Sculptura
The Center for the Visual Arts plaza has a new look. A huge marble telephone rises above the bricks. Entitled “Sculptura”—the actual name of the phone when it came out in the 1970’s—the piece urges you to touch its sleek handle and try to turn its dial.
Inside the Schneider Museum of Art, you encounter more giant sculptures of familiar items. Remember the adorable Princess phone—or the first clunky cell phone? And, of course, the ubiquitous black dial phone with its curly cord. You can also view Dan’s version of a 1930’s radio and even a Sinclair gas pump adorned with Dino the dinosaur. (I remember him well from my graduate school years in the Midwest.)
These are all the extraordinary work of SOU’s 1999 Distinguished Alumnus, Dan Henderson. A business major who has been a significant innovative force in technology, Dan holds 26 patents. In 2007, his prototype wireless picturephone was included in the collections of the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History.
For the last decade, Dan has turned some of his creative energy into large sculptures, using marble and materials from around the world to link the powerful forces of art and technology.
SOU is honored that the first exhibit of his work is taking place in the SMA. This afternoon (September 30) New York-based international art critic Robert Morgan (left) spoke to a packed crowd about Dan’s work. Afterwards, visitors from around the Rogue Valley and as far away as Boston joined us for a reception honoring Dan and his art.
This is a remarkable exhibit. Go see it!