Living Sculpture
Public Art Installation at Eddy Street Commons
Presented by the Robinson Community Learning Center and Notre Dame’s Department of Art, Art History, and Design
Our urban landscapes have become increasingly fortified with concrete, brick, and asphalt, trapping and radiating heat. New trees, when planted in these spaces, take decades to reach a height and size where their canopies provide a cooling effect. Eddy Street Commons, while beloved by the community for its amenities and proximity to Notre Dame's campus, is one example of this phenomenon.
The Robinson Community Learning Center (RCLC) and Notre Dame’s Department of Art, Art History, and Design have teamed up to design, build, and maintain a living sculpture to be installed in Eddy Street Commons. Salvaged materials will be used to create the work of public art upon which flowering vines will climb, creating a natural spectacle that will provide seasonal interest, fragrance, beauty, and a shaded spot for contemplation and rest in the hot summer sun.
RCLC students will participate in the process while learning about art and horticulture through hands-on workshops facilitated by undergraduate researchers from Notre Dame’s NewMatter Design Lab and RCLC’s tutoring program.
Credits
Susan Devetski and Robinson Community Learning Center
Susan Devetski, Ph.D., serves as Director of the Robinson Community Learning Center (RCLC), an off-campus educational initiative of the University of Notre Dame developed in partnership with residents of South Bend’s Northeast Neighborhood.
Devetski joined the Robinson Community Learning Center in 2022 and brings extensive experience in higher education leadership, teacher preparation, and educational program development. As director, she leads the RCLC staff and guides the center’s strategic vision, strengthening partnerships between the University of Notre Dame and the surrounding community while advancing innovative educational programming.
Jason Carley and Notre Dame’s Department of Art, Art History, and Design
Jason Carly, Assistant Professor of Design, is an industrial designer, entrepreneur, and educator working to improve the sustainability of designed objects and built environments. Through his practice, Jason examines consumer behavior and combines experimental biomaterials, alternative service models, digital prototyping techniques, and data visualizations to propose novel solutions to industrial challenges.
The Department of Art, Art History & Design (AAHD) is a multidisciplinary department offering undergraduate and graduate programs in studio art, art history, and design. Under the guidance of a talented and diverse faculty, students acquire the technical skills necessary to work creatively, develop the ability to think critically, and cultivate the discipline to reflect thoughtfully on the world and our place in it.
Funding & Support
This is a partner program of the 2027 Notre Dame Arts Biennial, supported with funding from the Notre Dame Arts Initiative.
Images
Aerial view of Eddy Street Commons, 2021. Photo by Barbara Johnston, courtesy of University of Notre Dame.