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Show Forum Distasteful display Campus art vandalized, stolen Kristin Lane Staff Writer Abscission: The shedding of a body part. To break off. Im referring to the installation piece that stands in front of the Jewett building. Have you seen it? If not, I suggest you move quickly due to the fact that the art is being demolished overnight. On Oct. 16, 2008, five Westminster students including myself debuted the installation piece. It consisted of eight trees constructed from recycled and purchased wood to demonstrate global attempts to rebuild the environment. It was dedicated to the Bioneer Conference that took place that weekend. Two weeks later only six trees stand. One of which literally underwent abscission, and had its branches sawed off. What the hell happened to these trees? At first, I was shocked that one of them was stolen. I couldnt fathom why someone would want to steal a seven foot tree. Fire wood? A decoration for Halloween? Or maybe a dare? Whatever the reason, I was upset. Art professors continually told the five of us that we should take it as a compliment. I wont speak for all of us when I say that is no compliment. I tried to be flattered. Someone must have really liked our art, I imagined. But, who am I kidding? Those trees took four weeks, 70 hours, and cost $100 dollars half of which was our own money. So to just have someone feel free to take one of them was like taking a whole days work that four other students and myself busted our asses for. Im not flattered. Its one thing to steal an entire tree. At least it leaves it up to our imaginations what its fate was. I like to think it is a decoration in a home or a coat hanger. Anything besides fire wood, please. But its a whole other thing to saw off the branches and leave the barren . Forum - tiift i y Staff, Fall 2008 Five Westminster artists spent 70 hours creating the Bioneer Conference dedication piece, now damaged by trunk left to stand for all to see especially the artists. What was the motive behind that? Someone took Abscission too literally and decided to add their artistic disappointed because not only is a piece of art that I helped to create being continually mysteriously destroyed over night, but that I knew this would happen. When we began to install the piece, the thought crossed my mind that it was risky leaving these eight trees out in the open with no security. There were no at The Forum is published every other Tuesday. Its circulation is 1,000 newspapers. The first copy is free of charge; additional copies may be purchased for 50 cents. We encourage students, all faculty, staff and other readers to provide feedback. letters to Jonny Bonner at forumeditorwestminstercollege. edu. Only signed letters will be accepted. The Forum reserves the right to edit all submissions. Views expressed are those of the writers and are not to be considered those of The Forum, the faculty, staff or administration. E-m- ail tachments or watchful eyes. I decided to give society the benefit of the doubt and told myself, nah, no one would steal or saw off pieces of these trees. How naive was I. skills to the piece? Im vandalism I will never create another piece of art for Westminsters campus that will be showcased outside, in fear it will be tampered with or completely butchered. Shame on whoever has inflicted this installation to literally be a meager display of dwindling wood. Take a trip over to Jewett and check out the installation to see abscission at its finest. Contribute to The Forum If you have something to say we'd love to hear from you. Send your letter to the editor or article to forumeditorwestminstercollege.edu. |