Community Corner

Cal Reflecting Pool Has Something New to Reflect on

Sculptures made of large, interlaced stainless steel rings are popping up on the UC Berkeley campus this summer, the handiwork of 1962 Cal grad Bruce Beasley, who won approval for a year-long exhibit of his "Rondo" series.

Published July 11, 2013, 4:47 p.m.; updated July 12, 10:39 p.m.

The Hearst Mining Circle Pool has long served as a small oasis of relative tranquility in the northeast corner of the UC Berkeley campus.

On Wednesday, it received a new occupant – a large sculpture made of six, interlaced steel rings that appear to be floating on the water's surface.

The 1,500-pound sculpture – 15 feet tall and 17 feet wide – is one of five similar large pieces by 1962 Cal grad Bruce Beasley that are being placed around campus this summer for a year-long exhibition titled "Rondo," according to the campus.

The sculptures represent a first for the campus.

“To our knowledge, there hasn’t been an exhibition of multiple works by a single artist in a series on the campus before,” according to campus landscape architect Jim Horner, according to a UC news release.

The one in the Hearst pool, the second to be installed following one placed June 26 at Tolman Hall, is the "most dramatic," the campus release said.

The Oakland sculptor won approval for the installations after approaching UC Berkeley with a proposal, UC said.

The remaining three sculptures will be installed between the Valley Life Sciences Building and Wellman Hall, on the Crescent and just southwest of Morrison Hall.

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