Buried Treasure: A Sculpture Found Again

The resurrected scultpure by Concord graduate Deya Terrafranca will soon find its home in the Marsh Library. 
Photo by James Hoyle

    Life has an odd way for working out. Often, things that were once of the utmost importance  lose their appeal as the years go on, and are eventually forgotten. In the case of Concord University’s Library, one of those forgotten treasures has been uncovered. 

    Recently, sitting unassumingly in one of the art studio storage rooms for years, a sculpture made by a former student was rediscovered. It had been purchased by Dr. Rowe, a Professor of English, for the school’s use, and had lain forgotten. Since it was rediscovered, it will soon hang proudly in Concord’ Library for all to see. Deya Terrafranca, the original artist, is coincidentally an intern on campus this semester. 

    “I’m a 2008 graduate from Concord,” Terrafranca began, “My senior art show was in the December of that year. I am currently at the University of South Carolina, getting a Master’s Degree in Library and Information Science. Dr. Rowe bought my sculpture, and it was the first time someone purchased my art that wasn’t a family member.” 

    The sculpture is unique in its design. A giant piece of gauze covered in plaster, it depicts a figure covered by what appears to be a shroud or cloth. Terrafranca was willing to explain how she created it and why. 

    “I really like figurative sculpture, and I wanted to come up with an additive process rather than a reductive process.” She then went on to explain what she meant by additive and reductive. “With stone sculpture, you create the artwork by chiseling away at the stone. I worked with plaster, so rather than cutting out a figure, I took a form and added it to the material.”

    As it turned out, the figure that was inside the sculpture was none other than Terrafranca herself. “Originally I did two sculptures,” Terrafranca said. “I didn’t have a platform built, so I was on top of a table as the plaster hardened around me. When it completely hardened the tables were pulled apart. It took an hour for each of them, and I was breathing through a tube and I made sure that there was always someone in the room with me in case something went wrong. These two were also in the show, but they wound up being thrown away.”

    When asked about the meaning behind the sculpture, Terrafranca explained, “It was about looking at the space, particularly around the human body, in a different way. It’s not really about capturing the human figure. Rather, it was about capturing that space.” 

    After explaining this, she told of the details of the sculpture that was bought. “This third sculpture that was bought took about 15 minutes to make. I learned a lot about sculpture in between making the first two and the third. For instance, if you use warm water and an electric drill with a paddle or a mixer bit, you can control, up to the minute, how fast the plaster hardens.”

    After this, she said what she thought of the library displaying the work and where best to hang it. As it is a large sculpture, it needs a lot of room. “I think it’s great that they’re going to put it in the library. I told Connie that I think it would actually be best if it were displayed on a wall. They’re planning on purchasing the materials soon, but they are also deciding where exactly to put it.” In any case, Terrafranca is happy that her work will be on display for people to enjoy once again. 

    “I’m happy to be interning here at Concord this semester, and that my work is going to be in the library,” she said, “It combines books and art, two of my favorite things!”