Sculpture by World-renowned Seward Johnson on Loan to Kean
The sculpture, "Captured," which is on loan to Kean University, invites passers-by to sit and interact. Here, Kean graduate Nekeisha Blandin '08, a program assistant at Michael Graves College, gets to know the artwork. "Captured" by Seward Johnson ©2013 The Seward Johnson Atelier, Inc.
A bronze and aluminum sculpture of a young woman reading a book of poetry on a bench has joined the Kean University community, in a loan from the prestigious Seward Johnson Atelier and renowned sculptor Seward Johnson.
The piece, entitled Captured, was installed Tuesday along Cougar Walk between Miron Student Center and the Center for Academic Success, in the heart of Kean’s Union campus. It will be at Kean through the end of the school year in May.
“We are so pleased to receive this donation from such an accomplished and world-renowned sculptor,” said Dawood Farahi, Ph.D., president of Kean University. “Seward Johnson’s work serves as an inspiration to all of us, but particularly to our design and fine arts students. Everyone who walks by this piece along Cougar Walk will be able to appreciate it and learn from it.”
The artwork arrived by truck, then was lowered by crane and carried to its spot along Cougar Walk. The sculpture depicts a young woman seated on a bench, reading a book of poetry also entitled Captured, her pair of flip-flops resting beside her. The book of poetry was written by India Blake, Seward’s daughter. The sculpture was created in 2013, and is part of the artist’s series Celebrating the Familiar.
Next to the young woman is space for someone else to sit, which is intentional. “Mr. Johnson likes to see interaction with his pieces,” said Jamie Smith, project assistant at the Seward Johnson Atelier.
“Your work becomes so much more vital to the viewer if you can illustrate our common humanity in simple actions that go beyond the visage or the surface of the piece,” Johnson said.
Several students and other passers-by stopped to watch as the sculpture was put in place.
“It’s beautiful,” said senior Kasi McKoy, of Plainfield, a media communications major.
Johnson, who is 88, is known around the world for his work, and founded the Grounds for Sculpture and the Atelier, which is a studio and sculpture foundry, in Hamilton, N.J. He has sculpted more than 450 life-size cast bronze figures, many of which have been installed in public places from Chicago to Washington, D.C., to Hong Kong.
Paula Stoeke, curator of the Seward Johnson Atelier, Inc., said the sculpture is one of many on exhibit or sited permanently on university campuses. The sculpture is on loan at the request of President Farahi, and was arranged by Professor Rose Gonnella, associate dean of Michael Graves College.
“The setting provides a lively environment for public art and a perfect set of circumstances for interaction,” Stoeke said.
Gonnella said the sculpture is an amazing gift to Kean. She met Johnson at an art opening in the fall, which helped create the connection with Kean.
“We are grateful to Mr. Johnson, a resident of New Jersey, and the Johnson Atelier for this exceptional opportunity for Kean students,” Gonnella said. “Having a delightful sculpture by Seward Johnson on the Kean University campus for our students to learn from, enjoy aesthetically, and actually interact with in any number of ways, is truly a world-class educational experience.”
