|
The Stonecutter's
Art
TE photo,
September 2010 |
Sculpted
into the arches of Lovett Hall on the Rice University Campus are the
faces of philosophers, essayists and other wise and noble men.
One repeated figure is neither wise, nor noble. He is a chubby, bewildered-looking
figure seated with a large book in his lap, holding himself erect
by his right arm. |
"Freddy"
after a hard night of "study"
TE
photo, September 2010 |
It
is obvious to anyone that he is a freshman. If Rice were to have a
contest to match his overall look with members of the current freshman
class, scores of contestants would be caught in a huge tie for first
place.
To the left of “Freddie” is his dashing alter ego. A galloping leather-helmeted
footballer with quilted pants and a nose guard resembling a Norman
helmet. |
BMOC AKA Freddy's
Alter Ego
TE
photo, September 2010 |
Freddy’s main
distraction appears to his left. His eyes stray from Plato to pulchritude
in the form of a stone-cold figure resembling the yet-to-come Mae
West. Mae, replete with purse and parasol, is wearing the latest fashions
(circa 1912).
Only the fashions have changed. |
A shapely stone
siren.
TE
photo, September 2010 |
A more alert
"Freddy"
TE
photo, September 2010 |
| Lovett
Hall was the first building of the William Marsh Rice Institute for
the Advancement of Letters, Science and Art. The cornerstone was laid
in 1911. |
Lovett Hall
cornerstone
(It's Greek to us)
TE photo,
September 2010
More Texas Cornerstones
|
The heavily-ornamented
breezeway.
TE
photo, September 2010 |
A stone bird
resorts to sampling stone.
TE photo,
September 2010 |
| If one needs
additional proof that the Lovett stonecutters got their inspiration
locally, one needs to look no further than the hedges or live oaks.
Grackles outnumber owls on the Rice campus by numbers that sometimes
require pedestrians to carry umbrellas – even on sunny days. |
Life imitates
Art -
a Rice Grackle finds a caterpillar in a hedge.
See Texas
Birds
TE
photo, September 2010 |
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