Public Art on Campus - Carter Ernst and Paul Kittelso
ART ON CAMPUS
Carter Ernst and Paul Kittelson designed and created Cardinal Column specifically for Lamar University. The artists toured campus in May 2019 to get a feel for the campus and the site for the sculpture. They wanted to create a work of art that would be interactive and recognizable as visitors approach campus from Rolfe Christopher. The bird nest concept was an ideal choice with its reference to Lamar’s cardinal mascot. The artists created a similar bird nest sculpture for Hobby Airport in Houston.
Cardinal Column is comprised of numerous stainless steel pipes that rise from the base upward to a height of 12 feet where they then spread, twist and bend into a tree formation that extends an additional five feet into the air. Nestled within the center of the outer bands are smaller stainless steel rods molded into the shape of a bird nest. Kittelson has created an uncanny illusion as rigid stainless steel appears to have become a naturally growing organic structure in the form of a tree and nest. The bench wrapping around the tree is comprised of hundreds of hand-glazed tiles individually created by Ernst. The tiles range in color from various shades of green to fall colors of yellow, orange, red and brown. Each tile was carefully grouted into place so that the leaves appear to have fallen down into a circular pattern at the foot of the tree. The artists intentionally created a contrast between the hard, shiny surface of the column and the softer more natural looking bench. The craftsmanship of both sections of the sculpture are exceptional and took the artists almost a year to finalize. The artists hope that students and visitors will take time to interact with the work sitting on the bench and taking photos with the sculpture.