PNC Odyssey Sculpture Show Debuts

Rubber Tipped Crane by Christine Rojek Download photo here.

WESTVILLE – Purdue University North Central celebrates the ninth year of its Odyssey Arts and Cultural Events Series with a public opening of its multi-piece contemporary sculpture exhibit, Odyssey 2007 – 08 on Friday, Oct. 12, at 5 to 6:30 p.m. in the Library-Student-Faculty Building Assembly Hall Room 02. Artists’ comments will begin at 5:30 p.m. The program is free and open to the public. Refreshments will be served.

The Odyssey exhibit brings together eight new sculptures that bring a total of 30 sculptures to grace the 268 acre campus of the PNC Westville campus and at PNC – Porter County, 600 Vale Park Road in Valparaiso.

S. Thomas Scarff, in his ninth year as curator of the PNC Odyssey sculpture exhibits, remarks, “I am excited that in the ninth year we are expecting some dynamic pieces. Once again, the sculptors have provided us with a variety of works that are compelling and thought-provoking.”

The Odyssey Cultural Series features a number of events throughout the year, including exhibits of art, film showings and presentations.

Exhibits of photography, paintings, mixed media and small sculpture may be viewed in the Library Gallery located on the second floor of the Library-Student-Faculty Building. On exhibit are the works of Greta Cune, a visiting artist from The Hague, Netherlands, John Horwitz, Deb Landry and Donna Perdue of Aradise and a variety of small pieces by Austin Collins, John Henry, Faheem Majeed, Eric Nordgulen, Scarff, Peter Smith-Phillips, Barry Tinsley, Bruce White and Michael Young.

Artists who will debut works as part of Odyssey 2007-08 are:

John E. Bannon, Universe. A rotating life-size human figure covered with mirrors sits atop a radio tower. Red, green, and blue lights project onto the figure and reflect different symbols over the surrounding area.

Austin Collins, Elevator Temple. This is meant to invoke in the viewer a sense of sacred space, of retreating, of reflection and of the need to take active charge of his or her destiny.

Michael Dunbar, Jendiva. Fabricated from solid steel plate, Jendiva weighs nine tons. With only two of three contact points visible from most angles, the sculpture creates the illusion of animated levitation.

Isaac Duncan, Cross This. A stainless steel piece that challenges space and gravity. The sculptor uses grinding marks to subliminally guide the viewer up and around the piece.

Preston Jackson, Haints + History. This piece returns to PNC. The 25- foot piece in stainless steel and bronze presents a lesson about the hardships of several immigrant groups. The freed souls of the dead accompany a ship of Africans, Irish and Jews who, among others, suffered in their passage to America.

Preston Jackson, Travels of My Seven Sisters. The stories of the seven ravens center around a determined people who, no matter what the circumstances they find themselves in, continue to survive.

Jason Poteet, Rumination. A welded steel piece, painted orange. It is based on the spiritual ruminations of an unknown monk.

Christine Rojek, Rubber Tipped Crane. A wind activated, brushed aluminum and black rubber piece.

Existing Odyssey pieces are:

John Adduci – Running Arch

Ron Gard – French Kiss

Michele Goldstrom – Oh! 

Mike Helbing –Victory at Samothrace

John Henry – Star Pointer

Kara James – Handmade Revolution

Richard Kiebdaj – Chamber Muse Synesthesia

Dessa Kirk – Demeter

Rob Lorenson – First Gear; Sentinel

David Noguchi – Rise at PNC – Porter County

Eric Nordgulen – Anatomy Vessel

Fritz Olsen – Sunflower Family

S. Thomas Scarff – Geisha Rose, Rainbow Flyer; Light Ray, Indigo Flame, Eyepiece at PNC – Porter County

Jessica M. Swift – Light Time/Flight Time

Michael Young – A Point Free, Swoop

Zelda Werner – Alexander's Circus

Most works are for sale.

The Odyssey sculpture exhibit is open to the public during university hours. Visitors are encouraged to come on Thursdays and Fridays when parking is ample. Self-guided sculpture tour maps can be downloaded at http://www.pnc.edu/odyssey/flyer.pdf. The Web site for the Odyssey 2007-08 sculpture exhibit is http://www.pnc.edu/odyssey. Information on group tours is available by contacting Judy Jacobi, director of marketing at 800-872-1231, ext. 5593. Persons with disabilities requiring accommodations should contact Liz Bernel at ext. 5719.

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