A new sculpture has been installed near Brenau University's downtown campus for the public’s appreciation.
Forsyth County artist Greg Johnson installed the piece, called Nucleus, between the Gainesville Renaissance development and renovated Brenau Downtown Center on Friday. The 7-foot stainless steel sculpture is “simple and elegant geometry, meant to radiate energy from a central source, suggests a beginning,” according to the artist’s website.
In a press release sent by Brenau University this week, Johnson said he wants the public to find their own interpretation of his work.
“When you look at a sculpture, you might ask yourself: Is it interesting to look at? Do the positive and negative shapes work well together? Does the work expand beyond its physical boundary?” said Johnson. “If you can answer ‘yes’ to those things, then you’re probably looking at a very interesting modern, abstract sculpture.”
Johnson created Nucleus in 2017; the university has leased the sculpture for two years.
Johnson has installed around 1,500 pieces of art in the United States, including three bronze statues on Brenau’s campus: Contemporary Student and 1920s Student on the Front Lawn and the iconic Lucile Golden Tiger just off Green Street near the Jacobs Building.
Frank Norton, Jr., a member of Brenau's Board of Trustees and chair of the board's public art committee, praised the addition of Johnson’s piece.
"Brenau University is synonymous with art, woven into its academic rigor and its social and cultural fabric. Their commitment to art and public art continues in their Downtown Campus," Norton said. "Public art gives a community depth and individual expression. It rounds out historical, social, and cultural resources and builds character."
Johnson’s Nucleus sculpture ties together the two buildings it sits between: the Gainesville Renaissance is the new home of the Lynn J. Darby School of Psychology and Adolescent Counseling. Once completed, the development will include two recently announced restaurants and retail space on the ground floor, as well as 7 condominiums on the top floor.
Brenau University announced renovations to its downtown center in September of last year. The enhancements included a new main entrance and other improvements to entrances around the facility.
“Brenau is expanding its footprint in downtown Gainesville to coalesce into a true downtown campus location focused on health sciences,” said Brenau President Anne Skleder. “I’m grateful to Doug and Kay Ivester for their support. The generosity and commitment of the Ivesters to the people of Gainesville and Hall County focuses their extremely generous investment in education and the health sciences.”
Doug Ivester, a Brenau trustee and former Coca-Cola CEO, owns the property where the Gainesville Renaissance now sits. His contributions to Brenau University over the years have made many projects possible, including the Lynn J. Darby School of Psychology and Adolescent Counseling.
