The University Hall Art Gallery’s newest exhibition, “Arts on the Point: Celebrating 30 Years,” is on display from March 9 through April 18, highlighting the history and legacy of public art on campus.
Curated by Gallery Director Sam Toabe and curatorial assistant Isabella Slonka, the exhibition reflects on the long-running Arts on the Point program and its impact on UMass Boston and the surrounding community.
Founded in 1997 by Professor Emeritus Paul Hayes Tucker, “Arts on the Point” brought large-scale contemporary sculpture to the university’s waterfront campus. Built on Tucker’s belief that “a public university needs public art,” the program has featured works by artists including Alexander Calder, Roy Lichtenstein, Sol LeWitt, Dennis Oppenheim, Sheila Pepe, Tony Smith and Mark di Suvero.
Because the program focus has primarily existed outdoors through monumental sculpture, translating that experience into a gallery setting posed a challenge. Rather than attempting to recreate the scale of the original works, Toabe and Slonka focused on smaller pieces and archival materials to tell the story of the program.
The exhibition includes maquettes, drawings and smaller sculptures by participating artists, along with photographs, ephemera and documents from the “Arts on the Point” collection housed in Healey Library’s Archives and Special Collections. The team also secured loans from private collections, including a new work by Sheila Pepe created specifically for the exhibition.
“We chose works that were from similar time periods as the works that were shown in the past,” Toabe said. “As well as examples of maquettes and smaller sculptures that were formally and conceptually aligned with the original artworks.”
In the case of Dennis Oppenheim’s ”Searchburst,” his estate allowed the team to frame and present the original drawing, “Study of Searchburst.” The piece is a four panel work that led to the design and fabrication of the original sculpture. They are currently working with the Dennis Oppenheim Estate to have the sculpture refabricated and installed in the University Hall atrium.
Archival research played a central role in shaping the exhibition. Materials from the Healey Library archives helped guide curatorial decisions and added new context to the program’s history. Among the findings were records from a community meeting discussing a proposed Sol LeWitt installation that was never realized. The meeting was moderated by a young Marty Walsh, who would later become mayor of Boston.
The exhibition also emphasizes the connection between “Arts on the Point” and the Columbia Point neighborhood. Slonka advocated for the inclusion of Clara Wainwright’s quilt, “Families in Action: Memories from Columbia Point,” which documents the history and culture of the local community. Through additional archival research, Slonka uncovered written descriptions of each section of the quilt and created a visual guide to help viewers interpret the work.
“I felt very strongly that it should be included in the exhibition because it shows that ‘Arts on the Point’ was not just for UMass Boston, but valued community building,” Slonka said.
For Toabe, continuing the program’s original mission remains a priority. “Arts on the Point” has long focused on making art accessible in shared public spaces — an approach he is expanding through socially engaged programming and community partnerships.
“In my approach to directing and curating new artworks, I am working to bring in socially engaged artists whose practices align and engage with the diverse backgrounds, perspectives and academic programs that our students and local communities are a part of,” Toabe said.
Unlike art confined to a gallery, public art becomes a part of everyday life. Toabe emphasized how this accessibility encourages spontaneous interaction and reflection.
“Public art meets you where you are,” he said. “It engages with public spaces, challenges architecture and can disrupt your daily routine in a meaningful way.”
By presenting sketches, models and smaller works, the exhibition also gives visitors a deeper understanding of how large-scale sculptures come to life. Works by artists like Calder and Lichtenstein show how experimentation across different mediums informs the final installations seen outdoors.
Looking ahead, Toabe hopes to expand “Arts on the Point” through new installations, conservation projects and partnerships. Plans include restoring works currently in the university’s care and introducing more programming, including performances, murals and collaborations with regional and international artists.
A public reception of the exhibition will be held April 9 from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. in the gallery.
