'Mirror' figures on campus soon
Students walking past the Brochstein Pavilion in February will notice a new artistic addition to the university. A permanent art installation by Jaume Plensa called "Mirror" will be arriving on campus next month.
The piece features two 148-by-96-inch stainless-steel figures facing each other, appearing to be engaged in conversation. They will also be elevated on a platform illuminated by lights, University Art Director Molly Hubbard said.
Plensa said that during a visit to campus, he was inspired by the image of students convening and speaking under the oak trees between Herring Hall and the Pavilion and will locate the installation there.
The face area on each figure will be left open so that people can step inside them, Public Arts Committee member Judy Nyquist said.
"They are really interactive, which makes it perfect for the campus," Nyquist said. "It speaks to our audience on many levels."
"Mirror" will join a series of projects by the Rice Public Arts Program including "Lift" at the Gibbs Recreation Center and the upcoming James Turrell Skyspace. The Public Arts Program is part of President David Leebron's effort to increase arts awareness around campus.
The dedication of the piece will be open to all students, will take place on Feb. 21 at 6 p.m. and will include a talk from the artist. Plensa is an internationally renowned artist from Spain with works on display in countries including South Korea, Brazil and Sweden. His piece "Tolerance" is similar to "Mirror" and was installed at Houston's Buffalo Bayou last February.
More from The Rice Thresher

Rice will build two new colleges between Sid Richardson and Wiess
Rice intends to build two new residential colleges with an accompanying servery, President Reggie DesRoches and Vice President for Finance and Administration Kelly Fox announced in an email sent May 19. The old Sid Richardson College building will be demolished as part of this project. One of the new colleges will take its place, and the other will be positioned closer to Wiess College.

Rice’s James Tour and YouTuber ‘Professor Dave’ debate the origins of life
Dave Farina of the YouTube channel ProfessorDaveExplains came to Rice to debate organic chemistry professor James Tour on the topic of abiogenesis, the scientific theory that life on Earth originated from non-living compounds. The debate occurred May 19 in a full Keck Hall, with up to 2,800 viewers watching the event livestreamed on YouTube.

‘Always laughing, always smiling and singing’: Family, colleagues remember Triny Carranza
María Trinidad “Triny” Carranza, cook III at the Cohen House, passed away May 7 at the age of 50. Carranza’s daughter said Triny’s cause of death was complications from blood clots. Hailing from the city of Chihuahua, Mexico, Triny visited Houston in her early twenties and chose to stay after meeting her future husband, Salvador Carranza, in the same apartment complex. Once settled, she began working in the cooking industry that, according to her husband, she was in love with.
Please note All comments are eligible for publication by The Rice Thresher.