A collaboration between President Barry Corey and the Public Arts Committee prompted the installation of four new art pieces on campus during the 2014-2015 academic year in hopes of increasing the spectrum of creativity on campus.

“The Spirit of Christ”, the first of the four art pieces to be installed, was dedicated in front of the Earl and Virginia Art Gallery on Thurs. Sept. 18. The dedication has spurred students’ curiosity toward the other pieces of art soon to be released.

Corey said he hopes to create a campus decorated with more creativity expressed through art. He looks forward to transforming the campus with art in hopes to demonstrate the beauty and creative mind of God.

“The more public art we have, I believe that spurs the imagination; I think it helps people to think more deeply, more profoundly about art, about beauty, about goodness, and about truth,” Corey said.

BROADENING THE CREATIVE SPECTRUM

The Public Arts Committee oversees the release of the four art installations, said professor of drawing and painting Dan Callis. “The Spirit of Christ” is the first of three of the installations to be funded by the Long Foundation, Callis said.

The conversation ignited by installment of the Jesus mural encouraged Corey to invite a group of representatives from areas of campus to create a committee to accomplish this goal, Callis said.

“It’s going to be a real diversity of work and not everyone may personally like the style of a piece or not, and maybe that’s good too because it may cause someone to stop and ask, ‘why is that a good work of art’,” Callis said.

The second of these pieces is an interior sculpture by Betty Gold that will be placed in the Sutherland lobby. The piece is expected to be revealed during the fall 2014 semester. A sculpture by Ted Prescott titled “The True Vine” will be placed in front of the Talbot building in the spring of 2015.

Callis said that the last piece is the one of the original Biola bells. The senior class gifts this installment and will place it at ground level in front of the Calvary Chapel.

ART INCREASE SPARKS CONVERSATION

Students agree that administration has finally recognized and acknowledged the efforts to increase public art on campus. Sophomore business major Carissa Vera said art provides an alternate way for Biola to reach both current and prospective students.

“If we have so many different types of [art], each piece will speak differently to so many different areas and pockets of the Biola community,” Vera said.

Sophomore art major Hope Daley said she thought the symbol of a fish is an interesting choice for the sculpture due to its overuse in Christian art, a feeling that is common to several students.

“I think it’s fine if it relates biblically, but I don’t think they should put something in just because it relates to something in the Bible. I think they should be more original with it,” Daley said.

Senior interdisciplinary arts major Eddie Moon that he looks forward to art that will challenge stereotypical Christian symbols, like crosses and fish.

“The fish is telling Biolans, ‘Yes, we’re here,’ but now Biola has to really find quality artists and quality work,” Moon said.