By NEIL KING
Staff Writer
The renovation of the Louise E. Addicott and Yatish J. Joshi Performance Hall is beginning to work its way out into Northside Hall. Patrons of shows will now walk into renovated hallways and restrooms near the performance hall, and soon will be able to enjoy a garden just outside of the north doors where a bronze statue of the mythological muse Euterpe will have its home.
Northside Hall was built in 1972 and Dean of the Raclin School of the Arts, Marvin Curtis is excited to see there be a facelift to complement the performance hall.
“The performance hall is a beautiful space that was in an old building before the renovation,” Curtis said. “We wanted tocreate an atmosphere that, when you arrive, you’re coming to a special place.”
Michael Prater, director of facilities management, said the walls of the hallway stretching from the northern doors to the exit near the library have been refurbished to cover the painted block walls with wood grains and various textures to complement the performance hall. The remodeling, according to Prater, is scheduled to be completed by the time students begin the fall semester.
The floor is finished in a terrazzo, much like the floors of the Student Activities Center, and there are also new ceilings to greet patrons.
Aesthetic appeal isn’t the only thing that has been updated during the renovations. In an effort to make the restrooms more accommodating, both men’s and women’s rooms have been expanded and a family restroom has been added.
A small garden was also placed on the north side of the building, near the entrance doors, at the request of Yatish Joshi.
Associate Professor of Fine Arts Dora Natella will be crafting the sculpture of Euterpe that will rest in the garden. She is excited about the choice for the character of the statue and about having the opportunity to work on the project.
“Euterpe is the Greek muse of music and dance. Literally her name translates into ‘the giver of much delight,’” Natella said. “So the piece will be named ‘Euterpe’s Gift.’”
Natella said that the life-sized statue will take about five months to complete and will be full of movement.
Euterpe will be thrusting a lyre up toward the heavens, with her bronze dress rippled by the wind.
“The goal with the statue is about implied movement,” Natella said. “The dress of the statue is moving in the wind so there is this feeling of how music moves us. It’s about activating the space within the garden and moving us from within just as music does.”
