PULLMAN, Wash. -A new sculpture will be arriving on campus shortly. Santa Fe artist Terry Allen’s recently completed life-size bronze figure, Bookin’, will soon be on display on the Glenn Terrell Mall.
Allen also has accepted an invitation to be a Friel Lecture Series featured speaker at 7 p.m., Oct 12, in the Fine Arts Center Auditorium. The following day a formal dedication of Bookin’ on Terrell Mall outside the Holland and Terrell Libraries will take place.
Speakers at the dedication will include Allen, WSU Provost and Academic Vice President Robert C. Bates, Museum of Art/WSU Director Chris Bruce and Interim Director of WSU Libraries Cynthia Kaag.
“In 2004, the Museum of Art organized a temporary exhibition of 14 large-scale sculptures on campus. At that time, one of the favorites was Terry Allen’s giant book, which was placed near the library,” Bruce said. “It was borrowed from a private collection, so it was unavailable to be considered for purchase, but when the opportunity for a new commission came up through the Terrell Mall Sculpture Initiative, we immediately thought of Terry.”
“The result is a unique bronze sculpture that innovatively represents both the library and the walking posture of former WSU President Glenn Terrell,” Bruce said. “Sixty-one individual donors contributed funds for Bookin’ in an effort to realize the original vision of Terrell Mall as a place that stimulates conversation, learning and new perspectives of visual awareness.”
The Sculpture Initiative was developed as a means of extending the momentum to build an engaging public sculpture collection on campus at a time when there was no state money available. Funding for the sculpture was provided solely through private donations. The Museum of Art and WSU are grateful for the major contributions to this piece and the campus sculpture collection by, Cleve & Judith Borth, Mikal & Lynn Thomsen and Lou & Diane Tice.
Terry Allen is a recipient of a National Endowment for the Arts Fellowship, a Guggenheim Fellowship, a Bessie Award, and an Isadora Duncan Award. He specializes in cast-bronze sculpture, installation and performance art, and also works in printmaking and other media. His sense of humor is his trademark.
The Museum of Art and Washington State University are also thankful for additional contributions from: David & Barbara Abbott, Steven & Tamela Agnew, Wallis & Constance Beasley, Edward & Margery Bennett, John & Maria Bliss, Linda Carlisle, Casey Communications, John & Linda Chaplin, Lynn Claudon, Charles & Merilyn Clizer, Paul & Sue Cochran, Stanley & Marjorie Coe, Lorie Dankers & Jeffrey Johnson, Joye & Don Dillman, Rick & Jacquelyne Doane, Marcia E. Garrett, Gunnar Nordstrom Fine Arts, James Hayner, Herman Hayner, Arnold & Carolyn Hedeen, Steven & Sandy Hill, Ronald & Judy Hopkins, Koichiro Iwasaki, J. L. Stubblefield Trust, Douglas & Sharon Koss, Betty Kreager, Inga B. Kromann-Kelly, Robert & Christine Landerholm, Mary Lou LaPierre, Jane G. Logan, Christopher & Susan Marker, Bill Marler, Alisa Dorene May, Arthur H. McDonald, Tim & Idie McGinty, Megan & Joseph McIntosh, Ed & Betty McWilliams, Ronald & Sally Meyer, Robert & Winona Nilan, Dan C. Peterson, Jay & Retha Rockey, James & Gail Rowland, James & Lee Ruck, Jim & Kelma Short, Sandra L. Slichter, Samuel & Patricia Smith, Robert & Paula Spence, Kenneth & Nancy Spitzer, Donald & Bettie Steiger, Stephen & Liann Sundquist, Paul & Betsy Sunich, Michael & Winifred Tate, David & Beatrice Taylor, Glenn & Gail Terrell, Mark Ufkes & Lois Schipper, William & Diane Vadino, Kate B. Webster, Paul & Peggy Wiggum and H.S. Wright, III.
