artists, who will be on hand to discuss their works. Tom Scarff, Odyssey curator emeritus, will also be honored for his work with the Odyssey series through the years.
Following the Odyssey opening activities, from 6:30 to 7 p.m., guests are welcome to view the art on display at PNC. That includes the artwork of noted 20th century artist, George Sugarman which is located 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.
Guests may view “Italy: new/perspectives,” an exhibit of immersive photographs by Joel DeGrand in the Library-Student-Faculty Building, Room 02. Immersive photographs are 360-degree panoramic photographs that give the viewer a feeling of standing in one spot and turning around 360 degrees.
Also open to the public is the exhibit “Flight” a collection of lithographs commissioned by the International Rescue Committee, in the Library-Student-Faulty Building student lounge, Room 062. “Flight” is a series of 12 lithographs, each produced by a modern master of art, representing the artist’s personal interpretation of the struggle for freedom faced by individuals under dire circumstances during World War II.
The exhibit “An Unlikely Hero,” by Chicago-based artist Kenrick McFarlane, is on display in the first floor north study area of the PNC Technology Building.
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 and is on display in the LSF Cybercafé, Room 114, off the first floor foyer.
The steel is displayed near the oil paintings of Jason Poteet, which includes a series named, “New York, New York,” created in tribute to the victims of Sept. 11, the rescue workers and the residents of New York City.
“Our Odyssey sculpture exhibit continues to bring amazing works of art to our campus,” said Jacobi, who has been the driving force behind the Odyssey Arts and Cultural Events Series since its inception. “It is an honor to have these breathtaking sculptures here on public display. The Odyssey series continues to be the largest outdoor art installation in our area and is one of the premier art installations in Indiana and lower Michigan. I invite the public to come to the Purdue North Central campus and spend some time with our sculptures.”
The Odyssey Cultural Series 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 2014 – 2015 are:
Bill Barrett – The sculpture, “Lexeme VIII” is made of Carrara marble and stands 11 feet by 8 feet by 6 feet. It was recently dedicated as a memorial to those who perished at the World Trade Center.
Matthew Berg – “The Underwater Guy Who Controlled the Sea” a piece made of painted steel, copper and aluminum that measures 14 feet high by 3 feet wide by 6 feet deep.
Richard Kiebdaj – “Chrysalis” sits on a base that measures about 30 inches by 40 includes. The steel with macropoxy paint sculpture is 10 feet tall, 4 feet wide and 2 feet deep.
Bruce Niemi – “Celestial Trio” is made of stainless steel. It measures 17 feet high, 7 feet wide and 5 feet, 6 inches deep.
Charles Yost – “Pipe Trapped Apparitions #2: Cut Us Loose” is an aluminum sculpture. It is 22 feet high, 3 feet wide and 3 feet deep.
The existing Odyssey pieces are:
John Adduci – Running Arch, Odysseus
Mike Grucza – Odalisque
Jason Hawk – Don't Panic, The World Isn't Flat
Charles Hendricks & Associates and Lonici Rental Group – Tres Bon Tricycle
Preston Jackson – Haints + History, Travels of My Seven Sisters
Kara James – Tongue Highway
Terry Karpowicz – Heraldic Taunt at PNC – Porter County
Dessa Kirk – Demeter
Michele Lanning – Oh!, Critical Mass in the PNC Library
Rob Lorenson – First Gear, Sentinel
Ruth Aizuss Migdal – Flappers
Brian Monaghan – Slow Dance
David Noguchi – Rise, at PNC – Porter County
Eric Nordgulen – Anatomy Vessel
Jason Poteet – Rumination
Christine Rojek – Breeze Keeper
Fisher Stolz – Seduction
S. Thomas Scarff – Dancing Lady, Geisha Rose, Rainbow Flyer, Windfighter; at PNC – Porter County are Light Ray, Indigo Flame
George Sugarman – A Green Field, Two Part Folding Screen and Two Blues and a Red
Marshall Svendsen – Chicago Industrial
Jason Verbeek – Dragonfly
Zelda Werner – Alexander's Circus
Bruce White – Ghostship, Twin Fin Continuum
Jaci Willis – Effervescence
A number of works are for sale.
The Odyssey sculpture exhibit is open to the public during university hours. Visitors are encouraged to come on Thursdays, Fridays and weekends when parking is ample.
Information on group tours is available by contacting Judy Jacobi, assistant vice chancellor of Marketing and Campus Relations at 219-785- 5593. Persons with disabilities requiring accommodations should contact Jacobi.