COMMENCE Sculpture Project returns with student installations across campus

May 23, 2024
Student with metal sculpture

Owen Martinez "Nice Throw"

Student with octopus sculpture

Ash Gregorio "Quilted Octopus"

Student with rocket sculpture

Alphonso Palermo "Rocket"

Student with banner sculpture

Margaret Ahvenainen "Surface of the Water from Below"

Student with pool cue sculpture

Sophia Ann Miller "Cue in Hand"

Student with woven fabric sculpture

Diane McNulty "A Day at the Carousel"

Fabric sculpture at night

"A Day at the Carousel" at night

Student with tub sculpture

Angela Houser "Warning - No Lifeguard on Duty"

Bathtub sculpture

"Warning - No Lifeguard on Duty" sculpture

Student with metal sculpture
Student with octopus sculpture
Student with rocket sculpture
Student with banner sculpture
Student with pool cue sculpture
Student with woven fabric sculpture
Fabric sculpture at night
Student with tub sculpture
Bathtub sculpture

Creators of the pieces in the COMMENCE Sculpture project led faculty, staff, family, and friends on a tour showcasing and answering questions about their works. Back for the first time since the COVID pandemic, the sculpture class COMMENCE (Art 437) final projects are installed across campus during the week preceding Commencement.  

In this intensive studio course, students learn the steps to creating public art projects, including proposal writing, model building, presenting, and fabrication. Taught by Visiting Assistant Professor of Sculpture Alexander Hanson this spring’s COMMENCE resulted in eight sculptures installed mainly around Salazar, Stephenson, and the art building.