Newell Hall put the finishing touches on a brand-new 14-foot public piece of high-art installation Monday.
The sculpture is meant to represent the agricultural history of the building while also tying in the themes of the learning center — connection, growth and the germination of ideas, Newell Hall’s project manager Howie Ferguson wrote in an email.
Ferguson said the designers planned on including a public piece of art to the new building, but they waited until after the project was complete to install the above-ground sculpture.
“There’s too much going on with a major project, particularly at the end,” Ferguson said. “So it was better for all, including the artist, to let the construction process wrap up first.”
One of the main goals of the sculpture is to provide art for everyone, Ferguson said. He added that the location and size of the sculpture may offer rejuvenation for students hard at work inside the building.
“This and other public art adds depth and richness to the campus, and also hopefully encourages people to think,” Ferguson said.
While everyone’s personal taste in artwork is different, Ferguson said he is hopeful that most people will enjoy the sculpture, which was signed by Watkins Design, a fine arts company based in Athens, New York. Ferguson said those working on the project plan on adding a plaque, which will explain the significance of the piece.
Brian Turney, a UF applied physiology and kinesiology junior who studies at Newell Hall a few times a week, said he thinks the artwork is very abstract.
“I think it’s a good thing to look at if you’re going down this road,” the 19-year-old said, referring to Stadium Road. “It might attract your attention to this building.”
Contact Catie Wegman at cwegman@alligator.org and follow her on Twitter: @catie_wegman.
The Newell Hall Learning Commons just finished the installment of a 14-foot sculpture intended to represent the agricultural history of the building.
