Page 44 - NCAT Magazine Fall 2018
P. 44

Hooker, Fields and Jones     He is the sculptor who
        sat down early in the 2017-  created the famed “February
        18 school year to map out    One” monument in front of
        what they could do together   the Dudley Building on A&T’s
        in the arts. In the spring,   campus as well as “Minerva”
        Hooker brought some of       at University of North
        his university students to   Carolina at Greensboro and
        Wiley to help the elementary   “General Nathaniel Greene” in
        students complete the murals.  downtown Greensboro.

        Hooker said, “It speaks      Currently, Barnhill is working
        volumes to A&T’s reach and   with his classes to integrate
        reputation to develop these   sculpting and engineering. He
        relationships with Guilford   sculpted a model of Martin
        County Schools.”             Luther King Jr.’s head using
                                     clay and then cast it in plaster.
        Both the university and      The model will be scanned
        elementary school students   by engineers to create the
        get valuable experience when   template for a larger version
        they work together, Jones    of the bust.
        said.

        “A lot of times our students
        aren’t exposed to college,”
        Jones said. “It’s very beneficial
        to my students to see artists
        of color doing what they love
        and making an honest living
        from it. It opens their minds
        to something different.”

        Fields said that the project
        has boosted confidence and
        pride among students who
        worked on the mural project.

        “One of my students said to
        me that when he leaves Wiley,
        there will always be a piece
        of him here,” she said. “Every
        time they walk past this
        section of the wall they get to
        see a little of themselves and
        that’s such a strong impact.”

        engineered PerfeCTion
                                     The scans will help Barnhill                                                                                                                                                 artful
        Barnhill’s interaction with   and his students create a grid
        the community begins in the   to build a metal frame for the                                                                                                                                          connectionS
        studio but the results can be   10- to 12-foot bust. The final
        seen throughout the city and   bust will be made of fortified                                                                                                                                                                             CONTINuEd
        country.                     mortar, using polymer and
                                     concrete.
                                     continued, page 44


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