Isaac Duncan's Work Makes Statements and Promotes Questions for Columbia State Students

Right: Columbia State maintenance staff members David Cooper and Tom Cardin, and Student Government Association President, John Troy, help Sculptor Isaac Duncan III assemble his sculpture, which is located behind the Harold S. Pryor Administration Building on the Columbia Campus. The 16-foot sculpture titled "Prince" is one of two Duncan works on Columbia State Community College's Columbia Campus.

Chattanooga sculptor Isaac Duncan III installed two of his stainless steel fabrications on Columbia State Community College's Columbia Campus - Prince, a 16-foot which was created in 2008, and Cross This, a 23-foot 2007 piece. The sculptures were installed through an artist loan arrangement with the college.

"Isaac's pieces make statements and promote questions-isn't that what college is all about?" said Lucy Kuykendall, curator and director of Columbia State's Pryor Art Gallery.

The Brooklyn, New York native holds a Bachelor's of Fine Arts degree from the University of Notre Dame, a certification of secondary art education from St. Mary's college, and an Master's of Fine Art degree from the University of Kentucky.

Duncan has held artist-in-residencies in Michigan, Illinois, and Tennessee and has worked with other notable artists in completing and installing their pieces, including Richard Hunt, El Anatusi, Chakaia Booker, and John Henry. He currently teaches at Chattanooga State Community College and is the owner of Duncan Sculpture and Services in Chattanooga.

His commissioned pieces are in private and public collections throughout the country, his work has garnered awards in juried competitions across the United States, and he is active in national and international sculpture associations, as well as with the City of Chattanooga Public Art Committee.

"To say the least, Mr. Duncan is involved, and Columbia State is excited to be involved with him for the couple of years that his stainless steel sculptures will be on our campus," said Kuykendall. "Thinking in new directions is a goal of Columbia State students and a challenge to Columbia State faculty."

The sculptures can be seen in two locations on the Columbia Campus-behind the Harold S. Pryor Administration Building and outside of the Waymon L. Hickman Building.

For more information about Isaac Duncan and his work, click here.

Columbia State is a two-year college, serving a nine-county area in southern Middle Tennessee with locations in Columbia, Franklin, Lawrenceburg, Lewisburg and Clifton. As Tennessee's first community college, Columbia State is committed to increasing access and enhancing diversity at all five campuses. Columbia State is a member of the Tennessee Board of Regents, the sixth largest higher education system in the nation. For more information, please visit www.columbiastate.edu.