UF and Gainesville come together for a giant art exhibit

Author: Unknown Publication Date: Friday July 29, 2011

If you come to campus this summer and fall, be aware there’s a new Big Man on Campus – and he’s whispering in the ear of a pretty lady.

“Whispering Close,” a 20-foot-tall bronze sculpture of a well-heeled couple dancing, is one of several bronze figures by internationally renowned sculptor Seward Johnson that have been temporarily installed on campus. The exhibit, titled “Crossing Paths,” is a collaborative effort between the Gainesville Community Redevelopment Agency and the University of Florida.

“Whispering Close,” which was inspired by a French Impressionist painting by Pierre-Auguste Renoir, is the largest of the sculptures and can be found on the Plaza of the Americas. Eleven life-size bronze figures have been placed on the north lawn of the J. Wayne Reitz Union, while ten additional figures can be found throughout the city.

All of the sculptures are on display through Oct. 14.

Visit the “Crossing Paths” website for maps and photos