Office of Public Relations:                                           For more information, contact: Stephen E. Snyder

(229) 931-2028                                                                         (229) 931-2037 ssnyder@canes.gsw.edu

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April 24, 2009

GSW Art Department builds unique sculpture

            AMERICUS—Have you ever wondered what happens to a car after one parks in its final lot? Faculty and students of Georgia Southwestern State University’s (GSW) Department of Visual Arts recently answered this question with an incredible piece of artwork.

            In a collaborative effort, GSW Visual Arts designed and built a sculpture for Harris Equipment Company’s 120 year celebration to implement in their 2009 trade show program. Headquartered in Peachtree City, Harris is a world class leader in the design, manufacture and support of scrap processing, recycling and waste handling equipment. Staff from Harris’ manufacturing facility in nearby Cordele solicited Georgia Southwestern’s visual art expertise.

            To collect ideas and gain an understanding for sculpture design, Visual Arts faculty viewed videos, brochures and toured Harris’ Cordele facility. They were assisted by Craig Mullis, Harris industrial engineer.

            “I wanted the sculpture to have the same qualities and integrity I believe [Harris’] equipment has,” said Charles Wells, GSW assistant professor of Visual Arts and lead sculptor. “I think the sculpture uses every art making process that exists. From clay all the way on, every studio was used. I hope people see what our capabilities are and the level of craftsmanship we put into our work.”   

            Using wet clay slabs, GSW art faculty and students took impressions of parts and tools unique to Harris equipment. The impressions were then used to make plaster molds and wax components to pour into GSW’s bronze foundry and cast in its glass blowing studio.       

            “University sculpture programs are never equipped to build at the huge industrial scale, so we were all astounded by the highly crafted approach to building giant machines,” said Laurel Robinson, chair of the GSW Department of Visual Arts.

            The finished sculpture is astounding in its own right. It weighs nearly 500 pounds, and a total of 20 faculty and students spent more than one month to build it. The bronze used for the project was either scrap from Harris or donated from Macon Iron. Other metal used was new and donated by Harris. Miniature cars made of bronze appear to travel into the sculpture. They were cast from Matchbox toy cars. The main body structure of the sculpture was cut by Harris, and it represents the hallmark shape of Harris machines. Red energy saving fluorescent bulbs accentuate the glass “H” in the sculpture.

            Wells was the sculpture’s primary metal fabricator. Chris Fiertner, GSW alumnus and adjunct professor of Visual arts, did the glass casting and electrical wiring.

            The sculpture will be on display April 27-29 in Harris’ booth at the Institute of Scrap Recycling Industry’s national trade show in Las Vegas and again at the Waste Expo in June, also in Las Vegas.

            For more information about the sculpture or Georgia Southwestern’s award winning Visual Arts program, call (229) 931-2204 or go online: www.gsw.edu.

PHOTOS AVAILABLE

            Visual Arts faculty and students from Georgia Southwestern pose with the unique sculpture they created for Harris Equipment Company.

             A work of art--Georgia Southwestern's Department of Visual Arts designed and build a unique sculpture for a Georgia equipment company.