Midnight and Varna - Gwynn Murrill

Without all of the students around, campus seems like a whole new place during the summer months.  I love the relaxed pace of things but must admit I'm a little jealous of all the students who have a few months off.  Although it's slow on campus, we've been busy in the museums planning the next exhibitions and getting ready for the fall semester. 

Despite all of the planning going on, I've had the chance to spend a little more time on campus than usual.  Last month, I led an ArtWalk of the Small Animal Clinic.  If you haven't seen all of the art inside and around the clinic, I highly recommend it.  Everything is so colorful, vibrant, and light-hearted. 

I think the sculptures in/around the clinic, particularly Midnight and Varna by Gwynn Murrill, fit with the theme of summer.  Summer is a time for fun.  It's a time to catch up with friends, spend time outside, play, and relax.  These two sculptures seem to encapsulate the free-spirted nature of the summer months. 

One of the reasons I really enjoy Gwynn Murrill's sculptures is because they're just so fun and relatable to everyone. Check out some of her other artwork here: http://www.murrillsculpture.com/index.htm. 

University Museum staff install Midnight and Varna outside
of the Small Animal Clinic.

Art doesn't always have to be so serious!  It can be fun, cheerful, and happy.  One of my biggest gripes with art museums is when they make people feel intimidated.  There seems to be a perception that if you don't know about art, you don't "belong" in an art museum.  I think the Art on Campus Collection is a great way to incorporate art into students' everyday life and begin to change that negative perception. 

The works of art in the Art on Campus Collection are site-specific, meaning they were carefully chosen to be in a particular location. While all of the artwork around campus fits the theme of the building in which it's located, I think the sculptures outside of the Small Animal Clinic are some of the most well placed. They just make perfect sense. The animals really bring the building to life and make the space warm, inviting, and fun to be in. 

During the ArtWalk last month the group talked about childhood pets and started a great debate over cats v. dogs.  The placement of these sculptures on campus is a perfect fit. The people who use the animal clinic obviously have a close bond with their pets and I think they can really connect and relate to the sculptures, regardless of whether they're a "cat person" or a "dog person."

While the weather is warm, take advantage of all campus has to offer.  Stop by the Small Animal Clinic and explore all of the different art around the building.  Most importantly, enjoy your summer!   

- Dorothy Witter