Monica Bock, professor in the Department of Art and Art History, commenced the play sculpture project in the Fall of 1998.

She brought her Art 220 Sculpture Seminar class to the Kindergarten and Preschool programs at the Child Development Laboratories. Together the college students and children began the creative work of exploring the playground and visualizing how a functional sculpture might look.

After much discussion, planning, and model building, it was decided that the structure would be a simple hemisphere with a few circular depressions and geometric forms for resting in and climbing on.

During the spring and summer of 1999, Professor Bock and her students built this hemisphere's foundation from cement and covered it with ceramic tiles created by the children under the supervision of the art students.

This project has touched many people's lives. It has provided unique training opportunities for those students enrolled in the class. They have learned how to work with young children, build off children's ideas and fantasies, and bring these imaginings to life in the form of a playground sculpture.

In turn, the children have had the wonderful experience of working with artists and seeing their own creative thoughts and ideas respected and validated.

Teachers, parents and faculty have enthusiastically followed and supported this artistic endeavor. They have raised funds to provide money for materials for the sculpture and have helped glaze and fire the tiles.

Professor Bock worked long and hard to make this community sculpture a reality and she has been very successful. This beautiful, functional sculpture is now part of the Child Development Laboratories playground for children to enjoy for years to come!