User:LillySnow321/sandbox

Hunt and his younger sister Marian grew up in South Side Chicago, but moved to Galesburg, Illinois at eleven years old where he spent majority of his time in the city of Chicago. Hunt not only embraced the medium of metal and the techniques of sculpting, but studied non-art subjects at University of Chicago and University of Illinois before entering the Art Institute of Chicago. Non-art subjects such as, Hunt first work with objects he found. He was once interested in Surrealism where he experiment with the assemblage of broken machine parts and metals from the junkyard such as car bumpers and reshaping them into organic forms. Hunt worked with materials of copper, iron and then to steel and aluminum which led to him to produce a series of "hybrid figures" which where reference to human, animal and plant forms. This where he attains a combination of organic and industrial subject matter in his artwork.

Hunt received his first sculpture commission in 1967 known as Play, which was commissioned by the State of Illinois Public Art Program. The making of this sculpture led him to many other public commissions and was his second career as a public sculptor. Hunt was inspired to pursue his career in the arts because his family appreciated art and he clearly said "My mom was supportive and dad was tolerant". In fact, Hunt was inspired to focus on sculpture because of the 1950s exhibition called the Sculpture of the Twentieth Century that was held at the Art Institute of Chicago in 1953. The Sculpture of the Twentieth Century include works of Pablo Picasso, Juilo Gonzalez, and David Smith. Richard Hunt also focused on linear-spatial arrangement of his materials where he followed Julio Gonzalez's footsteps into three dimensional structures. At the exhibition, this was the first time Hunt saw various artworks of welded metal. Hunt was also inspired and paid respect to European sculptor Duchamp -Villon whose 1914 bronze "Horse" was instructional. Seeing these artists' works led Hunt to created abstract shapes by welding metal. In 1991, Hunt received thirteen honorary degrees.

Build-Grow at York College is an excellent symbol for students to build upon themselves and their future with the knowledge they possess and to strive for growth which can lead them to become better individuals. This sculpture, among all the incredible art displayed at York College not only inspires students, but invites curiosity to question, understand, and alleviate stress through the exploration of art. Build-Grow symbolizes abstraction, the unification of nature and the use of advanced technology. Representation of being free-spirited thinkers. The public art throughout York College is a vital aspect of the campus because it gives students more to explore and to think more in depth about public art in their surroundings. Art is not only to be seen in museums but to be appreciated in the outer world.