New face of Commons Plaza

Students returning to campus might notice a unique addition to the University Student Commons this semester. A pair of 14-foot-tall bronze ram horns now sit in the courtyard of the Commons Plaza. The spiraling cylinders cost $150,000, and were paid for through a combination of private and university funds.

“The idea for an iconic sculpture came from the students and the Student Government Association,” said Brian Ohlinger, the associate vice president for facilities management.”They wanted to have something on campus that spoke to creating a tradition.”

The horns were contracted by a commission that included Ohlinger, Rick Toscan, the dean for the School of the Arts, Jack Risley, the associate dean for the School of the Arts, and Sue Ann Messmer, the vice president for outreach. For many years, VCU has held the title of being the No. 1 ranked sculpture program in the nation, according to U.S. News and World Report. Ohlinger said VCUs committee was set up to help the university show off its sculpture talents by adding more art on campus.

Designed and created in China by VCU alumnus Timothy Blum, the sculpture was dedicated on campus in July. The ceremony was one of former President Eugene Trani’s last public appearances of his tenure.

The horns are hollow and bear the likeness of cupped human hands at their bases. Screens have been installed in the horns so that daredevil wannabes can’t get lodged inside.

Although not created to be acoustic, many students have been using the horns like giant megaphones by shouting into them.

“It’s hard to yell into it because it’s so far away from the mouth, and I’m not really recommending people stick their mouths on it,” said Timothy Reed, director of University Student Commons and Activities. “If you take a piece of one-inch PVC (pipe) about six inches long, put it right in the end of it (the horn) and blow into it like a trumpet, then it makes a great sound.”

Despite the sonic potential of these sculptures, students are divided in their opinions.

“I think it’s nice,” said Seren Lass, a freshman mass communication major. “I’m glad that I’m going to a spirited school.”

Some disagree.

“I understand getting another piece of art on campus, but I want to know why it wasn’t locally created,” said Pat Gallagher, an education graduate student. “I also think it’s a poor allocation of resources.”

Reed said university administrators want the sculpture to not only engender school spirit, but also be a campus landmark.

“They will be so ubiquitous to VCU that people will not be able to imagine what the commons would have been like without the horns,” Reed said.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF JAKE CUNNINGHAM