The Power of Time

“Today is yesterday’s tomorrow” is one the quotes carved in the Morehead Sundial (located on the North Side of campus). Upon seeing this carving I stopped and reflected on the phenomenon of time and how important “time” is in our lives. As I pondered further, I found myself drifting further and further onto the circumference of the sundial. It was then I realized that I wasn’t alone on this sundial as I spotted a young child on his scooter going around it. This suddenly evoked a very playful and relaxed atmosphere as I found myself tempted to run around carefree. However, despite my motives I continued to walk around the sundial, noticing every detail about the structure of the gnomon, carvings and plaques.

As I spotted a brass plaque, I quickly headed towards it. It tells the time of other cities when it is noon at Chapel Hill and provides information about the sundial, which I found very interesting and informative. By reading the time associations, I felt unified with the whole world as if I was some part of a bigger piece. I associated the sundial to be like a mini Earth- and felt like the whole world was a footstep away. (It’s a great feeling and I encourage you to experience it!)

But as I continuously walked further, I realized-to my surprise-the size of the sundial, which was 113 ft in circumference! I was amazed because surprisingly it is one of the largest in the world and UNC has it. (Just another reason to be a proud Tar heel! ) Carolina is lucky to hold great, valuable pieces of work and I am honored to be a part of Carolina! So if you ever get the opportunity to visit UNC, come and admire the Morehead Sundial, as you will be amazed at what you experience.

A Statue Often OverLOOKed

Walking through campus, I can’t help but notice the openness and welcoming atmosphere of the upper quad. This famous and historic location not only narrates various remarkable stories but also serves as a “hangout” spot for many students. I see students here taking picnics, holding group meetings and finishing homework and they often fail to observe a very historic monument located among them. This historic monument is titled “Silent Sam” as it is located on the McCorkle place facing Franklin Street.

Upon seeing this monument one day, I felt like a story was being unfolded right before my eyes. The story of American history as it directly correlates with the compromises made by UNC students during the Civil War. As I tilted my head up to the statue my eyes were quickly drawn to the gun, outfit and facial expressions of Sam, as all of these elements helped articulate his story to me. The gun and outfit told me of his historical time period and his facial expression provoked a feeling of seriousness, as I could clearly see the determination in Sam.

As my eyes focused further and admired this art, I noticed the bronze carving which added another element to the whole atmosphere. I saw a mother holding a sword (to give to her son) as she puts her hand on her son’s shoulder. What grabbed my attention and provoked an emotional response was the book. It is more than a book; it serves a symbol of sacrifice and commitment which the soldiers displayed during the war. This monument clearly displays this story and caused me to appreciate the historical sacrifices made by students who attended this University. I am very prideful to have such a dignified history and I encourage you to come visit and see it yourself. So next time you visit the quad, appreciate Sam and listen to him as he narrates his story to you, because he will speak as he clearly spoke to me.

The Controversial Founders of UNC Honored by.. A Table!?

Walking through McCorkle Place, one of the several beautiful quads on campus, you might expect to see some trees and maybe a statue here or there. But instead, smack dab in the middle of the quad, you can’t help but notice an unusual memorial made up of a short, yet large marble table, supported by over 100 brass figurines of African American slaves, and surrounded by five stubby marble seats.

What you are stumbling across is one of the most popular pieces of art on campus. Dubbed “Unsung Founders, Bound and Free,” this is a memorial that has definitely earned its distinctive reputation through its controversial suggestions about slavery.

At first glance, you feel immediately drawn to the struggle of the 100 little men acting as the base of the table. You see that some of them have shoes, while others are just barefoot; and some wear shirts, while others have only bare backs. The meaning of this memorial becomes clear when you read the simple, yet evocative sentence carved about the perimeter of the immense marble tabletop. It reads, “The Class of 2002 honors the University’s unsung founders, the people of color bond and free, who helped build the Carolina that we cherish today.”

While this special memorial gets attention for its remarkable, yet pretty strange appearance, what makes this memorial a significant and indispensible addition to UNC campus art is what it implies about the history of this university. Whether it is being used as a functional table to do homework, or rather just as a breeding ground for deep contemplation, this specific piece of art reminds and educates students and visitors alike about the struggle of African American slaves and their role in our university’s history.

Gargoyles Are Not Only on Notre Dame...

Hey guys, while I was going to Franklin Street to meet some of my friends at Spanky’s, one of the many wonderful restaurants in Chapel Hill, I looked to my left and saw one of the most out of place “things” attached to Person Hall. Since I consider myself a pretty curious person I had to stop by and see what they were. I have realized that art can be found throughout the whole campus, and every piece of art seems to have an interesting story. When I decided to walk closer I was able to see that the two sculptures were Gargoyles. It made absolutely no sense to me why there were Gargoyles on Person Hall. The Gargoyles seemed creepy, and like art straight out of the gothic architectural age. I had studied gothic architecture and was positive that this sculpture came from this period; it just made no sense to me why it would be on the side of a random hall in Chapel Hill. Like I said before every piece of art in Chapel Hill has an interesting story behind it, and the Gargoyles are no exception.

