2008 Woodie Awards
Flesher's group to bring art, support to Virginia Tech
By: Nick Persons
Issue date: 10/19/07 Section: News
- Page 1 of 1
Ryan Flesher said he knows Virginia Tech still is in mourning and needs support.
But although he can only do so much to help, Flesher still is going to try.
Flesher, CMU's North Art Studio coordinator, is traveling to the university this weekend to take part in Virginia Tech Skye, a world peace demonstration.
He will help assemble a massive, inflatable object called "Hemi-Flora" on Saturday on Virginia Tech's campus.
"I'm not a psychologist," he said. "We're not that kind of support. We're a completely different mechanism. We want to use art as a way to provide healing."
The display will be an opportunity for people at Virginia Tech to reflect on community, he said.
Flesher is traveling with BigThink, a Michigan-based group that promotes harmony, to construct the display. Flesher is a member of the nonprofit group, which is comprised of art alumni from Western Michigan University.
"It's a collaboration of artists and scientists promoting world peace," he said.
Virginia Tech made headlines just more than six months ago, when a mentally disturbed student, Seung-Hui Cho, shot 32 people to death on April 16. The Virginia Tech massacre is the deadliest school shooting in U.S. history.
Lou Rizzolo, emeritus professor at WMU and BigThink president, said he thinks the Hemi-Flora exhibit will be a success.
"People are really inspired after seeing this large form," he said. "I think people will be overwhelmed by the majesty of it."
The exhibit, which will be inflated with air and helium, can be up to 50 feet high and 600 feet in diameter. It also will be set to the music of Clifton Hyde, who composed original music for the display.
Simone Paterson, assistant professor of art and history at Virginia Tech, said she personally has seen the exhibit in Kalamazoo.
The object also has been taken internationally, including a stop in Norway.
"It's such an impressive piece," Paterson said. "And the intent of it - to promote world peace - is really honorable. We're hoping it provides peace."
The construction of the design lies in the hands of Flesher, who said its pieces already have been shipped to Virginia.
"I'm the nuts and bolts guy," he said. "I think it's a way of taking my personal artistic skills and my education background and using that for a greater good."
Flesher will play a critical role in the project's installation and disassembly.
Art chairperson Al Wildey said Flesher is the man for the job.
"He's been here four years now and he's done exemplary duties," he said. "I think it's an admirable effort that he's making."
The area surrounding the display will be illuminated by more than 500 candles placed in bags. Illustrated on the bags will be sentiments of world peace, as designed by adolescents.
news@cm-life.com
But although he can only do so much to help, Flesher still is going to try.
Flesher, CMU's North Art Studio coordinator, is traveling to the university this weekend to take part in Virginia Tech Skye, a world peace demonstration.
He will help assemble a massive, inflatable object called "Hemi-Flora" on Saturday on Virginia Tech's campus.
"I'm not a psychologist," he said. "We're not that kind of support. We're a completely different mechanism. We want to use art as a way to provide healing."
The display will be an opportunity for people at Virginia Tech to reflect on community, he said.
Flesher is traveling with BigThink, a Michigan-based group that promotes harmony, to construct the display. Flesher is a member of the nonprofit group, which is comprised of art alumni from Western Michigan University.
"It's a collaboration of artists and scientists promoting world peace," he said.
Virginia Tech made headlines just more than six months ago, when a mentally disturbed student, Seung-Hui Cho, shot 32 people to death on April 16. The Virginia Tech massacre is the deadliest school shooting in U.S. history.
Lou Rizzolo, emeritus professor at WMU and BigThink president, said he thinks the Hemi-Flora exhibit will be a success.
"People are really inspired after seeing this large form," he said. "I think people will be overwhelmed by the majesty of it."
The exhibit, which will be inflated with air and helium, can be up to 50 feet high and 600 feet in diameter. It also will be set to the music of Clifton Hyde, who composed original music for the display.
Simone Paterson, assistant professor of art and history at Virginia Tech, said she personally has seen the exhibit in Kalamazoo.
The object also has been taken internationally, including a stop in Norway.
"It's such an impressive piece," Paterson said. "And the intent of it - to promote world peace - is really honorable. We're hoping it provides peace."
The construction of the design lies in the hands of Flesher, who said its pieces already have been shipped to Virginia.
"I'm the nuts and bolts guy," he said. "I think it's a way of taking my personal artistic skills and my education background and using that for a greater good."
Flesher will play a critical role in the project's installation and disassembly.
Art chairperson Al Wildey said Flesher is the man for the job.
"He's been here four years now and he's done exemplary duties," he said. "I think it's an admirable effort that he's making."
The area surrounding the display will be illuminated by more than 500 candles placed in bags. Illustrated on the bags will be sentiments of world peace, as designed by adolescents.
news@cm-life.com
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