The Ceremony - University of La Verne

There is almost no chance that visitors
will overlook the most recent addition
to the University of La Verne’s Muriel
Pollia Sculpture Garden. The nine-foot stainless
steel piece is anything but subtle and was
created to honor a person who has brought a
bold and pulsing energy to the university – its
18 th president – Devorah Lieberman.
The sculpture, titled “Lignum Spire,” was
taken from vision to reality by Southern California
artist Seth Kaufman. The third public art
piece included in the sculpture garden, located
between the Campus Center and
the University Quad, was dedicated
to President Lieberman at her inauguration
ceremony’s reception.
In addition to Lignum Spire,
Kaufman has two other pieces on
display inside the Campus Center.
His artwork was first noticed by
Director of University Art Galleries
Dion Johnson, who kept in touch
with Kaufman after an exhibition
of his work was hosted by the Harris
Art Gallery last fall.
“There is something incredibly
compelling about his work,” said
Johnson. “I admire how he is able
to find the balance between absurdity
and elegance.”
According to Kaufman, finding
such balance requires countless
hours and the right motivation.
“The efforts behind my pieces
truly reflect what I am feeling or
doing,” he said. “Instead of having
a discussion about what I feel, I try to express it
through a metaphorical way through the materials
I use, how I feel, what I’m thinking.”
After finding his muse, Kaufman combines
his creative energies with artistic techniques
that help make his work unique and representative
of the world’s natural elements by the materials
he uses. For example, Douglas fir wood
was used as the original material for Lignum
Spire, which translates to “wooden” (lignum)
and “architecture” (spire). However, in order to
create a lasting piece for the outdoor sculpture
garden, Kaufman had to design his piece to
withstand the elements.
Using lost wax casting and taking nearly 40
hours to complete, Kaufman took his wooden
sculpture and created a mold of it first out of wax
10 VOICE Summer/Fall 2011
INAUGURATION
Kaufman Piece Is Dedicated To New President’s Arrival
By Alisha Rosas
“There is
something
incredibly
compelling
about his work.
I admire how
he is able to
find the balance
between
absurdity and
elegance.”
– Dion Johnson
Director of University
Art Galleries,
on Seth Kauffman
and then out of plaster. The cavity of the piece
is kept hollow as the mold is covered in stainless
steel, leaving the finished product not only
a more durable, exact replica of the original art
piece, but also one that is significantly lighter.
Kaufman said he was proud to have the
piece used to celebrate the inauguration of the
university’s 18 th and first female president. “It’s
shocking to have your work, which doesn’t aspire
to do anything more than exist, be appropriated
for a public art piece,” he said.
“When someone buys my work, there is a
tremendous humility I feel along with appreciation.
For the University of La Verne to use
it to honor their new president, it
really takes it to another level.”
The idea to have an art piece
dedicated to President Lieberman
as part of her inauguration festivities
stemmed from Executive Vice
President Phil Hawkey, who felt it
would help memorialize the day
and its significance to the university.
Hawkey was then given the task to
generate monetary support for the
piece. Donors that helped make
Lignum Spire a reality at the university,
include: Kurt Rothweiler and
KAR Construction, Rancho Pacific
Electric, Valley Crest Landscaping,
Robert Kim of Hanover Pacific
Company and Lewis Companies.
“This sculpture represents the
new energy and dynamism President
Lieberman brings to this university,”
said Hawkey.
Kaufman agreed. “The piece is
energetic, honest, reflective … it’s
modest in scale, but has a prominent presence,”
he said. “I think you could describe her with
the same adjectives.”
At the reception that followed her inauguration,
President Lieberman stood and listened to
Kaufman describe the work and meticulous attention
to detail required to create the sculpture
dedicated in her honor.
“Understanding the process of how this
sculpture was created makes me appreciate its
beauty even more,” she said. “Every time I walk
past, I will let it serve as a reminder of the many
challenges and sometimes, twists and turns we
will face as we move forward as an institution,
but when that happens, like the sculpture, we
will work together to find a path that will take
us upward toward success.”
“Lignum Spire,” created by Seth Kaufman
in honor of Devorah Lieberman’s
inauguration, is the third piece of public
art in the Muriel Pollia Sculpture Garden
on the University of La Verne campus.
Rusty Evans image
HOMECOMING
La Verne safety Arsian Erdinc celebrates a second quarter fumble recovery during
the Leopards’ 30-21 Homecoming victory over Chapman at Ortmayer Stadium.
Rusty Evans image
Jacob Acevedo, left, and Jenae
Hodges were crowned king
and queen during a coronation
ceremony at halftime of the
Homecoming football game.
Nancy Newman image
La Verne fans celebrate the home team taking the
halftime lead into the locker room.
Rusty Evans image
Alumni Treated To
Traditional Fun, Plus
Winning Football
And so the Homecoming call went out
and the alumni came, and they were
treated to a magical weekend indeed.
Saturday’s mid-October weather was suitable,
even summer-like, reaching into the 90’s
— all but ideal for all but the football team,
which also faced a formidable Chapman University
squad. Still, the Leopards endured and
brought home a 30-21 victory before a frenzied,
sun-screened crowd that filled the home
side grandstand.
Though the football triumph may have been
a pleasant surprise to those who have attended
Homecoming in recent years, the student organization
fair and barbecue lunch near the
center of campus delivered its full measure of
robust fun. Dancing by spirited squads of students
filled the streets, followed by a parade,
kept the mood light and spirits high.
After the football game, there was more
food, plus live music from a stage set up in
Sneaky Park.
Sunday’s traditional class reunions brought
together alumni from 1951, 1961, 1971,
1981, 1991 and 2001, where plenty of memories,
stories and laughs were exchanged. The La
Verne faithful discovered their “Dear favored
spot,” is just as green (and orange) as when
they left it.
View more images of Homecoming
Weekend Online. Visit: http://
laverne.edu/voice/hwimages
There was plenty of
reminiscing and a lot of
catching up to do at the
Class of 1961’s 50-year
reunion. Reunions were
also held for the classes
of 1951, 1971, 1981,
1991 and 2001 during
Homecoming Weekend.
Nancy Newman image
Summer/Fall 2011 VOICE 11