DeKALB – The Stevens Sculpture dedication, meant to acknowledge the renovation of the Stevens Building and installation of the art sculpture, called “The Tribesman, The Hero and The Light,” in front of the building, took place at 11 a.m. Thursday.
Laurie Elish-Piper, executive vice president and provost, opened the event and introduced Paul Kassel, dean of the College of Visual and Performing Arts and Bob Brinkmann, dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. Kassel then introduced Alex Gelman, former director of theater and Dance who oversaw the Stevens Building renovations. Gelman then provided his comments representing the renovation committee.
The sculpture consists of three stainless steel circles, each one with a human performing a different kind of dynamic motion on it. For the dedication, each of the circles were wrapped in a red ribbon to be cut.
The first ribbon was cut by Elish-Piper. Kassel and Brinkmann cut the ribbon on the second sphere, and Gelman cut the ribbon for the third sphere. Mitch Irwin, chair of anthropology, and Roxanna Conner, director of theater and dance, joined to cut the third ribbon with Gelman.
Hot dogs, chips and drinks were provided for the public after the dedication.
Kyara Chisolm, a senior acting major and artist, explained what she likes most about the sculpture.
“The way that they were put together with that metal is so interesting. The different positions give you a visceral feeling,” Chisolm said
Boyan Marinov, the sculpture’s creator, explains the inspiration behind the design.
“The building is, like with dance and performance and anthropology, connected to humans and their behavior and I’m a figurative artist, so I like my pieces to be more understandable,” Marinov said.
Marinov explained the difficulties in making the piece and how this piece was his biggest piece.
“This, so far, is my biggest piece. If you separate them, they’re not the biggest, but all together as a group,” Marinov said. “To me, the hardest part, because it’s through the state is a lot of bureaucracy and things you’ve gotta comply with. Basically, you’re playing the role of GC (general contractor), but it was a good experience which is definitely going to help me with future projects.”
