The Nora Eccles Harrison Museum of Art has unveiled a series of pixelated steel statues by artist Mike Whiting on the Utah State University campus. The installation features sculptures inspired by digital imagery and video games, translating 8-bit and 16-bit visual languages into large-scale structures.
Whiting, a Northern Utah-based artist, uses steel to create the works, intentionally leaving raw edges so the underlying metal shines through. The installation includes several pieces, such as a pretzel located across from the french fries sculpture outside the Merrill-Cazier Library, and a piece inspired by The Great Wave located near Aggie Ice Cream.
Other works include a sailboat off Highway 89 and an eagle located on the North Eastern end of campus. Jeff Lambson, Deputy Director of the museum, stated that the installation is inspired by the integration of screens into daily life, noting that making seemingly ephemeral electronic concepts into large steel structures shows the real-world impact of the digital environment.
The eagle sculpture has generated some debate among students, leading to a Change.org petition that had garnered 83 signatures as of Sept. 9. Petitioners argued the eagle disrupts the harmony of the Quad. In response, Chiara Sorenson, coordinator of visitor and event services at the NEHMA, said that art is meant to create conversations and get people thinking.
Lambson explained that the eagle was placed on that corner to relate to the bust of George Washington located across the Quad, noting the eagle is taken from the United States quarter. The installation is intended to celebrate the history of USU and its role in the United States during the 250th anniversary of the country.
The statues are scheduled to remain on campus until next summer. One additional statue inspired by the Miracle of the Gulls is expected to be installed on the main campus, and one pixelated statue was sent to USU Eastern.
