2000-2006

 

SLOW DANCE

aka Parameters. Perimeters.

CLAPP RECITAL HALL

UNIVERSITY OF IOWA IOWA CITY, IA

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This fortuitous and timely opportunity allowed Wyrick to move Slow Dance aka Parameters. Perimeters. to the lobby of Clapp Recital Hall in September 2000 for the Inaugural Celebration for the Division of Performing Arts. It was a time of great renewal for the sculpture.

It was also a time of regeneration for the sculpture, because audiences circulated around the pieces before and after performances and during intermissions. People described feeling the power of the 8’ high pieces and many likened their experience to being inside a forest.

 

In 2006, the new Director of the School of Music requested that Slow Dance be moved out of the building. The artist was faced with a dilemma: either find a home for the sculptures or destroy them.

 

Although Wyrick was miffed about having to move the pieces, it was only about a year and a half later that the June 2008 devastating flood in Iowa City destroyed Clapp Recital Hall, the UI Music Building and Hancher Auditorium. She was then thankful that they had been moved out of harm’s way and had found a new (and permanent) home.

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2006 And On

 

SLOW DANCE

aka Parameters. Perimeters.

THE BLANK HONORS CENTER

UNIVERSITY OF IOWA IOWA CITY, IA

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Wyrick looked for a site that would continue Slow Dance's contribution to creative thought by its viewers in addition to preserving the six sculptures. She was familiar with the programming in the Belin-Blank Gifted and Talented Program in the new Blank Honors Center headed by Dr. Nick Colangelo and she felt public schools’ and university’s honor students might become interested in the artwork and even interact with it to allow the artwork to flourish in new ways.

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In addition The Blank Honors Center had opened in 2003 and Slow Dance had excellent architectural compatibility with the building. The directors of the Center were intrigued by having Slow Dance as a piece of public art in their lobby.

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It was necessary that Wyrick transfer ownership to the University and The Blank Center. The agreement also required Wyrick to substitute aluminum for the glass “shards” projecting from the center of each sculpture because of the possibility of injury to young students.

   

Wyrick was happy to have found an excellent solution to her dilemma and signed an agreement giving the Center and University the right to de-accession the artwork, to find its next owner or even to destroy the work in the future.

 

Most importantly, the agreement includes Wyrick’s suggestion that the six sculptures might be reconfigured annually by honors students in the Center’s programs. She was ever mindful of emphasizing the artworks’ potential for creative thought.

 

In September 2006, Slow Dance was moved to the lobby of The Blank Honors Center and Wyrick’s stewardship of Parameters. Perimeters. aka Slow Dance was ended.

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Go forward...

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After experiencing both 8th Continent and Parameters.Perimeters., it didn’t take long before Wyrick saw the folly of her creating larger-scale work that required touring and she decided to concentrate her energy on doing large-scale work that STAYED PUT!!