The art of engineering

Steel, wood, glass, paint and fabric. While much of each material was used to construct and furnish the new John C. Kennedy Hall of Engineering, they were also among the media used in the creation of artworks showcased inside of it.

Though not a museum, more than 100 pieces of art grace the walls and corridors, reflecting the engineering activity within, while enhancing the atmosphere for all who study, teach, work and visit there.

“An overreaching theme of engineering prevails in all the pieces selected for this building,” said Henry Matthews, director of Galleries and Collections at Grand Valley. “Some are very obvious, some are a bit more reflective or whimsical, and a few even promote sustainability by reusing existing art to create new.”

Matthews chaired the Arts Advisory Committee, made up of Art Gallery staff members and individuals from the engineering program, facilities and the president’s office. Together they decided the best mix and placement of pieces acquired through generous gifts from donors and drawn from existing university collections. Below are a few notable pieces:

• “Paleolithic Red,” painted by nationally recognized artist Sam Gilliam, was a gift of William and Glenda Noakes.
  
• “California Hills 1,” by Stephen Duren, was a gift given by friends and family in memory of Jennifer R. DuBois. Grand Valley has one of the largest collections of Duren’s work.
  
• A large cast bronze sculpture, “Icarus,” created by David Kotker was donated as a gift of the Richard and Roberta Lieberman Estate. Other sculptural works include a cast glass screw by Rick Beck, a wood sculpture by Andrew Burton, and several by Cyril Lixenberg, donated by Tim Chester.
  
• Gracing the West entrance is a large oil on canvas by the late Michigan artist Carol Wald. “The New Spirit of ’76” was the official USA Bicentennial Painting, a montage of the American spirit melding the past with the future and depicting the ingenuity of modern space flight. It was a gift, in part, of the artist and Hermann Tauchert.
  
• Bedouin weavings, inlaid designs on an Indian artisan marble bowl, a good number of 18th and 19th century Italian and French architectural reproduction etchings, and some works by faculty and students are also included. Among them are whimsical yet very detailed prints by alumna Erin Koehler, portraying interesting aircraft.

A multicultural influence is present, with pieces from India, Egypt, China, Mexico, Russia, and the Netherlands.

“The art here is representative of the great diversity of the world community with which the students will interact,” Matthews said. “The collection also reinforces the longstanding tradition at Grand Valley of supporting the arts.”