Nina Hole’s final artwork featured in Boiler Bytes segment

Craig Hartenberger (left), assistant to ceramic artist Nina Hole, and Colby Charpentier, project assistant, work on the fire sculpture being constructed outside Pao Hall on Purdue's West Lafayette campus. (Purdue University file photo/Mark Simons) Download image

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — The final clay piece created by ceramic artist Nina Hole before her death is featured in a Boiler Bytes video.

The life-size clay structure, “Repose,” was modeled to look like a church in the Danish artist’s hometown, where she was later buried. Repose means a state of rest or tranquility, and this design was Hole’s last as she died in February 2016. Hole is known for her outdoor firing technique, which allowed her to transform raw clay into a finished piece entirely on site. She created similar art installations internationally in Germany, Japan, Turkey, Brazil, Wales, Mexico, Hungary, Denmark, Greece, Taiwan, Australia, Canada and the United States.

Purdue’s sculpture is located on the grounds just south of Yue-Kong Pao Hall of Visual and Performing Arts, 552 W. Wood St.

This Boiler Bytes video shares a behind-the-scenes look at what went into creating “Repose.” The piece required 18 building days, three tons of clay and many volunteers. Once built, the structure was fired from the inside for three days. The work brought people together through the performative element of the work, said Liz Erlewine, gallery coordinator at Patti and Rusty Rueff Galleries.

“The Purdue community is lucky to have been able to experience the creation of one of Nina Hole’s fire sculptures. Since there are only 25 in the world, it’s an honor to be able to house her final design,” Erlewine said.

Hole’s sculpture is part of Purdue’s Lonsford Collection, established with a bequest from the estate of Purdue alumna and artist Florence H. Lonsford. 

Writer: Cat Dillon, dillon16@purdue.edu 

Media contact: Howard Hewitt, Purdue News Service, hhewitt@purdue.edu 

Source: Liz Erlewine, eerlewin@purdue.edu