I stood there at Person Hall and clicked a few pictures on my cell phone. I had to show my friends this piece of art ASAP because it was just so interesting to me. I was eager to know why they are there, and what they symbolize. All of my friends said the same thing most UNC students are probably thinking, “yeah I saw it but so what?” That response is crazy to me because wherever you turn on this beautiful campus there is an opportunity to learn something new. This campus has a rich history and so many great pieces of art from the past, we as students and casual observers need to soak it all in before it is too late. By this point I was solely focused on what the reason might be for the Gargoyles. Since my friends could not give me a good answer, I did a little of my own research to find out about those cool sculptures. By research I mean asking some older people on campus who know about UNC art.

I learned that a lady named Kathrine Pandelton Arrington visited London in 1933, and returned to little Chapel Hill with two Gargoyles which were once on Big Ben. That explains the gothic look that I suggested earlier. The two Gargoyles were removed from Big Ben and put into The Hill. A piece of one of England’s most notable buildings is right in our back yard! These interesting facts did not take long to find, and knowing where they came from makes these type of sculptures much more meaningful. Although it is in a random place, who cares? It’s from Big Ben! I told my friends to stop and look and now I am telling you to do the same. Look at this school and appreciate the art, although it may be random because it most likely has a story behind it that is worth hearing. Stop thinking about homework or what your plans are for tonight and start thinking art. You don’t have to be into it, but you would be doing yourself a disservice if you don’t attempt to enjoy the beauty right outside your front door. Knowing what I now know about the Gargoyles, I am positive that I will never walk by the upper quad without taking a peak at UNC’S little souvenir from London.

Beware of the Birds!

When I first heard about this next piece of public art on UNC’s campus, I honestly could not understand why it was even considered artwork. This art display, respectably called “Birds,” consists of about 100 or so sculptures that resemble pigeons, perched on the roof of Hanes Art Center.

I wouldn’t have taken a second glance if I had not known they were crafted by an artist and therefore strategically placed on the top of that building for a reason. While many can’t see how some dumb pigeons are pieces of art, let alone see them at all, this piece of “art” surely makes us reexamine our busy lives.

Whereas all other students and people walking by never even lift their heads to notice these bird sculptures, as I sat down and observed this piece of art, I began to see the intentions of artist Kyle Bravo.

These birds are here, 24/7, yet few know they even exist. What does this say about our attention and focus on the things around us? We are so wrapped up in our busy day-to-day lives that we never stop and fully appreciate the simple things, like the nature surrounding us every day. Because we are constantly moving, we can’t even realize that these seemingly lifelike birds are merely five inches of plaster compound and have never moved an inch. With all of this said, it’s clear that public art on campus is not only pleasing to look at it, but it can also help us learn more about ourselves and the truth about human nature.

Thomas Wolfe- An Alumni Always on Campus

Hey guys, while I was walking to class I noticed a piece of art on my way to my afternoon class. I had some time to spare so wandered over to the winged piece of art that I never took time to pay attention to. Students were looking intensely at this piece of art, and I couldn’t let the opportunity to learn and talk to fellow UNC students slip by. So I stopped at the winged sculpture right in front of Murphy Hall to see what everyone was looking at. This sculpture I am referring to is actually a memorial in honor of the great American writer Thomas Wolfe.

After talking to some very intelligent UNC students, along with doing a little of my own independent research, I learned that the memorial was sculpted by Richard W. Kinnaird in 1966, and is made out of bronze and brick concrete. This structure is approximately 850 pounds which is a random fact, but is crazy to me considering that the winged structure does not look that heavy at all. The 850 pound Thomas Wolfe Memorial was moved to Murphy Hall fairly recently. It is fitting for the structure to be moved close to Murphy Hall because the area around the structure is the sight of one of this country’s most respected English departments. This awesome statue was moved to Murphy hall because this is where the great Thomas Wolfe studied while attending UNC. For me, this adds more significance to the sculpture because it is located exactly where Thomas Wolfe, one of America's all-time greatest writers polished his skills. It is also on my way to English and the sculpture gets me pumped up for English because this structure reassures me that I am learning from some of the best English scholars in the world.

To have alumni like Thomas Wolfe and James Polk adds great legitimacy to the University of North Carolina- Chapel Hill, and the education we are all fortunate to receive from this wonderful university. Not only is this sculpture in a prime location, but it also reflects this school's commitment to teaching and creating great citizens of the world.

You're Seeing Art, But You Just Don't Know It!

Almost every tour that someone takes of UNC passes by the Pit. Right next to the Pit are pieces of art. They are the Cubes. You know what I am talking about; those big boxes that people paint on. Though the Cubes are not your normal bit of art, they ARE pieces of art. They might be ever-changing and evolving, but art none the less.

One of the things that is great about this piece of public art is that it is useful. They tell you about upcoming events, clubs you can join and stuff like that. Also, people do paint them. So really they are big four sided paintings. They have this amazing power to turn an everyday person into an artist. What I mean is that the people who paint them aren’t professionals. They might not even be very good at painting, but that very act of painting turns them into artists. So next time you pass by these giant blocks of wood, take a minute to admire their awesome power, and think about how much fun you could have painting one if you came to UNC.