Do you know where this can be found at OCC? You may walk by it and not notice it… Hint: it is in the exact location on campus from its installation on the 10th anniversary in 1957.
But what is it? According to The Barnacle (OCC Newspaper from 1948-1976), the metal rings represent an Armillary Sphere , and the base is cast concrete with shapes representing the sciences. The sculpture was placed at the entrance of the old Sciences Buildings, which were torn down in May 2016. However, the sculpture remains in the exact location and, interestingly, is still placed at the entrance to the Planetarium and entry sidewalks toward the Lewis Center for Applied Sciences, Biological Sciences, and Chemistry buildings.
Speaking of chemistry, make plans to join the campus in celebrating the topping-off ceremony for OCC’s next science building – a new Chemistry complex will replace the old Literature and Language building site. The ceremony will be held on Thursday, October 19, at 11:30 a.m., after the Great ShakeOut. Don’t forget Science Night returns on November 3 .
The caption of this article in the Barnacle states the armillary rings weigh about 1,000 lbs. and the foundation is sunk six feet underground. The sculptor was Peterpaul Ott,* and it was built at a cost of $5,000. This article announced the building dedication took place in April 1957, which included the Science wing and old copper domed planetarium, both of which were torn down to make room for the new Planetarium.
Send comments and ideas to kballinger.r@retiree.cccd.edu
*For more information about the artist Peterpaul Ott, (1895-1992) who was a Laguna Beach resident since 1940, see example work of the WPA Federal Art Project Relief Sculptures at Bernacki & Associates.