The sculptures created in collaboration with Miami University and Marquardt Middle School are now in place, decorating the schoolyard in the western Chicago suburbs.

Under the guidance of sculpture instructor Rod Northcutt, teams of Miami students worked together to design and create four metal sculptures. The pieces were made according to the collaborative vision of both Miami students and students from Marquardt Middle School and represent ideas of change, metamorphosis, movement, and progressive thought.

“Sculpture can be extremely powerful, but only when it forms a connection with the viewers who interact with it,” Northcutt said in April.

The sculptures were placed in the courtyard of the school's Marquardt Fine Arts Center, and were dedicated in a ceremony in Chicago in the fall. Amanda Alexander, professor and chair of the Department of Art, attended the dedication in celebration of the installation.

“Together, the Art department sculptures created in collaboration with Marquardt Middle School represent not just the creativity and talent of our young student artists but also the strength of our community,” Alexander said. “This partnership fosters a sense of belonging and pride, reminding us that when we unite our skills and ideas, we can transform our environment and inspire future generations.”

The project was initially proposed by Miami University alumnus Loren May ’70 before the pandemic but was ultimately put on hold. David Dotson, the preparator and operations manager at the Richard and Carole Cocks Art Museum at Miami University, restarted the project in spring 2023 with College of Creative Arts alumna Zoë Neubig ’23.