Schools across Wyoming tour Sculpture: A Wyoming Invitational

Schools across Wyoming are contacting the UW Art Museum’s Education Program to arrange tours of Sculpture: A Wyoming Invitational. So far, we’ve planned for classes from Casper, Saratoga, Lander, and Rock River, in addition to Laramie schools. We work with teachers and students to design each tour to fulfill district and state teaching and learning standards. This often results in students preparing for the tour before they arrive, and then following up with post-visit projects. Click here to read a summary written for Laramie’s Whiting High School on-line newspaper by a student viewer.

This large scale contemporary sculpture is truly inspirational! Casper’s Verda James Elementary School 6th graders came prepared to sketch and write about the sculptures they viewed, and will be creating art and writing, inspired by what they viewed. Laramie High School English students are writing in response to the sculpture. Lander Starrett Junior High Students will complete a “scavenger hunt” of the sculpture, looking and listening for answers to specific questions created by museum educators. Saratoga’s 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th graders physically explored the interactive components of the art work in as many ways possible.

The UW Art Museum education team invites your school to take advantage of this exciting city-wide exhibit that includes 18 sculptures. If you choose to see every piece, plan on taking the whole day. Or we can adjust the visit and activities to your time frame. Contact Wendy Bredehoft at 307.766.3496 or wbredeho@uwyo.edu.

For more information on the exhibition and education programs, visit the Art Museum webpage.

City of Laramie Acknowledges Haselden Construction for Contribution

John Henry, River High,

at the Laramie Recreation Center.

Photo courtesy of the UW Art Museum.

On September 16, Klaus Hansen, mayor of the city of Laramie, read a proclamation to acknowledge and thank Haselden Construction for contributing the 14-ft diameter base to support John Henry's 55-ft tall River High sculpture. It reads:

P R O C L A M A T I O N

WHEREAS, the University of Wyoming Art Museum conceived the idea of Sculpture: “A Wyoming Invitational” in response to the University of Wyoming Art Museum’s planned renovations effecting the galleries, and to the increasing interest in public art for our campus and community and,

WHEREAS, Sculpture: “A Wyoming Invitational” is an exhibition of seventeen outdoor sculptures and public art on the campus of the University of Wyoming and in the City of Laramie and,

WHEREAS, the Laramie City Council approved a supplemental budget request in the amount of $3,000 to assist with the installation of the five outdoor sculptures on city property and,

WHEREAS, the City of Laramie, with the assistance of the University of Wyoming Art Museum staff installed “It Goes Under” by Steven Siegel along the Laramie River Greenbelt, “First Step” by Robert Russin at Undine Park, “Alligator” by John Kearney at the Carnegie building, “Vedauwoo Moderized” by Stan Dolega at Optimist Park and,

WHEREAS, the “River High” by John Henry at the Recreation Center required the fabrication and installation of a substantial concrete foundation prior to the sculpture being installed by the artist and,

WHEREAS, Lonn Mullins, Project Superintendent of Haselden Construction Inc. who is currently constructing the University of Wyoming Information Technology Facility volunteered his time, expertise, materials and staff to construct the concrete foundation for “River High” and,

WHEREAS, the concrete foundation for the “River High” sculpture would not have been completed in time for the installation and dedication without the volunteer assistance of Haselden Construction.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Klaus Hanson, Mayor and President of the City Council do hereby, proclaim our sincere thanks to Lonn Mullins and Haselden Construction Inc. for their generous donation to the City of Laramie.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the official seal of the City to be affixed this 16th day of September, 2008.



_________________________
Klaus Hanson,
Mayor of Laramie

Attest:


_________________________
Sue Morris-Jones, CMC
City Clerk

We would like to join the city in thanking Haselden Construction and Coffey Engineering for providing the significant base necessary for this sculpture and for completing the project in time for the scheduled installation of River High.

For information on Sculpture: A Wyoming Invitational, visit the Art Museum's webpage.

Sculpture Exhibition Map and Tour Guide Available

Students enjoy a conversation from the elevated

perspective of Jesus Moroles' Granite Windows

on Prexie's Pasture recently.

Photo courtesy of the UW Art Museum.

The long-awaited map of sculpture in Laramie and on campus is now available. The Walking & Driving Tour Guide for Sculpture: A Wyoming Invitational identifies not only works in the exhibition but also includes art in public places in Laramie and at the University of Wyoming. Maps will be found at all sculpture locations for the temporary exhibition or may be downloaded by clicking here.

The tour guide includes a survey that we hope will elicit your thoughts, comments, and ideas about public art in our community.

For more information, visit the UW Art Museum webpage.

Aboriginal elder Bill Harney to be in residence at the Art Museum

Bill Harney, Judinung: Dreaming for the Tawny Frog Face Owl (not dated, paint on linen). Harney says of this painting, "Owl sang all night at the burial ground. It makes people in spiritual darkness happy. It danced back and forth all night." Courtesy of the UW Art Museum

Yidumduma Bill Harney is an Elder and the last Senior Male Aboriginal custodian of the Wardaman people of the Victoria, Flora, and Katherine River Districts of the Northern Territory of Australia. Born in MUY MUY clan country in the early 1930's, Yidumduma is of the YBULYAWAN clan.

