0 The Michigan Daily - Weekend etc. - February 6, 1992- Page 3 'Art' by Renee Huckle adds humor to engineers' days Y ou thought your neighbors' satellite dish was tacky. Well, Alice Aycock is out to prove us all wrong. Iier monstrous "sculpture" looming before the Ilerbert Dow Building on North Campus has caught the intrigue of the most oblivious engineers and has escaped notice of the proliferation of art students who populate the area. A sick joke'? A post-modernist fluke? Some folks along the road less taken have some opinions to offer. "I didn't know if it was art or a mechanical contraption," said Engi- neering student Kristin Missil. Standing 32 feet high and 35 feet wide, "Summaries of Arithmetic Through Dust, Including Writing Not Yet Printed," by American sculptor Alice Aycock made its de- but shortly after winter break. This sculpture is just the first in a series of works by contemporary artists kicking off a newly initiated program designed to culturally en- rich North Campus. As the contemporary sculpture was assembled, Ii[w ineering senior Tom Conrad said initially there was a sense of anticipation in the air. Yet, upon its completion, his ex- citement turned to dismay. "I was kind of excited when it was going up," but said that he was disap- pointed when the sculpture elided up looking like a satellite dish. University Art and Architecture students were asked for an insightful opinion on the sculpture, but all replied that they hadn't seen it. Most students haven't extracted a deep philosophical meaning from the work, but they've definitely seen familiar objects in its stark steel appendages. IEngineering senior Bob Serr said, "One part looks like the corkscrew at Cedar Point com- bined with a tuba." Nicole Ilorne, an Engineering ju- nior, said the structure reminded her of playground equipment. "I told a friend of mine if I were 5 years old, I'd try to climb it," she said. Engineering inior Scott Lymburner is one of many students who finds it difficult to extract any meaning at all from the sculpture. Lymburner said he first reacted with, "What the hell is that!" "I'm not much of an art fan," Lymburner explained. "I don't know what it's supposed to repre- sent." For those who are art illiterate or simply need help understanding the significance of the structure's components, Aycock has provided her own interpretation, "These ele- ments are taken from various two- dimensional scientific diagrams which attempt to explain various aspects of the universe ... These forms are pervasive in the art and culture of many societies both past and present." Biut some students have more practical concerns. "Can you get MTV from it?" Bryan Caenepeel, Natural Resources senior, asked. Even for one who is familiar Witli a variety of artists and their works, it doesn't necessarily mean they'll find all art appealing. Michael McCalTery, a lab technician for the Art school, said he doesn't hold Ms. Aycock's work in high re- gard. "I don't like her personally or her work either," he said. The sculpture, a gift from the Engineering class of 1933, will be dedicated next year on the 60th re- union of the class, said Brad Canal, director of development at the Engineering school. Lym burner wondered whether the money could have been used for something more worthwhile "I don't know how much the thing costs, but I think they might have been able to do something else with the money." Conrad wouldn't release the sculpture's monetary val tie. L.ymburner also said it seems out of place in North Campus' natural environment. "It doesn 't really fit in with anything up here. Everything is so woodsy up here and all of a sudden that's there and it kind of sticks out," I ymburner said. Despite his initial negative reac- tion toward the new sculpture, Lymburner said. "It dloes add some- thing to the exterior of the build- inc. It's something to look at." Conrad agreed the sculpture adds life to North Campus. "It's cer- tainly interesting. It makes North Campus more distinctive," he said. But some students, especially those in the Art and Architect ure school are wonderin g why the University chose to commission an outsider to create the work instead of choosing from the many faculty and st udent graphic designers. metalworkers, painters, who inhabit North Campus. Conrad su gwested that a contest held by the Inginceri ng department to commission a 1.trsi 'Ci'ty artist woUld have been bettel' than of bringing in an Outside artist. K athryn Cle men ts, School of' Natural Resources junior, who walks by the sculpture three times a week, said the artwork should have been made out of waste products or Are men really oppressed? MEN Continued from page 1 "The reaction to seeing a man cry is much different than a woman crying. If a man cries he could be seen as effeminate, something removed from masculinity," Schwalm said. While this generalization is one that often holds true, students like Schwalm counter with more of the same stuff. "Women can identify their feelings and tune in their re- sponses to situations. For a guy you respond by being cool and detached. I've been in situations where I felt nothing, but I know I should," he said. Does Robert Bly conduct crying workshops? Are men learning to cry in support groups? If so, let those tears flow. But who are they crying for? When men are worried about their reps, is it the other men or women on the bus that they're wor- ried about? The Future So what lies ahead for the Men's movement? "I think ten years from now some of the things we see will be regarded ing. By fighting for more rights we can do more to stop our oppression." "There's a lot of work to do and it may take a long time, but hope- fully the energy exerted by many kinds of people in social change will result in a society where many more people are happy, not just certain people with certain privileges," Powers said. The concerns, fears and emotions expressed by the men involved in the movements are real, but some of the results are scary to me. As a woman, I feel frightened when men tell me that they need more political power. But at the same time, I can empathize with the men in the Mythopoetic movement and Pro- feminist/Gay Affirmative movement who are trying to define their roles in society, just as I am trying to de- fine mine. Given the choice, would I still want to be a man? Probably not. SHARON MUSHER/Daily Alice Aycock's work is a stark contrast to the Dow Building behind it. recyclable objects. " lowever," she added, "I'm trying to have a greater appreciation for it each day.' Clements said she approved of an effort someone made to spruce up the sculpture. "I really like the ad- dition of the Budweiser box." The sculpture, it nothing else, has captuIred the attention of the students freq Lien t in g North Campus. Whether prompting a joke or an intellectual conversation, the new sculpture has lightened the atmosphere for students. Conrad added, "It's a source of humor ainong a less humorous eng- neering II)population. as the fad of the '90s, but I hope that what will last is a greater under- standing of men," Garvin said. Travis is still trying to remind us what "understanding" is. "We need each other and 'we need to get mov- .. _ c _ . . Sponsored by Counseling Services 76-GU DE 76-GUIDE IS A CONFIDENTIAL PEER COUNSELING PROGRAM SPONSORED BY COUNSELING SERVICES. APPLICANTS NEED TO BE ENROLLED STUDENTS WHO ARE GOOD AT WORKING WITH PEOPLE. NO PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE IS NECES- SARY. GUIDE WORKERS ARE PAID AND WORK APPROXIMATELY 15 HOURS PER WEEK. 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