Roadside Attraction: Eyes (On the Campus Lawn) - Williamston, MA

Eyes (On the Campus Lawn)

Williamston, MA

N 42° 42.696 W 073° 12.155

Short Description: 

Eyes is an abstract sculptural composition on the lawn in front of the Williams College Art Museum on the campus of Williams College.

Long Description:

In 2001, to celebrate 75th anniversary of the Williams College Museum of Art, the College unveiled a new permanent outdoor sculpture called Eyes (nine elements) by 90 year old artist Louise Bourgeois. Commissioned and funded by the museum and its supporters, this unusual arrangement consists of Williams’ work consists of four pairs of eyes and one larger eye cluster. Each formed from granite, bronze and electrical lighting units.

Collaborating with landscape architects and planners, Bourgeois series of sculptures is installed on the rolling front lawn of the Lawrence Hall Art Museum, using the terrain to set, frame and interact with her sculptures.

The largest eyes cluster is nearly seven feet high. the smaller individual unites are about 3 feet high. Two of the smaller units double as artistic seating. At night the electric fixtures that make up the pupils are active and the center of the eyes glow a deep electric blue.

A plaque at ground level is inscribed:

Louise Bourgoise (American 1911 - 2010)

Eyes, 2001

granite, bronze, electric light

Williams college Museum of Art

Commissioned on the occasion of

the 75th anniversary of the museum

with funds from the Museum Fellows,

friends, and museum endowment

M.2001.14