Raised and educated in Wardaman traditional ceremony, Yidumduma is a fully initiated Wardaman man and speaks seven languages. He worked at an early age on cattle stations and throughout his life has prospered in both Indigenous and non-Indigenous worlds.

He has been described as one of Australia's living 'National Treasures'.
Source: Paul Taylor webpage

Yidumduma Bill Harney will be on campus the week of Sept. 22 to visit classes, exhibit his paintings, and turn the Art Museum lobby into a studio. His schedule is:

Monday, Sept. 22
Bill begins painting in the Art Museum lobby. He will be available to talk with visitors and will use the lobby as his studio through mid-day Thursday, Sept. 25.
11:00 am World Music class at the Art Museum
6:00-8:00 pm Opening of Bill Harney exhibition in the Centennial Complex Gallery

Tuesday, Sept. 23
Painting continues
1:30-2:30 pm Religious Anthropology class (Anth 150)
3:00-4:00 pm Medical Anthropology class (Anth 150)
4:15-5:00 pm Intro to International Studies class (Anth 150)

Wednesday, Sept. 24
Painting continues
11:00 am - 12:00 pm H&G Anthropology class (Anth 150)
6:30 - 7:30 pm Foundations in American Indian Studies class

Thursday, Sept. 25
10:00 am Schools Concert, Recital Hall, Fine Arts Building
1:00 pm Painting at the Art Museum concludes
7:30 - 9 pm Public Concert, Recital Hall; public presentation of painting

On Friday, Sept. 26, Bill will visit the University of Colorado / Boulder. The next week, he will viist the Wind River Reservation to meet with Arapaho and Shoshone elders.

Bill's visit is a partnership between the Art Museum, American Indian Studies, Music, and Anthropology. It has been funded in part by a grants from the President's Advisory Committee for Minority and Womens Affairs and the Wyoming Arts Council's Folk Arts Program.

Press release for Bill Harney.

For more information, visit the Art Museum's webpage or contact Wendy Bredehoft, 307-766-6620 or wbredeho@uwyo.edu.

Sculpture: A Wyoming Invitational now on view

The Art Museum's chief preparator Stoney Smith (left)
and assistant curator Sarah Gadd (right) enjoy the
new and final sculpture to be installed for
Sculpture: A Wyomng Invitational.
John Henry's River High stands 55 ft tall
east of the Laramie Recreation Center.
Photo courtesy of the UW Art Museum.

With all 18 sculptures now installed and final preparations underway, the University of Wyoming Art Museum prepares to celebrate this campus- and city-wide exhibition of public sculpture. On Friday, Sept. 12, the UW Trustees, Foundation Board, and National Advisory Board of the Art Museum join visiting artist and major donors for a bus tour of the exhibition before the public opening celebration on Prexy's Pasture. The reception will run from 4 - 6 pm. Artists Jesus Moroles, John Henry, James Surls, Charmaine Locke, Linda Fleming, Charles Parson, Stan Dolega, and Carl Reed are anticipated to be in attendance.

For more information, visit the University of Wyoming Art Museum's webpage.

John Henry Sculpture Installation Underway

John Henry guides a manlift to install

his monumental sculpture, River High.
Photo courtesy of the UW Art Museum.

Chattanooga artist John Henry was in town today to begin the installation of his 55-ft tall sculpture, River High. With 5 assistants with him, progress was challenged by high winds in the afternoon and a malfunctioning manlift. However, he and his crew worked into the evening to construct River High. Work will continue tomorrow and Wednesday to complete and repaint the sculpture.

Dolega Sculpture Installed in Optimist Park

Chief Preparator Stoney Smith (left), Laramie Parks Manager
Mike Zook (partially hidden),and artist Stan Dolega (right)
steady the cone-like structure of Veedauwoo Modernized
as it is loaded for transporting to the installation site
at Optimist Park. Courtesy of the UW Art Museum.

Stan Dolega, Veedauwoo Modernized, 2008,
steel, flagstone, boulders, 10 x 10 x 6 ft.
Courtesy of the UW Art Museum.

Installation of local artist Stan Dolega's sculpture, Veedauwoo Modernized, in Optimist Park on Laramie's west side occurred this morning. City and museum staff assisted the artist in relocating the scultpure from his West Laramie studio to the site.

Veedauwoo Modernized is the 17th sculpture to be installed over the summer for the public art exhibibition, Sculpture: A Wyoming Invitational. Curated by the UW Art Museum director & chief curator, Susan Moldenhauer, and organized by the University of Wyoming Art Museum in partnership with the university and the city of Laramie, the temporary exhibition will remain on view through July 2009. One sculpture remains to be installed at the Laramie Recreation Center. John Henry's River High will be installed next week.