FAYETTEVILLE : UA Law School installs three sculptures
Posted on Thursday, November 29, 2007
FAYETTEVILLE — About 200 pieces of Texas rose granite are scheduled to begin arriving by truck today at the University of Arkansas.
Weighing from 1, 200 to 2, 500 pounds each, they are the building blocks of a memorial courtyard at the UA School of Law in honor of the late Richard Atkinson. Three years ago the law school dean envisioned a courtyard designed by Texas sculptor Jesus Moroles.
It’s a vision that is being carried out in Atkinson’s memory after he died unexpectedly of a heart condition during a trip to Chicago in August 2005.
“It really is a fitting tribute to a much beloved member of our faculty,” said Cyndi Nance, who became dean in July 2006. “He had such a strong aesthetic sense, and we’re all benefiting from that now.” The Richard B. Atkinson Memorial Courtyard is a part of a $ 17. 5 million renovation of the Robert A. Leflar Law Center, including demolition of the 56-year-old Waterman Hall courtroom and a 64, 400-square-foot expansion.
Construction is expected to be complete by the end of January.
The renovations are being paid for with a $ 12 million bond, $ 2. 5 million from the law school and university, and $ 3 million in private gifts including $ 600, 000 for the courtyard, said Lynn Stewart, director of the budget for the law school.
A dedication for the renovation is scheduled for Oct. 3, 2008, and will feature retired U. S. Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor, Nance said.
The rose-colored granite will be set along the courtyard’s curved walkways over the next three weeks. Two fountains, five sculptural benches and six tables will be added, all made of granite carved in Moroles’ studio in Rockport, Texas. Metal chairs will accompany the tables.
Three sculptures were installed Tuesday leading into the new Norma Lea Beasley Entrance Hall adjacent to the Arkansas Union.
Standing more than 15 feet tall, the vertical sculptures feature angles and S-curves that Moroles said represent the masculine and feminine.
But that’s as much interpretation as he’s going to give.
“I try to let people come up with their own meaning for things,” Moroles said.
He encourages people to touch his sculptures, walk around them and use their imagination.
“I feel like I haven’t done my job if people don’t go up and touch my pieces,” he said.
Moroles started drawing cartoons for safety posters when he was 11. He was painting 45-foot murals at 13, and had his own silk-screening business in high school.
“I was always doing art of some kind,” he said.
Most of his work is done in granite. Moroles said he likes the material for its beauty and variety of textures, shades and patterns. It’s about twice as hard as marble and is challenging to carve.
His other works include the Houston Police Officers Memorial, a 30, 000-pound granite sculpture for the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing and the central courtyard at the San Antonio Museum of Art.
Dr. Michael Hollomon, Atkinson’s domestic partner for about 20 years, said they first became familiar with Moroles after purchasing one of his sculptures at an Atlanta estate sale in August 2004. They researched his work and learned that he designed spaces as well as individual pieces. That’s when Atkinson envisioned Moroles doing the law school courtyard.
“Richard lived and dreamed the law school during its preconstruction, and when he saw [Moroloes’ ] work he envisioned a place that would be a gift to all of Northwest Arkansas,” Hollomon said. “He imagined it would be a place that people could gather for speeches, community gatherings or for quiet contemplation.” Nancy Irwin Cozart, who retired as director of development for the law school this year, visited the campus Wednesday to see the progress. She said the courtyard will be a “fantastic tribute” to a very beloved man. “It is an unbelievable legacy,” Cozart said. “It captures his spirit more than anything else would. Richard was all about this school, these students and these people. It embodies his spirit of beauty. He was a really beautiful person.” Hollomon said he runs by the law school every morning and checks on the progress. He said the courtyard will be the “crowning jewel” of the renovated center. “It just makes me feel like Richard is still here and will be a part of the law school forever,” he said.
To contact this reporter: cpark@arkansasonline. com
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