OXFORD, Miss. – A picture may be worth a thousand words, but in Cliff Tresner’s case, the words actually are the picture.
Make that sculpture.
Using
words he wrote and cut from sheets of aluminum, the University of
Mississippi alumnus has welded “See What I’m Saying” a 12-foot,
200-pound figure that stands in front of the University Museum. The
piece is on exhibit through July 31 at the museum, at Fifth Street and
University Avenue.
“I owe a lot to Ole Miss for giving me a
chance to develop my talent,” said Tresner, an Indiana native who
earned his Master of Fine Arts in sculpture from UM in 1992. He teaches
sculpture and drawing at the University of Louisiana at Monroe.
“By loaning this piece to my alma mater, I feel like I’m giving something back,” he said.
Tresner’s
sculpture belongs to the Masur Museum of Art in Monroe, where it is normally displayed on the front lawn.
“By requesting Masur Museum to loan this piece to my alma mater, I feel like I’m giving something back,” he said.
A similar piece
is currently displayed at Riverwalk Casino in Vicksburg.
“I was reintroduced to Cliff’s work while serving on the art selection committee for the casino,” said Albert Sperath, director of University Museum and Historic Houses. “In search of a new piece for the sculpture pad here, I asked him to consider loaning us one of his for six months.”
The loan request was then formalized and agreed upon by the Masur Museum of Art.
Explaining how he conceived the idea of sculpting figures from words and writings, Tresner said, “When we speak, we communicate in the abstract. I began using writing as a drawing tool, and gradually shifted the technique into sculpting.”
His work, which is featured on the Web pages of both the Southern Arts Federation and Tri-State Sculpture, has received critical acclaim from experts in the field.
“Cliff Tresner is an invaluable part of our arts community in northeast Louisiana,” said Evelyn Stewart, assistant director and curator at the Masur Museum of Art. “His striking sculptures always inspire a dialogue among viewers, and we have enjoyed having his work in our permanent collection.”
Tresner said he’s just glad that his feelings – and their expression – have found an appreciative audience.
“Public art is an important part of our culture, and I hope to continue to support art in our public spaces through making and displaying my own works while providing an exhibition space for other artists through the University of Louisiana at Monroe’s Sculpture Garden,” he said.
For more information on the ULM Sculpture Garden, go to http://www.ulm.edu/art/sculpturegarden/ . For more information about the University Museum, visit http://www.olemiss.edu/depts/u?museum/ . For assistance related to a disability, call 662-915-7073.