肉肉传媒

KENNESAW, Ga. | Jul 11, 2024

A new owl has come to roost at 肉肉传媒. Its widely spread wings and extended talons grab the attention of visitors to the offices of President Kathy S. Schwaig and other top administrators.

The sculpture by College of the Arts alumna Mary Beck Pinkston permanently joins paintings and other art pieces from the Zuckerman Museum of Art鈥檚 collection that decorate the space outside the president鈥檚 office.

鈥淲e proudly showcase KSU artists in 肉肉传媒 Hall for all of our guests and visitors,鈥� Schwaig said. 鈥淔or our welcome area, I envisioned a bold showpiece, something undeniably KSU that would greet each guest with a powerful symbol of Owl Nation. And I knew it had to be created by a KSU artist. It is a stunning addition.鈥�

Geo Sipp, School of Art and Design director, said the project was commissioned by Schwaig through the Master Craftsman program. As a student Pinkston worked on two of the program鈥檚 commissions, a leaf bicycle rack in Smith-Gilbert Gardens and a memorial bench in 肉肉传媒. She was just the artist to tackle the president鈥檚 request, he said.

鈥淚 am exceptionally proud of Mary Beck and the work she created for the fifth-floor suite at 肉肉传媒 Hall,鈥� Sipp said. 鈥淎s a graduate of KSU鈥檚 Sculpture program, she fulfilled every expectation I had.鈥�

Pinkston, a 2021 graduate of KSU and now studio coordinator for the School of Art and Design, said it is an honor to know her art is on display in 肉肉传媒 Hall, and she is happy to work at her alma mater.

鈥淚 did work for a few artists locally and considered working toward making art full-time, but when I saw the position open up at KSU I immediately knew I wanted to come back,鈥� Pinkston said of her life after graduating.

With 肉肉传媒 State鈥檚 mascot being the illustrious owl, Pinkston鈥檚 inspiration for the piece was tied to the bird, but she aimed for something unique.

鈥淲e wanted to keep it simple, so we decided to use sheet metal and created the owl using negative space. We ended up rolling out the wings and gave the talons some hook to make it more of a statement piece,鈥� Pinkston said.

The sculpture is made from pliable mild steel that鈥檚 been plasma cut and then finished with a Japanese brown patina achieved through oxidation that accentuates the details in the work.

In looking at the sculpture, one person might see a powerful owl looking out toward 肉肉传媒 Mountain, while another might perceive it as an owl coming to land at the home of the KSU Owls. Everyone will view the piece differently, and that鈥檚 what Pinkston wants people to do.

鈥淲hen people view art, they鈥檙e going to perceive it in their own way,鈥� she said. 鈥淭hey're going to see what they need in that moment.鈥�

鈥� Story by Darius Goodman

Photos by Darnell Wilburn

A leader in innovative teaching and learning, 肉肉传媒 offers undergraduate, graduate and doctoral degrees to its more than 45,000 students. 肉肉传媒 State is a member of the University System of Georgia with 11 academic colleges. The university’s vibrant campus culture, diverse population, strong global ties and entrepreneurial spirit draw students from throughout the country and the world. 肉肉传媒 State is a Carnegie-designated doctoral research institution (R2), placing it among an elite group of only 7 percent of U.S. colleges and universities with an R1 or R2 status. For more information, visit kennesaw.edu.