Patrick Dougherty and USU students building campus sculpture
Beginning on Sept. 4 outside the Merrill Cazier library, volunteers will be working with world renowned artist Patrick Dougherty to install a sculpture on the Utah State University campus.
Dougherty work can be found all over the world. He has spent the last 30 years building around 250 different pieces with tree saplings. Dougherty’s work on the Utah State campus will be the first piece to be installed in Utah.
Craig Jessop, Cain College of the Arts Dean, said this will be the perfect way to conclude the year of the Arts at USU.
“I only knew Patrick from reputation. I was fascinated by what he did. I just knew I wanted him here. We spoke about him even before we did Year of the Arts planning,” Jessop said. “Now that it is happening, I can’t think of a better grand finale.”
Laura Gelfand, Art History Professor and Overseer of the Dougherty project, explained just how sought-after Dougherty is.
“We had to wait years. We had to get on his calendar a while ago because he books years in advance,” Gelfand said.
This highly anticipated installation at Utah State will be a new treasure to the art school and for the community as well.
“It’s a wonderful visual symbol of everything we celebrated during year of the arts. The very nature of Patrick’s work creates community. It creates a gathering place for people, and we know it will do the same here,” Jessop said.
Gelfand also hopes that bringing Doughtery to campus will help inspire fellow art students as well.
“I think bringing in major artists and having them work shows students what is possible. It helps to have aspirational models,” Gelfand said.
Earlier in the summer, Dougherty came to campus and scoped out where he wanted to construct the sculpture. He explained why this was important to his process.
“You have to be in the spot and measure the space to know what you are going to make. That’s how I come up with a starting point for working,” Dougherty said.
While visiting Logan, Dougherty noticed the beauty of Cache Valley.
“The mountains are so predominant. They are so close and right at your doorstep,” Dougherty said.
During the weeks that the construction will be taking place, students and community members will have to opportunity to volunteer and work with the artist. As of now, the sign-up list is entirely full.
Dougherty had a message for his volunteers.
“Get ready to work. We really have a good time when we are building,” Dougherty said. “When they start working with the sticks they learn a lot. A lot of people are really interested in trying it out and being a part of the activity.”
To see previous examples of Patrick Dougherty’s work, there is currently an exhibition on display in the lower level of the library. Students can also hear Dougherty speak at the Caine College of The Arts Deans Convocation on Sept. 18th at 5:30 p.m. in the Daines Concert Hall. To celebrate the completion on the installation there will also be a ribbon cutting ceremony on Sept. 21 at 4 p.m.
To stay up to date on the construction there will be a time lapse and livestream by the Arts school viewable here.
—shelby.black@aggiemail.usu.edu
@shelbsterblack