Exhibition dates: October 20, 2022 - September 21, 2023, Owen Hall Sculpture Garden, UNC Asheville

Opening Reception: Thursday, October 20th from 6-8 pm


Artists & Artworks


Aaron Gibbons (class of 2013)

Particle Flux #1, 2022, steel

Aaron Gibbons is a self-employed artist and craftsman near Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Specializing in sculpture and functional design utilizing solid wood, metal, and a variety of found objects, Gibbons is a versatile and capable artist, conscious of how his work both occupies and interacts with a space. His approach to art is mechanically-minded and process-driven. Particle Flux #1 marks the beginning of a series Gibbons is set to create in the coming years. The key inspiration for this piece comes from the objects selected to use from his collection of salvaged and reclaimed metal. A 3D rendering was created early in the process; however, the sculpture took new life as fabrication began to best utilize found objects and metal stock available.




Darcy Ward (class of 2022)

Muninn, 2018, mild steel, security camera, electrical wire

I believe that art is above all, a form of communication. A way to share stories and experiences with others more completely than with words alone. With my art I try to revive some of the myths and lore that were once oral traditions, and are now fading into the past. Using symbols from these stories, I convey their essence in a way that is relatable in modern times. I shape these tales in steel, a timeless material to preserve fading traditions. This piece is based on parts of Norse mythology, altered to fit the modern world. The ravens Huginn and Munnin are Odin’s eyes on earth - watching and reporting what they see. Perhaps in this modern world we feel the absence of God in our lives because we have cut ourselves off from his sight. He cannot help what he doesn’t see.




Briar Coleman (class of 2024)

Rustacean, 2022, concrete, reclaimed rebar, steel

We speak of objects having past lives or being given new life when we repurpose them instead of throwing them away. Where does this inclination come from in a world that, to many of us, is filled with dead, inert matter? How might we act differently if we relaxed our deadening gaze and allowed these older instincts to bubble back to the surface?




Special thanks to the Windgate Charitable Foundation and S. Tucker Cooke for their donations. This exhibition would not be possible without their generous support.