Flourish joins Purdue's sculpture family

A cold wind swept over Pickett Park as the latest addition to the artwork on campus found a new home.

Don Lawler's Flourish was selected from many beautiful and impressive works of art in the 2006 Sculpture on Campus Competition. Selected for its creativity, texture and craftsmanship, Flourish was acquired for permanent display on Purdue University's campus.

On January 18, 2007 Don Lawler, Alvin Bates and Tom Eismin erected the 5'5" tall stone sculpture on ground still unthawing from this winter's snow. The piece needed to be lifted out of the truck by a crane and gently placed over a binder-covered peg inside the base. After, Mr. Lawler, Alvin Bates and Tom Eismin set about removing the excess binder.

When the installation was complete Mr. Lawler kindly spoke with me about his career.

Don Lawler, of Lawler-White Sculputre Studios, Inc., has felt passion for art and sculpting since the influence of the Liberal Arts Education of Centre College and even though his family held deep concerns he knew by the age of eighteen he wanted to be a full-time artist. With a strong desire to create Lawler pursued his dream of becoming a professional artist. During his first semester as a college freshman he experienced carving for the first time in the form of a wood carving. Over the next seven years wood carving helped to develop his personal voice. While he did try his hand at stone carving during this time as well, he was never satisfied with the results.

Wanting to explore other mediums, Lawler became apprenticed to the bronze sculptor Barney Bright. However, it seemed that bronze was not the ideal medium for carving the way he wanted. So he then became the apprentice to the stone sculptor Paul Fields, where Lawler would gain the rewarding experience of helping to create a monumental stone sculpture for the School for the Blind.

Even though Lawler does sculpture in marble and granite he believes that Indiana Limestone is a great material to work with. It is easily available to him, weather resistant, and holds detail very well. "Metal doesn't allow for the flow of shapes and volumes that I want. It's 'cold', visually speaking- and limited..." he stated in a recent interview. For bronze sculptures to be created molds, foundries and a lot of funding are required and Don Lawler prefers to be in control of the whole creative process from beginning to end.

The life of an artist is arduous and requires perseverance and skill. Flourish embodies those themes and foundations, seen in the image of a seed attempting to take root on a firm and unyielding surface. "Life is opportunistic and ever hopeful- it will flourish in the face of insurmountable odds in a hostile environment." His works are inspiring and motivational in their design. In many of his pieces, including Flourish, the audience is encouraged to experience his work by not only the sense of sight, but touch; an endorsement to experience art in its many forms.