Artwork

The Alvin Sherman Library is fortunate to have on display numerous works of art by prominent artists. The public is invited to tour the library and view these works located throughout the library. In addition, the library hosts many temporary exhibits.

Video: A tour of the artwork at the library (Part I)

Video: A tour of the artwork at the library (Part II)

Dale Chihuly
Born 1941, Tacoma, Washington

The NSU Glass Garden
Glass, 2007

Location: Mezzanine level, at the top of the grand staircase.

Permanent installation commissioned by the Circle of Friends for the Alvin Sherman Library and funded through private donations.

The NSU Glass Garden is part of a series of work Dale Chihuly designed and created for botanical gardens. Stemming from his long love of “glass houses” (conservatories), Chihuly wanted to install his work among and within some of the most important public gardens ever designed.

The beauty of The NSU Glass Garden is that the glass pieces have become strong interpretations of botanical forms but no longer necessarily resemble the plants. They definitely are created, however, to relate to nature and have their own Chihuly identity.

Dale Chihuly is an internationally renowned artist who has created innovative and exquisite large-scale blown glass works for more than 30 years. Chihuly received his bachelor's degree from the University of Washington, an M.S. degree from the University of Wisconsin, and an M.F.A. from the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD). In 1969, he established the glass program at RISD, where he taught for more than a decade. He co-founded the Pilchuck Glass School near Stanwood, Washington in 1971.

Chihuly's work is included in more than 200 museum collections worldwide, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Smithsonian American Art Museum, the Musee des Arts Decoratifs, Palais du Louvre, and the Corning Museum of Glass. His pieces have also been exhibited in numerous museums, including the Smithsonian's Renwick Gallery, the National Gallery of Australia, the Corcoran Gallery of Art, and the Victoria and Albert Museum.

Chihuly has been awarded seven honorary doctoral degrees, a Louis Comfort Tiffany Foundation Grant, a Fulbright Fellowship, and a National Endowment for the Arts Individual Artist Grant.

For more information and images of Chihuly's work, visit his website at www.chihuly.com

Franck Louissaint
Born 1949, Acquin, Haiti

The Orange Thermos
Acrylic on canvas, 2003

Location: Atrium on wall to the right as you face the elevators.

Purchased by NSU to commemorate the second annual Black History Month Art Exhibition: African Presence 2005 - The Caribbean Connection.

Franck Louissaint is know for his street scenes and paintings of rural life. His works are found in many permanent collections, both public and private, in Europe and the United States.

Peter Max Born 1937, Germany Eight works from two of his series, Better World and Liberty. Location: Second floor flanking the entrance to the Library Gallery on the south side of the building. On loan from collectors Donna and Frank Horkey.

The works include:

Better World III, Mixed media, 1999  (shown above)
Peace on Earth, Mixed media, 2001
Delta, Mixed media, not dated
God Bless America with Five Liberties, Mixed media, 2001
United We Stand, Mixed media, 2001
Liberty and Justice for All, Mixed media, 2001
God Bless America II, Mixed media, 2001
Land of the Free, Home of the Brave, Mixed media, 2001

German-born American artist Peter Max came to international prominence in the 1960s with his “cosmic” art. Since then Max has explored many new styles and worked in a variety of media. Max is known for his vibrant colors and Art-Nouveau-like graphic designs. Selected one of the official artists for the 2006 Olympics, Max has his work in more than 100 museums and galleries worldwide.

For more information and images of Max's work, visit his website at www.petermax.com

Beverly Pepper
Born 1924, New York, New York

Withstanding Presence
Chauvigny stone, 2000

Location: Center of atrium.

Permanent installation donated in part by the Circle of Friends for the Alvin Sherman Library, Research, and Information Technology Center.

This piece is an interpretive work by world-renowned sculpture Beverly Pepper. It stands 12 feet high and is made of 160 million year old Chauvigny stone (French limestone).

Ms. Pepper has been living between New York and Italy for more than 50 years. She realizes monumental sculptures with many different materials, always revealing a concern for abstraction. Her work has been exhibited around the world, including at the several New York City galleries; the Palais Royal in Paris, France; and at the Forte Belvedere in Florence, Italy. Pepper has completed many commissions and installations and is represented in Public and Corporate Collections worldwide.

Beverly Pepper has received many honorary degrees, including Doctors of Fine Arts from Pratt Institute and from The Maryland Institute.

For more information and images of Pepper's work, visit her website at www.beverlypepper.org

Therman Statom
Born 1953, Winter Park, Florida

Woman in Red Dress
Mixed media, 1998

Location: First floor atrium to the left as you face the elevators.

Long-term loan courtesy of the Museum of Art, Fort Lauderdale. Gift of the Joan and Milton Baxt Foundation.

Therman Statom is an internationally recognized glass artist. Working with glass, paint, and found objects, he creates unique works of sculpture. Statom uses the images of houses, ladders, chairs, and other common objects in his work, making these simple objects come to life with bold color and energy.

Statom first began his study of glass at the Pilchuck Glass School in Stanwood, Washington in 1971. He received his BFA in sculpture for the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) in 1974, followed by a MFA in Sculpture from the Pratt Institute of Art and Design in 1978.

His work has been exhibited at the Smithsonian American Art Museum, Los Angeles County Museum of Art, Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, Cleveland Museum of Art, Lowe Art Museum of the University of Miami, Toledo Museum of Art, Detroit Institute of the Arts, Milwaukee Art Museum, Denver Art Museum, and the High Museum, among many others.

Statom has exhibited internationally at the Kulturhuset in Stockholm, Sweden, Musee des Arts Decoratifs in Paris, Hokkaido Museum of Modern Art in Japan, and Centro Cultural de la Raza in Ensenada, Mexico.

For more information and images of Statom's work, visit his website at www.thermanstatom.com

Prayer Wheel
Blessed by His Holiness the Dalai Lama

Location: Alcove to the right of the grand stairs (south side) in the atrium.

Permanent installation donated by Albert and Beatriz Miniaci in 2004.

This prayer wheel was hand-forged by craftsmen in India and blessed by His Holiness the Dalai Lama during his visit to Nova Southeastern University.

The use of the prayer wheel as a mystical and religious practice dates back to at least 400 C.E. in China. The idea of the prayer wheel may have originated with a play on words of turn the wheel of the dharma, a metaphor used for the teachings of the Buddha.

There are many types and sizes of the prayer wheel, ranging from small enough to hold in your hand to the large example in the Sherman library atrium. Prayer wheels are used to spread spiritual blessings and well being throughout the universe.

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