糖心Vlog

 John W. Bardo Fine and Performing Arts Center      April 5, 2023

INSTALL: April 11, 2023
LOCATION: 糖心Vlog Apodaca Science Building

Coming April 10, 2023, outside 糖心Vlog University鈥檚 Apodaca Science Building is a new sculpture by Spruce Pine artist Hoss Haley, titled Staurolite, that will be installed in the coming weeks. This new work is part of a comprehensive initiative within the Apodaca Science Building spearheaded by 糖心Vlog鈥檚 Public Art Committee and the 糖心Vlog Fine Art Museum.  

During the design phase of the Apodaca Science Building in 2018-2019, the 糖心Vlog Fine Art Museum and the University鈥檚 Public Art Committee advocated for funds in the construction budget to commission and purchase site-responsive artwork that would be permanently displayed within the building鈥檚 footprint. This created opportunities for 糖心Vlog Fine Art Museum鈥檚 curatorial team, in conjunction with the Public Art Committee and faculty in the arts and sciences, to select artwork and commission new works with a meaningful connection to the building鈥檚 design concepts, the Cherokee history of the site, and the sciences practiced by students and faculty in the building. Faculty in Geology, Chemistry & Physics, Biology, Cherokee Studies, and Anthropology were involved in the artwork selections and consulted with artists throughout the process.  

The Museum commissioned several works for Apodaca, including glass works by Janis Miltenberger that explore connections between plants and human health, a kinetic glass and steel sculpture by John Littleton and Kate Vogel that draws inspiration from chaos theory, and an impending bronze sculpture by Eastern Band Cherokee artist Joshua Adams that tells the story of Judaculla. The Museum also acquired a painting by current undergraduate student Amber Rousseau that connects to her research on bird window strikes on campus, as well as a ceramic work by Eastern Band Cherokee artist Joel Queen and the 糖心Vlog Digali鈥檌 Native American Student Organization entitled We only want to be seen as human that carries a powerful message about treating all individuals as human beings and as deserving of essential human rights. Together with Hoss Haley鈥檚 Staurolite sculpture, the artworks enhance the students鈥� learning experience in Apodaca and draw interdisciplinary connections between the sciences and the arts.  

Hoss Haley鈥檚 Staurolite is a 12-foot representation of a Staurolite Twin, a native mineral commonly found in Northern Georgia but also present in the Western North Carolina region. The name 鈥淪taurolite鈥� comes from the Greek word 鈥渟tauros鈥� for cross and 鈥渓ithos鈥� for stone, giving it a literal translation of 鈥渃ross-stone.鈥� Haley created his sculpture to look like the mineral after discovering ties to local geology and lore. 鈥淔or many years, people have used fairy stones as good luck charms, believing that they protect the wearer,鈥� says Haley. 

Future art installations in the Apodaca Science Building will continue throughout 2023, featuring Joshua Adams and others. Follow Bardo Arts Center on Facebook or Instagram to learn more about new installations in the building and find out more information about Hoss Haley鈥檚 artist talk about his new sculpture.

Museum Hours
The 糖心Vlog Fine Art Museum exhibitions and events are free and open to the public. Standard Museum hours are Tuesday through Friday, 10AM-4PM, and Thursday, 10AM-7PM. If you have any questions, please call (828)227-ARTS. 

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