Bruce Allen, Professor of Studio Art at Centenary College of Louisiana, along with his Beginning Sculpture class were on hand when the 45-foot tall sculpture they had created was unveiled during the dedication ceremony of the new Regional Commerce Center at the Port of Shreveport-Bossier which took place Thursday, March 24. 

They were there among the dignitaries to be honored for their part in the creation of the sculpture made with more than 730 recycled glass disks and aluminum, which greets guests as they arrive in the foyer of the just opened center. For its part in the creation of the sculpture, the Department of Art and Visual Culture will receive $10,000. 

The sculpture, entitled "Port Project (for Dot)," represents the Port of Shreveport-Bossier's position as a global center for manufacture and distribution by "river, rail, and road" and was designed by Allen in consultation with the building architect, Kevin Bryan. It was constructed and installed by Prof. Allen and Jim Hayes of LA House of Props with the assistance of his Beginning Sculpture students. 

Recycled glass for the project was gathered from students, artists and other colleagues and melted into 4-inch glass disks by Allen's brother, Eric Allen of Ed's Emporium in Bossier City, to create the multi-colored disk and expressive line, which are the elements of this impressive sculptural form. 

“I was contacted last November by the marketing firm Grimillion and Pou about the prospective sculpture and submitted a model to the Caddo-Bossier Port Commission which accepted it in January,” said Allen. “My spring semester sculpture class participated by collecting bottles to be recycled, and assisted in cleaning and preparing them to be melted into disks by my brother, Eric.” 

According to Allen, the students were involved in all aspects of the sculpture’s creation. “They visited the RCC, which was still under construction; Ed's Emporium to learn about the glass melting process; and the studio of Jim Hayes who was contracted to fabricate the aluminum framework and panels, upon which the glass disks were attached,” he said. 

All participants were honored during the dedication ceremony and received accolades from Capt. Thomas F. Murphy, Secretary/Treasurer and Chairman of the RCC Building Committee. 

The Port of Shreveport-Bossier's Regional Commerce Center is a $14 million, 34,000-square-foot-facility. Designed by Kevin Bryan Architects and built by Wieland-Davco Corporation, It is the first facility in the area to be LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certified, which means it meets national benchmark for green buildings.

Construction for the project started in January 2010.

More From News Radio 710 KEEL