To discover the deeper meaning and the artist's intentions I looked to the title for answers. Janus, the mythological Roman god, is often identified with beginnings and endings or past and future. To illustrate this, Janus is often depicted having two faces. The Romans originally named the month of January after Janus and this name is still used by English speaking countries today. January ends one year as it begins another. The use of this character as inspiration can be seen in the mirrored shape of the sculpture both horizontally and vertically. This mirrored effect represents the two faces of the sculpture. I feel Pepper did a wonderful job of illustrating and symbolizing the cyclical nature of agriculture through her abstract representation.
The second part of the title, Agri, is significant because it was selected to represent the word agriculture. This seems fitting considering the sculpture is sitting in the courtyard of Agronomy Hall, on ISU's campus whose history is deeply rooted in agriculture, in the middle of a state that depends on crops. The monumental size of the bronze sculpture makes me that the artist was trying to express the monumental importance of agriculture to Iowa State, and through out the world.
Paired with Janus, another theme that comes through is the idea of the past, present, and future of agriculture. In order to understand this theme I had to dissect the meaning of the sculptures shape. The sculpture mimics that of a digging spade. To me, the orientation of the sculpture is also essential in understanding the overall meaning. One massive spade is rooted deep in the ground, while another is reaching for the sky. The lower represents the beginning of agriculture. Mirrored horizontally, the other spade reaches upward to exemplify the vast opportunities for the future. Both bronze spades, however, are connected by a common handle showing the importance of both the past and future on the present. Each of these time periods have been or will be advanced by the research and dedication of Iowa State University.
The final word of the title is altar. What comes to mind when you hear the word altar? For me, I think of a place of mediation or reflection, a place of religious importance, and a sacred place. Including this word in the title communicates Pepper's desire for this sculpture to become a gathering place for students of agriculture to reflect upon their lives and studies.
Dissecting the title offers a glimpse into the artist's intentions, but the question is, does the imagery come through strong enough for us as viewers to understand? In my opinion, Beverly Pepper has done a wonderful job of offering little hints to her symbolism without hitting us over the head with the obvious answers.
I feel, by dissecting the title, it is easy to appreciate the brilliant concept behind this sculpture. For me, this sculpture is perfectly located; tucked away in the courtyard it almost seems as though one must make a pilgrimage to the sculpture to truly experience the meditative quality. Though I have no affiliation to the College of Agriculture, I still feel a strong connection to the sculpture. The fact that it represents Iowa State University's history makes it symbolic for all students. It begs the question, where would we all be without agriculture?
http://www.museums.iastate.edu/AOCFactSheetsPDF/New%20Fact%20Sheet%2009/JanusAgriAltar.pdf
-By Libby Grant
