Client: Michigan State University

Location: East Lansing, MI, United States

Completion date: 2012

Artwork budget: $80,000

Project Team

Architect

Shaw Group

Interior Designer

Michigan State University

Artist

Guy Kemper

Industry Resource

Derix Glasstudios

Overview

Leaf. Imbedded comfortably with its immediate surroundings, the composition acknowledges MSU’s heritage as an agricultural land grant institution and the earth science majors that are housed in Bailey Hall. The idea of growth parallels attending an institution of higher learning.

Goals

It was important to do something that students would respond to, especially the students in the environmental program housed in this dormitory. I decided to knock their eyeballs out with a burst of apple green and yellow. It's hard to give students too much stimulation these days.
Merging architectural ornament and fine art, the piece works on several levels. It reacts to its context, provides thematic content, and acknowledges the psychology of the viewers.

Process

Michigan State University has a world-class collection of public art. The architectural art committee is very sophisticated and was appreciative of my aesthetic.
The committee gave me all the renderings, interior finishes, and user information I needed to visualize and design a relevant architectural design response, which made the process relatively streamlined.

Additional Information

The response from the students has been the best part of the project. They are stimulated by the art and enthusiastic with their praise.