1 The Star Maker – Introduction
The Starmaker combines the work of two prominent Utah artists. The bronze sculpture was fashioned by Angelo Caravaglia and the low relief stone work that supports and surrounds the piece was created by Nolan Johnson. Occupying a quiet oasis amid the university’s busy campus, the installation lies along a quiet path connecting adjacent buildings. When the piece was dedicated in 1994, it was described as a visual and artistic link between the home and health sciences taught in the General Classroom Building and the remaining science disciplines taught in the Science Center.
2 The Star Maker – Artists: Nolan Johnson and Angelo Caravaglia
The Utah Division of Arts and Museums says of The Star Maker,
“In this collaboration between two talented Utah artists…Johnson’s native Utah stone interacts well with the environment. The combination of paving stones, landscape rock, and terracing elements create a pleasant transition from the lower sidewalk. The geometrically cut granite rocks provide informal seating, creating an interactive plaza-type environment for the beautiful figurative statue at the center.
Caravaglia’s bronze sculpture takes the biological and life science portion of the project into a deeper spiritual and mystic representation. Using classical stylization that harks back to a fundamental relationship, expressive of mythological energy, the figurative bronze casting does not reflect any ideology, history, or narrative opinion. The piece invokes the spirit and relationships of the two science buildings in terms of technology, ecology, biology, astronomy, and home economics.”