By: Eva Resz
Southern Adventist University recently removed two large granite statues that have stood on campus for 15 years. Plant Services employees began the process Feb. 15 and completed their removal on Feb. 19.
According to Marty Hamilton, associate vice president for Financial Administration, Southern’s Public Art Committee made the decision to remove the statues due to structural concerns.
Commissioned in 2001 by former university president Gordon Bietz, the two statues were intended to depict Elijah passing his mantle to Elisha, symbolizing the transmission of knowledge and mentorship, a prominent theme at Southern during the time of their construction.
Bietz worked with donors to fund the project, and the granite for the statues was sourced from Vermont. At the time, the 83-ton stone was the largest block of granite ever shipped out of Vermont, according to a Chattanoogan article.
According to Hamilton, sculpting efforts began under the direction of Wayne Hazen, former dean of the School of Visual Art and Design. However, the project faced multiple challenges, including high costs, difficulties in sculpting the dense granite and other logistical complications related to placement and completion.
Over time, concerns arose about the structural integrity of the statues, as they were mounted on deteriorating railroad ties rather than a permanent foundation. According to Hamilton, the Elijah statue had also suffered damage, including a broken hand and fingers.
“The statues had been there for around 15 years, and we’ve been trying to figure out what to do with them for quite some time,” Hamilton said. “The cost of moving and finishing them was simply too high.”
He said multiple options had been explored, including relocating the statues to a more prominent spot near the Hulsey Wellness Center, but those plans proved impractical. Keeping the statues intact for relocation would require a large crane, a special trailer and a significant financial investment.
“Granite is one of the hardest materials to work with, and getting the level of detail needed was nearly impossible,” Hamilton said. “Even professional sculptors we consulted confirmed that the statues were unlikely to ever be completed as originally envisioned.”
According to Hamilton, after years of deliberation, the committee decided removal was the most practical solution. While Hamilton expects some to be surprised by the removal, safety concerns and the impracticality of preservation played a role in the demolition.
“The railroad ties were rotting, and we were worried about the statues falling over,” Hamilton said. “Students had climbed on them before, and with the structural integrity declining, it became a real safety concern.”
Reactions to the removal have been mixed, according to Hamilton. Some members of the university community expressed relief, believing that the unfinished statues had become an eyesore, while others were saddened to see them go.
Heaven Robles, a sophomore biology major, shared her insight on the situation.
“It’s such a beautiful part of the university. I went to pray there a lot, and now I am just trying to understand why. I just wanted an explanation or a warning that this was going to happen.”
Hamilton said the statues were a nostalgic part of campus for some.
“People had hoped they would someday be completed and become an important part of campus,” Hamilton said. “But in the end, we have to close the chapter and kind of let that go.”
Most of the material was disposed of, as cutting or repurposing such large granite blocks proved challenging. A few pieces of the statues were salvaged, with Loren Howard, adjunct SVAD professor, receiving large fragments for future artistic purposes. According to Howard, he requested the pieces for student use.
“I had to pull some strings to figure out how we could get some,” said Howard. “It’s nice to have a little bit and see if we can break off chunks.”
According to Hamiton, although the original vision for the statues was never fully realized, the university has plans for future artistic installations.
“We’re moving forward with plans to install bronze statues in front of the Hulsey Wellness Center,” Hamilton said. “Bronze is a much more workable medium, and we’re excited to see new artwork coming to campus.”
