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A new work of art, depicting 10 words of justice sculpted in solid granite, is being installed in the North Plaza fountain at the Ohio Judicial Center, 65 South Front Street. The artwork was designed by artist Malcolm Cochran, a professor of art at The Ohio State University.
The sculptures are being permanently fixed to the bottom of the fountain and will sit at water level or slightly below the water. The installation is expected to be complete by the end of the year. The sculpted words include: wisdom, integrity, peace, truth, justice, honor, reason, equity, compassion and honesty.
“We hope that the words cause people who see them to reflect on the fundamental principles of justice and serve as a reminder of the mission of the judiciary,” said Supreme Court Chief Justice Thomas J. Moyer. “Each day at the Supreme Court we strive to achieve in reality the ideals embodied in this art work.”
The project was funded through a grant from the Ohio State Bar Foundation, a public charity that promotes the public understanding of the law and improvements in the justice system in Ohio. The $300,000 grant covers the cost of the artwork in the north reflecting pool and future installation in the south reflecting pool as well as a bar foundation presence in the Court's Visitor Education Center.
“We see the sculptures as part of our mission to promote public understanding of the law,” said Linda Thompson Kohli, executive director of the Ohio State Bar Foundation. “Thousands of school children and citizens will walk past these words each year, and hopefully will be left with a greater understanding of the importance of law in our society.”
Cochran teaches in the sculpture and foundation programs at Ohio State. His installations and public art works are exhibited in primary art venues of the United States, as well as the Netherlands, Vienna and Budapest.
“I want pieces to be thought provoking,” Cochran said. “What I'm doing here is taking concepts that are absolutely central to the judicial system and they are carved out of stone. They are fixed, solid objects that when covered with water will sometimes become evasive and hard to pin down.”
For a high-resolution, publication-quality images, click on the photos above or or visit the following links: http://www.supremecourtofohio.gov/Communications_Office/Press_Releases/2006/InstallationLift_highres.zip http://www.supremecourtofohio.gov/Communications_Office/Press_Releases/2006/MoyerInspection_highres.zip.
Contact: Chris Davey or Andrea M. Strle at 614.387.9250.