Saturday, October 10, the final pieces of public art were installed in the College of Education complex.

Five granite sculptures make a strong statement that, according to artist Yuki Nagase, underscores a new, unified identity for education buildings in the complex.  

"It was clear that the vision for the new College of Education complex would physically and symbolically re-connect the existing buildings," said Nagase. "My design concept comes from that vision to unify and to harmonize the diverse separate facilities into an inter-related whole."

Look for the new art in front of the Clinical Services Building; find another structure on the grass leading to the plaza. And on Kendall Plaza, there are three granite benches made from large natural granite boulders.

Many of the surfaces are hand carved, representing labor-intensive preparation. The relief carvings reflect the images of the four major elements found in nature:
water, fire, wind, and mountain.
 
"The free-standing sculptural composition placed on the stretch of lawn is composed of three elements carved out of one massive granite boulder. This sculptural composition is a metaphorical expression of a cycle of life," said Nagase.

"The main image that I envision is an abstract form of the universal concept of Heaven and Earth, in the Asian traditions of Yin and Yang," said Nagase.
 
In addition to providing functional seating, the forms of the sculpture are visually and tactilely inviting to children. Early childhood pre-school classes have already been enjoying some spontaneous play with the natural materials—climbing, sliding, and touching during afternoon walks.

Faculty and Students Pleased with New Additions to the Complex
"I think the sculptures are stunning and certainly enrich Kendall Plaza and the overall complex," said Early Intervention program and University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (UCEDD) director Jane Squires.

"The one located at the Clinical Services Building is especially striking—I even heard someone gasp, stop and touch, and say, 'how beautiful!' when she walked past the first time," reported Squires. 

"We hope you'll pass on the compliments to Yuki," said Squires.

Masayuki ("Yuki") Nagase began his career at the Academy of Fine Arts in Tokyo. In 1995, he became a U.S. resident and established a studio in Berkeley, CA. Learn more about Nagase's work at http://www.mnagase.com