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An opening reception for the new public art installation “Passing Through,” was held recently at Tunxis Community College in Farmington.
“The theme of ‘Passing Through’ is of a hiker trek—a community of people on a common path overcoming obstacles, searching, helping one another,” said artist Brad Guarino of the 50 life-sized stainless steel silhouette figures he created of Tunxis students and alumni that are installed in various locations on the walls of the College’s 600 Building. “This trek is a metaphor for the educational experience, for negotiating barriers and leaving the past behind en route to a better future.”
A total of 33 Tunxis participants modeled for the silhouettes, some of whom are represented twice. The 31 students and alumni shown were selected through an essay competition in which they were asked to discuss their journey to Tunxis. Tunxis President Cathryn Addy, Ph.D. and professor of English emeritus Edward Ifkovic, Ph.D., author of “A Bend in the River: Voices from a Community College, 1970-2000,” are also immortalized in silhouette.
Those students and alumni who participated are listed by town of residence below:
Avon
Damian Jovanovic
Andrea Marseglia
Bristol
Chris LaPorte
Courtney M. Mangum
Javoz Mead
Susie Petke Rotondo
David Ventrella
Burlington
Daniel P. Bereza
Cheshire
Greg Weed
Farmington
Stephen Manning
Amanda Imelda Scagliola
Hope Faith Storrs
Middletown
Scott Wilmot
Newington
Taylor Chambers
Harleigh Wider
New Britain
Jason Bounkhoun
Nichole Grant
Brandon Haas
Kenneth Haas
Plainville
Justine DePaolis
George Hairston
Alysha Mitchell
Tom Ratliff
Katy Scotella
Plantsville
Samantha Crowley
Simsbury
Antonio Negron
Southington
Naomi Lemire
Marc Verderame
Unionville
Jacob Daniel Cohen
Wethersfield
Anela Turkovic
Windsor
Amanda Whalen
Silhouettes of Tunxis participants and their stories can be viewed on the Tunxis website at http://tunxis.edu/passingthrough.
“Passing Through” was commissioned by the state of Connecticut during the 600 Building Extension construction project, in compliance with a Connecticut law which states that 1% of the cost of construction or major renovation of publicly accessible state buildings be allocated for the commission or purchase of artworks. For more on the College’s multi-phase campus expansion, visit tunxis.edu/expansion.