SC Connecticut News

This fall, first-year students at Yale University participated in a unique project as part of the "Six Pretty Good Ideas" seminar. They contributed to the installation of "Pyramid (Monument)," a sculpture by artist Maren Hassinger, at the Yale University Art Gallery's Margaret and Angus Wurtele Sculpture Garden. The project involved building a 10-foot-tall pyramid made from tree branches attached to a steel frame.

The initiative was spearheaded by Margaret Ewing, Horace W. Goldsmith Assistant Curator of Modern and Contemporary Art, who emphasized the importance of community involvement in the installation process. "Maren is interested in using her work to create opportunities for people in the community to come together and have a social experience while building the sculpture," Ewing said.

The seminar program, launched in 2021 and co-sponsored by Yale's First Year Seminars Program and Humanities Program, encourages students to explore themes through various works of literature or art from different cultures and times. Kathryn Slanski, senior lecturer in near eastern languages and civilizations, collaborated with Ewing on this opportunity for students. “Margaret wasn’t sure where to find students, and I thought, ‘I might just have the perfect students for you,’” Slanski remarked.

In collaboration with Gather New Haven, a local nonprofit organization focused on social and environmental justice, materials were sourced from Quinnipiac Meadows nature preserve. Volunteers collected buckthorn branches—an invasive species—to use in constructing the sculpture.

Hassinger’s work is rooted in themes related to environment and urban life interplay. She expressed satisfaction with how students engaged with her art: “I’m glad they had the opportunity to get outside and touch nature and work together building something for others to enjoy.”

Hassinger will join students for discussions about their experiences with this project later this week.