The Ruins

In the town of Normal, Illinois, there are a variety of interesting objects one can find on a typical day. Whether if it is a cool piece of art, an abnormal statue, or a decorated bench, a stroll through the sidewalks of Normal will not disappoint its visitors and residents.

The town may be small in size, but it is large in its uniqueness.

I discovered a strange series of statues, which caught my attention every time I walked by it. The official name of this piece is called Ruins IV. It is located on the Quad, found within Illinois State University and is located exactly outside of Cook hall. Due to its positioning and varying shapes, it is difficult to distinguish the message behind its creation; regardless it is a remarkable piece of art. I decided to take the picture in black and white because the sculpture appears to portray a dark and sad mood. I believe this effect successfully represents the artist’s intention and purpose.

Ruins IV was created by Nita Sunderland, an art professor from Bradley University. According to Illinois State University, “The sculpture is part of a series that Sunderland said stands as a statement about our relationship with history and former societies, as well as the importance of earning from the mistakes and experiments of the past”. It was brought to the campus in the year 1990. Ruins IV is not a piece of art where its meaning directly stands out to the viewer so a person cannot just walk past without taking time to decipher its purpose.
One of my favorite aspects of this sculpture is the platform. The platform helped to draw attention to the various pillars, which is the centerpiece. In my opinion, the addition of the platform provides the viewer with another dimension to evoke Sunderland’s historical reference, and it adds to the piece in a meaningful manner. For these reasons, the circular platform is a part of the work of art.

Ruins IV is just one of the many objects found within the town of Normal, Illinois. This town is definitely not a vacation spot for tourist, but a lot of cool places are not often labeled as such by society. There are a lot of attractions, such as this sculpture, which make Normal unique as a place within the state of Illinois. Normal offers a variety of fascinating works of art that is certain to attract one’s eye. It is unlike anything I have seen before, and this is the reason why I chose it as my found object.

This town offers a variety of fascinating objects that is certain to attract one’s eyes. This sculpture is definitely one of these fascinating objects. It is unlike anything I have ever seen before, and this is the reason why I chose it as my found object. -- Jordan Crouch