New Student Sculpture Installed

Nestled between the St. Mark’s Chapel and the Fine Arts Wing, campus visitors will find a large dark-blue angled metal beam, systematically adorned with bright yellow rope. The new piece was created by Rohan Khatti ’21 as part of a recent tradition that gives seniors the opportunity to create and display a large-scale sculpture on campus. The program was started by John Frost, former 3D Design, Wood, and Metal teacher and current 3D Artist-in-Residence.

“This is intended to be a final capstone senior project that will be replaced every spring by a member of the senior class,” Mr. Frost said. “My hope is that each year, a student has the opportunity to create something on a large public scale that challenges the community to consider and appreciate something from a new and different perspective.”

Throughout the year, seniors in Mr. Frost’s Advanced Honors Wood & Metal class submitted scale models and written proposals, with Rohan’s piece ultimately being selected by a faculty panel. Once chosen, Rohan worked tirelessly to finish and install the piece by the close of the 2020–2021 school year.

“The main message I want to convey is that, while the St. Mark’s foundation is roughly represented by the heavy and sturdy steel beam that has been tested through the tornado and COVID-19, the network and collective support of the students, faculty, staff, and everyone else in the St. Mark’s community has held it strong,” Rohan explained. “For me, this piece represents the toughest parts of my high school experience being pulled upwards and supported by the community of the people I adore and call friends, teachers, family, and advisors.”

To build the sculpture, Rohan cut a large steel H-beam at a 30º angle, attached metal eye bolts, welded a metal base, and weaved vibrant yellow nylon rope throughout. He was inspired by the line and string art he created as a child. “I make the audience appreciate this often-considered simple art as a deeply conceptual piece,” Rohan said.

Rohan’s sculpture will be on display throughout the summer and upcoming 2021-2022 school year.