CAPP Shades Your Eyes With Art on Campus

Author: Charles Goulding

Since 1994, the Committee for Arts in Public Places (CAPP) has had a significant influence on the artistic and aesthetic appeal of the Middlebury campus. The committee, composed of trustees, administrators, faculty, students and members of the community, has acquired numerous sculptures over the past eight years and placed them strategically throughout the campus.
Under the "1% for Art" program established by the Board of Trustees, 1 percent of total funding for each new building on campus must be put toward the acquisition of an artistic structure. CAPP, headed by John Hunisak, a professor of history of art and architecture, deliberates before each construction project, deciding which piece of art to pursue for a particular building and how to go about obtaining that piece of art. Finally, Hunisak and CAPP determine when, where and how to physically place the artistic piece in its new home. Alternatively, the committee decides whether or not to accept various pieces of art that have been offered to the College.
Hunisak speaks passionately about the work CAPP performs, and the effect he feels the program has on the community. "We want students to know that art is not meant just for museums. In the end of the day, art is meant to enhance the quality of life. By placing these pieces in proximity to the new buildings, they give new meaning to the structures, and they also provide a statement with regard to how the College regards itself," he says.
Recently, the "1% for art" program has resulted in the following additions to the campus: "Smog," by Tony Smith, located outside Bicentennial Hall, and "Bench and Table," by Scott Burton, situated outside Ross Commons.
Additionally, CAPP has accepted and placed the following sculptures: The pavilion at the plaza outside the Center for the Arts (CFA, by Dan Graham, the "Bronze Panther," by Lorenzo Ghiglieri, "Out and About," the piece located at the east end of the reflecting pond outside the CFA by Clement Meadmore and "King Kong," by Jules Olitski, on the front lawn of Johnson Art Center.
Given that each new piece is typically placed in proximity to the building that helped fund its acquisition, the CAPP selection process for each new artistic structure is highly specialized. When construction of the new Library and Technology Center (LATC) finishes, a garden will be built nearby. The committee charged with building the garden outside the LATC includes Barbara Doyle-Wilch, dean of library and information services, who will undoubtedly have an opinion on the construction of the garden.
Hunisak also noted the continuous presence of students on the committee. Of the 13 members, three are students who have been elected by their peers in the studio art and the history of art and architecture departments.
The acquisition of new pieces can be an arduous and expensive task. This task has been mitigated by Nancy Regan, an art consultant hired by the College to help locate and bid for pieces. "Buying art is a unique process. Regan is a total pro. Not only is it expensive to bid on, it's also expensive to transport from wherever it's coming. She makes that process much easier for us," comments Hunisak.
Furthermore, physically placing the art in appropriate locations throughout campus is a delicate and strategic task. Hunisak notes that "'Smog,' for example, which is composed of a series of vertical tetrahedrons, is connected at every point to eight foot concrete piers placed in the ground." This intricate design ensures that the expansive structure does not get blown across campus in a heavy storm.
Overall, Hunisak believes that CAPP's work has had a resoundingly positive influence on the College community. A remaining concern, however, is that many in the community remain unaware of the artistic and cultural significance of the pieces on campus. To combat this concern, Hunisak is considering the possibility of hosting a tour to take interested students and community members around the entire campus, examining each sculpture and its particular significance to the campus.
Along with the garden that will be placed outside the new library, the other project CAPP is currently working on is a piece for Atwater Commons, and the location of a potential gift of two new panthers.