Date: September 26, 2003
Contact: Carol Connelly, Director, Media & Communication Services, ext. 5267, cconnelly@pnc.edu

PNC Odyssey Arts and Cultural Events Series Opens Oct. 9

Bob Emser (L) looks on as Terrence Karpowicz works on "NEKAY" during the recent Odyssey symposium.

WESTVILLE – Purdue University North Central will celebrate the fifth year of its Odyssey Arts and Cultural Events Series with a public opening of its multi-piece contemporary sculpture exhibit, Odyssey 2003–04 on Thursday, Oct. 9, from 2 to 5 p.m. in the Library-Student-Faculty Building Assembly Hall Room 02. The program is free and open to the public. Families and children are encouraged to attend. Refreshments will be served. RSVPs are suggested to Carol Connelly at cconnelly@pnc.edu or 1-800-872-1231, ext. 5267.

The Odyssey exhibit brings together more than 10 sculptors who have created new works of art to grace the 305 acres of the PNC campus.

Artist Barry Tinsley, of New Carlisle, who has had several sculptures featured in past Odyssey exhibits, hosted a week-long working sculpture symposium during August, bringing together the artists and allowing them to pool resources and to create original works of art.

Tinsley reflected on the experience, "The highlight for me was the ability to collaborate on approaches to specific challenges and work closely with colleagues who I wouldn't otherwise have gotten to know as well."

Tinsley who now has one piece on the campus, Hamilton, has just finished constructing “Springville Portal,” an arch constructed of steel, a concept that is his signature in many cities.

Despite the heat, swarms of insects and rainstorms, sculptors like Terrence Karpowicz were undeterred. “This is what it's all about. You're focused, and you push forward. It's all about the experience of making art." Karpowicz has curated PierWalk at Chicago’s Navy Pier and was installation manager for the 1999 Chicago Cows on Parade.

His new piece for PNC is entitled NEKAY and will be of interest to children with its whimsical figurative elements.

Tom Scarff, curator of the PNC Odyssey sculpture shows, remarked, "This show will be filled with challenging pieces. Expect many visual knockouts.”

Sculptor Bob Emser, former executive director of PierWalk, said he is looking forward to having his piece, “Shelter from the Storm,” exhibited at PNC. “The space for sculpture here is remarkable, with many open and garden sites for pieces. To my knowledge, there is no other university of this size in this country that has this many sculptures on its grounds.”

In addition to the 27 featured pieces, an exhibit of Frank Lloyd Wright items from “Samara” one of his outstanding homes of the Usonian period, will be open for viewing. The home’s sole owner, Dr. John Christian, along with Dr. Wallace Rogers, author of “Samara: The Winged Seeds of Indiana,” will be present to sign books and chat with guests. The book and other Frank Lloyd Wright items are available in the PNC bookstore.
The Odyssey Cultural Series will feature a variety of other events throughout the year, including exhibits of photographs by LaPorte County native Rebecca Janes, as well as a series of films shown during the coming months.

Sculptors exhibiting their works as part of the Odyssey 2003-04 and their works are:

Phillip Shore — Tirin's Passage — a steel and gold guilt column reminiscent of ancient Mesopotamia.

Sherry Giryotas — In the Name of… — a piece designed for contemplation made from 1,500 pounds of fragrant beeswax.

Brian Monaghan — Chicagoscape — a large painted steel piece that soars more than 20 feet.

John Mishler — Way of the Wind — a whimsical kinetic piece that responds to air currents.

John E. Bannon — Point of You — a neon work facing U.S. 421 that chronicles the human life cycle from infancy to elderhood.

Bob Emser — Shelter from the Storm — A mixed-media piece that is a habitat seating several people.

Richard Heinrich — Off-Minor — An 18-foot-tall steel piece dedicated to the memory of jazz musician Thelonius Monk.

Terrence Karpowicz — NEKAY — The artist’s interpretation of the winged goddess of victory.

Mike Helbing — Skynet with Objects — a stainless steel structure and largely open work that graphs a celestial space.

Barry Tinsley — Springville Portal — An expansive arch-like door to another plane of existence.

Michele Goldstrom — O Positive, The Universal Donor — A bronze multi-piece installation of hemoglobin-like cells.

Patrick McDonald — Shield — A substantial concrete and steel structure that protects.

Derick Malkemus — Aligning with Kathryn — a sculptural metaphor for a personal relationship.

Jessica M. Swift — Light Time/Flight Time — Two glass sculptured works inspired by nature and photographic imagery.

Existing Odyssey pieces:

S. Thomas Scarff — Windfighter, Geisha Rose and Rainbow Flyer

Stephen Hokanson — Cosmos/Chaos      

David Nelson — Widow’s Watch 

Michele Goldstrom — Oh! 

Michael Young — Night Landing

Dessa Kirk — Daphne 

John Adduci — Running Arch, Odysseus 

 Rob Lorenson — Sentinel  

Barry Tinsley — Hamilton

Zelda Werner — Alexander’s Circus

Further information can be obtained by contacting Judy Jacobi, director of marketing at 1-800-872-1231, ext. 5593. Persons needing special accommodations should contact Jacobi.

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