The parking lot and the courtyard of Live Oak Hall were buzzing with construction activity in October as a new neon public art exhibit lit the side of Texas State’s newest academic building.

“The Dean of Fine Arts and Communications sits on the public art committee. So I have been Dean for 10 years, going on my eleventh year,” said John Fleming, Dean of the College of Fine Arts and Communication at Texas State. “So throughout the years it will vary, so I have been involved with public art for the last ten years. Public art programs are important across the country and at universities and in cities. And it also helps bring people to campus to see it. We’re in the process of building a truly world class collection of public art.” 

Nisa Barger is the Texas State University System Director of Public Art. She started in May and has worked to bring home the installation of the untitled radio wave art piece.  

“A public art piece that is funded, just like all the public art across the Texas State University System, is funded by a 1% rule,” Barger said. “So 1% of the total project cost for this major building renovation, of the Live Oak building, is allocated to fund public art.”  

Artists Adrian Aguilera and Betlehem Makonnen were on site to help with the installation process. The duo paired up in 2016 with complimentary art styles. They submitted the idea for this untitled piece in call for artists and were inspired by photons.  

Barger says the next piece of art will be installed at the JC Kellum building. That piece was commissioned from Italy and was installed in December.