Zimmerli unveils sculpture for Class of 1965 by U. alum, professor

The Zimmerli Art Museum on the College Avenue campus revealed a new outdoor sculpture titled, "Past is Prologue," designed by Patrick Strzelec, according to a press release. 

Patrick Strzelec, a Rutgers alum and professor emeritus in the Department of Art and Design, made the 13-foot-tall, aluminum sculpture from the "generosity of the Class of 1965" as a means of honoring the class.

"The sculpture is about history not repeating itself," he said. "The sculpture is a song to that 1965 class. It seeks to reflect their magic, their trajectory, their innocence, the fervor to do right, that this might live with us — and on this campus — forever."

During their time at the University, the Class of 1965 witnessed the inauguration and assassination of former President John F. Kennedy, Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.'s march to Washington, D.C., King's "I Have A Dream" speech and the beating of Civil Rights Movement marchers in Selma, Alabama, on Bloody Sunday.

Donna Gustafson, recently retired chief curator and curator for Arts of the Americas at the Zimmerli, said that Tom Sokolowski, the previous director of the Zimmerli, "hoped to create a more artful exterior for the Zimmerli."

Gustafson said that the Class of 1965 offered to work with the Zimmerli to choose an artist and the location of the sculpture, with Strzelec adding that the idea was initially discussed in 2018. She said the class unanimously agreed to employ Strzelec for the project.

She said that she interpreted the sculpture as the University's generational process of critical thinking and translating ideas into deeds.

"My first impression of the sculpture was one of delight," she said. "The sculpture is whimsical and deeply serious — it seems to me to be an explosion of energy that rises up, circles around and returns to the ground to repeat the cycle."

Strzelec said that he acquired linear lengths of solid aluminum stock and created a circle that represents compassion and kindness. A circle is 360 degrees, which he said also matches up closely with the approximate number of days in one year.

Overall, he said that through the sculpture, he wanted to convey messages about history to current Rutgers students.

"Rutgers students can leverage the same energy, dynamism and creativity of their predecessors to forge new trails, make their mark in the world and inspire future generations of students to continue this circle of positive growth and change," he said.

"Past is Prologue" is located on the front terrace at the Zimmerli.