News Release
Artist and Jacobs School Supporters Christen 370,000-Pound Sculpture for Engineering Courtyard
"Bear" is the 16th public, outdoor art work commissioned by the Collection for the 1,200-acre campus. At Hawkinson's side for the christening were Stuart Collection director Mary Livingstone Beebe, Jacobs School Dean Frieder Seible, and the school's namesakes, Joan and Irwin Jacobs. "This is the newest addition to the Stuart Collection, and it's appropriate that it's in this space," said Joan Jacobs, co-chair of the Friends of the Stuart Collection Council. "It's a site-specific
Erecting the sculpture's eight, uncarved granite boulders -- selected from a quarry in Temecula -- was a time-consuming engineering feat in itself. Jacobs School structural engineering students tested the design to make sure that the final structure would be earthquake-proof, and Dean Seible did the final independent engineering check of the design. "I think the bear is a beautiful contrast to our buildings and fits in perfectly," said Seible, beaming. "You can see the reflection of the bear in the windows of the buildings. It's absolutely marvelous."
Hawkinson is one of America's most inventive artists, and art connoisseurs Irwin and Joan Jacobs were impressed with his creation. "It's a much more rounded and softer feel, so it will complement the buildings rather nicely," said QUALCOMM's Jacobs, who was on the faculty of UCSD from 1966 to 1972. "I think it's worked out well, and as you get some space to sit down around it, it will become a great social gathering spot." Joan Jacobs concurred, and predicted the artwork will resonate with students: "I think it will be adopted by students as a new mascot." |
Media Contacts
Doug Ramsey
Jacobs School of Engineering
858-822-5825
dramsey@ucsd.edu