Kait Freeberg
Special to Mustang News
A new art installation has arrived at Cal Poly.
“Spheres,” donated by Patricia Kohlen, was dedicated Tuesday to Cal Poly. Accepted by University President Jeffrey Armstrong, “Spheres” can now be seen on the plaza outside the Christopher Cohan Performing Arts Center.
Patricia, wife of the late Ken Kohlen, a professor of architecture at Cal Poly, gave Cal Poly the art installation through the Foundation for the Performing Arts Center. Though she planned to have it built after she passed away, she felt the urge to do it sooner.
“(The spheres) are abstract,” Kohlen said. “I want people to make their own interpretations about them. There is no statement, no message.”
Cal Poly alumnus Ivan McLean is the artist behind “Spheres.” Kohlen said she thought he learned his Learn by Doing attitude by attending Cal Poly.
McLean said he hopes people question his art when they see it.
“Could I do that?” McLean asked. “When I was going here if I saw those, how would it have shaped me?”
Corinne Kohlen, daughter of Patricia and Ken, gave most of the credit for the art piece to her mom. She called “Spheres” her mother’s brainchild. Corinne was excited about how large the art pieces turned out.
“(Ken) always loved a party and art and any excuse to celebrate,” she said. “The spheres reminds me of Frank Lloyd Wright. That was one person I remember my dad liking a lot.”
President Armstrong thanked both Patricia and Corinne for their impatience by having the installation created sooner rather than later. Armstrong said he felt the art brings together all the Cal Poly majors, whether it be engineering, architecture or art.
“They add beauty to an already stunning facility,” Armstrong said.