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Glyphic

Glyphic is an abstract sculpture, hand carved from Indiana Limestone by artist Jarrett K. Hawkins. At the time of its creation in the 1972-1973, school year Hawkins was a student of Miami University pursuing a bachelor of fine arts. Hawkins, being one of the only artists on campus working with stone at this scale, quickly gained the interest of students and faculty alike. While he was hard at work hand carving the stone, visitors frequently came to see the progress. Working throughout the summer of 1973 Hawkins completed the sculpture just before the 1973-1974 school year. Although, the completed work was not exactly as planned -- administrators told Hawkins after he was finished sculpting the body of the work that the work must be two feet shorter. Several layers of limestone were taken off of the base to achieve the shorter height without destroying the body of the work. However, to Hawkins this was simply not true. Since the work was not what Hawkins had designed he omitted his name and title from being displayed with the work. Hawkins has permitted the use of his name and title for this publication, although he would reconsider signing the work if it were to gain the height he had once envisioned. Glyphic was commissioned by the Gamma Nu chapter of Alpha Phi sorority. A gift of the sorority, the sculpture commemorates the centennial of the founding of Alpha Phi International (women's) Fraternity at Syracuse in 1872. Other monetary contributions to the work have been made by the Beta Theta Pi fraternity, Alpha Omicron Pi, classes of 1964, '66, and '67, and by Alpha 775, in memory of Richard C. Berry. Jarrett Hawkins is now an established sculptor who resides in Cincinnati. Hawkins work can be found throughout the tristate and greater midwestern region. Many of his sculptures find homes in natural settings although a select number have been placed in gallery spaces and urban settings. After graduation from Miami University, Hawkins took a ten year hiatus from his sculpting to pursue other interests. Now in his return to sculpture Hawkins has explored abstraction in two large categories: Figurative abstraction and true abstract. Hawkins began creating figurative sculptures in 1999. Both examples of his work can be seen in Oxford, Ohio. Glyphic is an example of one of Hawkin’s true abstract sculptures. A recent bronze woman by Hawkins can be found in the arboretum at Oxford Community Arts Center and is an example of his figurative work.