After spending hours toiling on a sculpture, most Kansas University students’ artwork doesn’t get a public viewing.

“You make this really great thing, and then it has nowhere to live,” said Alison Luoma, assistant professor of art. “We critique it as a class. After that, a lot of times, it just goes home.”

Now there is an effort to change that. KU art faculty and students want to bring student work to new spaces across campus and the community.

KU students Jordan Briceland, Travis Hagen and Daniel Scannell have created “Trapezius Myalgia,” a wood sculpture that recently went up in front of KU’s journalism school, Stauffer-Flint Hall. The piece, created for assistant art professor Matthew Burke’s class, will remain on display until late February.

“This is the first time that I’ve ever had a piece be recognized here at college by anybody outside of people in the art department,” said Hagen, a KU junior.

KU sculpture faculty say their program – part of the art department- could do more.

“One of the things that we’re lacking is a greater visibility and a greater interaction with the community,” said John Hachmeister, associate professor of art.

Around town

The city’s Percent for Art program requires at least 1 percent of the cost of new public building construction go toward art for the new space. In a recent project, the city is paying about $65,000 for a 7-foot-6-inch bronze sculpture of a firefighter for the main entrance to Fire Station No. 5 near 19th and Iowa streets. The piece was created by South Dakota artist Benjamin Victor.

Marlene Merrill of the Lawrence Arts Commission said the city has commissioned KU faculty for permanent artworks around town, but she wasn’t sure about any student work.

KU students Travis Hagen, Hesston junior, left, and Jordan Briceland, Wichita senior, have their sculpture Trapezius

“I’m not aware of any on top of my head,” she said.

Merrill said the Percent for Art program usually receives dozens of applications from experienced artists around the country – a playing field that can be difficult for starting student artists to compete in.

“I think, for students, the more practical venue is to submit work for the outdoor sculpture exhibit,” she said.

The Annual Outdoor Downtown Sculpture Exhibition provides $750 stipends for numerous sculptures on display downtown. This year’s show includes a piece by Andrew Hadle, a May graduate of KU’s sculpture program. It is on display on the southeastern corner of 9th and Massachusetts streets.

Merrill said the Arts Commission is talking with KU art faculty about creating spaces to display student work, but she said the plans are simply in the discussion stages.

She said a set of procedures needs to be developed. Also, the commission needs to talk with the city’s Parks and Recreation Department about possible sites.

In another effort, there are plans to add student work to the “Kansas River Expression of Soul Project,” a proposed sculpture trail along the river between Burcham and Constant parks.

On campus

Both Burke and Luoma are recent faculty hires to KU’s sculpture program. The new hires along with Hachmeister have new ideas for bringing student creations to wider audiences. About 100 KU students take sculpture classes each semester.

KU student Sean R. Smith's work East

“A university is a collection of voices,” Burke said. “We’re bringing the voice of sculpture to this university.”

KU students are displaying new sculptures inside and around KU’s Murphy Hall. And there are hopes to create pads to mount student sculptures in various campus spots.

“None of this is easy,” Hachmeister said.

Outdoor pieces can require costly materials. And they require skill and talent to create pieces that withstand the elements and can hold up outside, faculty said.

“It takes a lot of work to get students to the point that they can make work that they can put on display,” Luoma said.

Once created, students must learn how to maneuver through the red tape to get permission to display their work. KU has a Public Art on Campus Committee that reviews proposals for long-term and permanent sculptures and makes recommendations to the provost. There also is a University Events Committee that reviews proposals.

But once in the public view, students feel the thrill of notoriety.

“I really hope that people will see it, and it will help them recognize that there’s a lot more going on than just what they’re doing in their academic lives or their work lives,” Hagen said. “It’s just good to show what you’re capable of and have more people see it and experience it.”