Beth Punches, an art student who graduated from VI last May, recently relocated to Galveston, Texas, and accepted a residency in The National Historic Artist Lofts. She is also in the process of opening her own independent studio and gallery in the downtown arts district and will serve on various exhibition committees.
Punches left her creative mark on the VI campus by recently donating another original sculpture to her alma mater as a thank you to the College. “Sail” was her last large-scale project as an undergraduate, and it now adorns the humanities building lawn along Moore Street.
Weighing in over one ton and measuring eight feet long, five feet wide, and five feet tall, “Sail” was a labor of love that took six months to create and abstractly portrays a white sail. Punches says that the sculpture holds special meaning to her, as it was created to reflect her educational experience at VI. The individual consultation, support and instruction she received while living out her artistic passions inspired the concept behind the sculpture.
“Students are great and powerful boats,” said Punches. “And a good college acts as a sail to carry the students to places they wouldn’t see otherwise.”
The sail is made from cement and welded steel, mediums that symbolize lasting experiences and lifelong lessons students learn throughout college. Like the two other sculptures she donated to VI, “Grudge the Dragon” and “The Mermaid,” Punches hopes “Sail” will speak to incoming visitors and students.
Virginia Intermont College
1013 Moore Street | Bristol, VA 24201
276.466.7867 | 800.451.1842
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