DATE: Thursday, July 3, 1997                TAG: 9707030897

SECTION: NORFOLK COMPASS         PAGE: 12   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: BY FELICIA PAGE, STAFF WRITER 
                                            LENGTH:   85 lines

GOVERNOR'S SCHOOL STUDENTS DISPLAY ENVIRO-ARTWORK AT THE HERMITAGE

Imagine being assigned to construct a piece of art that has to fit into the environment and relate to a particular setting. That's exactly what Megan Morrison had to do in her nine-week course, Environmental Sculpture, at the Governor's School for the Arts at Old Dominion University.

``I had no idea what I wanted to do,'' said Megan, a rising senior at First Colonial High School in Virginia Beach. ``The most challenging thing was starting.''

She finally got her inspiration by going to a hardware store and fiddling with different metal objects. It consists of three gray plumbing pipes with hanging, rust colored centerpieces.

Called ``Unititled,'' Megan's piece overlooks the Lafayette River just outside the Hermitage Museum. It and 16 others from her classmates are on display through July 7 at the Hermitage Foundation, 7637 North Shore Road in Norfolk.

Megan, 17, said the project was hard, but she loved getting her work displayed and working with art professionals and others who shared the same interest.

The class started in March when students visited the Hermitage to pick a site. Then, they sketched drawings of their sculptures that fit into the surrounding environment.

In June they finished the tedious construction and their masterpieces were unveiled on the museum's grounds for visitors, friends and family.

The sculptures vary in size, shape, color and texture. The students chose the materials they wanted, which were provided for them. Some consist of jagged wood, triangular patterns of fabric, rusted junk yard steel, papier mache and reflective mirrors. Most sculptures focus on the physical and kinetic forces such as the wind and relate to man, nature and modern human technology.

For the past five years, the museum has showcased the Environmental Sculpture Exhibition. Virginia Van Horn, who's been teaching at the Governor's School for the Visual Arts since 1985, said the museum has always been supportive and gotten a good response from the public.''

``It's fun to see what they conceptualize,'' said Philip Morrison, director of the Hermitage Foundation Museum. ``They do all the work and installation.''

``They're talented, motivated and have great ideas,'' Van Horn said. ``I liked the fact that everyone's was different and very integrated into the environment.''

First-year student, Cary Shurtz, an 18-year-old 1997 graduate of Cox High School in Virginia Beach created the piece, ``Seeing You.''

The artwork is a life-sized person's silhouette leaning against a tree. She came up with the title because the figure is filled with small mirrors, and as people examine the sculpture they see a reflection of themselves and the surrounding environment.

``I liked working with a group of people who enjoy doing what they're doing,'' explained Cary who plans to minor in art education at Old Dominion University. ``I really had fun working with the sanding machines and power saws.''

Deaner Lawless is a four-year student and an 18-year-old Kempsville High School graduate who will also major in art education. He will attend Tidewater Community College and transfer to James Madison University in Harrisonburg, Va. He constructed three structures.

The first sculpture, ``Future Growth,'' resembles two black metal trees with long slender branches. Rather than having leaves, one has squares for leaves with a triangular base. The other has triangular ``leaves'' and a square base.

Deaner's other pieces, one named, ``Blown,'' and the other untitled, are a compilation of old rusted objects collected from a junk yard. He assembly welded and clear-cut the old metal cylinders, shovel, fan and bicycle pedal to make the sculptures.

Deaner said he prefers brainstorming to sketching a drawing of his ideas, which he modified as he went on. He feels students in this class get a lot more freedom than in regular classes.

``It supplies you with things you can't do at your home school such as welding and print-making,'' said Deaner. ``The best thing about this program is the freedom.'' ILLUSTRATION: Photos

The students, from left: Megan Morrison, Deaner Lawless and Cary

Shurtz. Meagan's piece is ``Unititled,'' Cary's is ``Seeing You.''

Their art had to fit into the environment and relate to a particular

setting.

Students from the Governors School of the Arts designed and built

sculptures now on display at the Hermitage Foundation Museum. Here

Deaner Lawless' sculpture is titled ``Future Growth.''

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