Gateway to the Stars

Story By: Jacob R. Chandler

Montevallo art students are hard at work bringing to life three unique public sculpture designs for the community: a gate for the Anagama kiln, a bike rack for the university lake, and a new gate for the JWS Observatory.

A committee of faculty, students, and members of the Montevallo community was assembled to choose the designs for each project and the designs themselves were created by the public sculpture class at the university. 

Senior Cherish Roodhouse and Robby Wise have been tasked with creating the gate for the observatory. The design will feature the twelve phases of the zodiac corresponding with the four seasons. 

Professor Ted Metz helped the students find usable materials and companies to aid in the process of bringing the computer generated design into hard steeled existence.

The Anagama kiln gate will feature a network of metal sculptures resembling the many pots the kiln takes in, each sculpture created by a different student in the class.

There's no word yet on when the projects will be completed, but it seems the sculptures won't be finished and installed until sometime next semester.

The James Wiley Shepherd Observatory is located three miles away from campus, equipped with a state-of-the-art 20-inch telescope.  For more on contact information, maps, and a calendar of events check out the observatory's website here.

Zodiac Design

Cherish Roodhouse working on her Anagama piece.

Robby Wise