Renee Ballenger
Editor
In the next few weeks, two finalists in the Artist Search for the Bruner Hall of Science renovation will be on campus for interviews, according to Director of Facilities Lee McQueen. A comprehensive call for artists was issued last Spring, with the assistance of J.D. Hutton of the Nebraska Arts Council, ex oficio member of the UNK committee who will make the selection. A total of 124 artists from all over the country submitted applications to execute the signature art representation of BHS. As a state-funded capital project, the BHS renovation has a budget allotment of one percent for a major art depiction to be within or a complementary part of the building’s construction. One of the committee’s considerations during the search process, McQueen explains, was their agreement to choose the artwork for the exterior of the edifice. “We decided early on that the planetarium and the Foucault pendulum were sufficient for the lobby area, and that artwork would be displayed elsewhere.” Additionally interior walls had been designated for display of student projects. The call from the committee suggested the artists consider work that would compliment the west wall of the new addition, using bas relief work within the brick, or other work attached to the brick, to cover at least 25 percent of the outside west wall of BHS. Scheduled to be complete this Fall, this art phase of the project is planned in timely coordination with the overall BHS construction schedule. The committee charged with ensuring this key piece of the BHS renovation, includes with McQueen and Hutton; Peggy Abels; David Amstutz; previously Mike Mosher, and now Scott Darveau; previously Frank Harrold, and now Bob Rycek; John Hertner; Audrey Kauders; and previously Ryan Swanson, now Mike Tomczak.
