BENSON – The Town of Benson and the Benson Art Advisory Board are proud to announce the installation of the third sculpture in the annual rotating art display on Main Street.
On Tuesday, Greensboro-based artist Jim Gallucci and his assistant Mary Rezin installed a 10-foot tall metal arch next to the Mary Duncan Public Library (100 W. Main Street). The sculpture consists of random letters “jumbled” around the box arch. In fact, that’s the name of the work — “Jim’s Jumble Arch.”
“Jumble as in the jumble box in the newspaper,” said Mr. Gallucci.
“My wife is a word nut. Every morning she has to do the jumble box in the paper and I’m always like, ‘don’t write it in — I want to do it too!” he added with a chuckle.
What started as inspiration from the word game morphed into a towering art piece. When looking at different options for the next installation, Benson’s Art Board thought the Jumble Arch was a natural fit next to the library.
“I’ll tell you what happens,” said Mr. Gallucci.
“Yes, they are random letters, but people start going, ‘wait a minute…’ When a piece of art stops you and you stand in front of it for more than three seconds you have a victory. Then you have more people going, ‘I don’t see a word’ and ‘well, I think there is a word.’ That’s even better!”
“They are thoroughly examining the art and seeing what’s there and what the possibilities may be. Isn’t that the purpose of all art? It’s to look at your world and see what’s possible,” he added.
Mr. Gallucci has been a sculptor for over 30 years. He has worked as an art instructor at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro and the University of Alabama at Huntsville. He was also an Exhibit Designer for the North Carolina Zoological Park in Asheboro.
Today, he works full time designing and fabricating sculpture in his Greensboro studio assisted by his staff. Most of the works are commissions for public, corporate, and residential spaces around the country — everything from the Pier Walk Sculpture Show in Chicago to designing the gates for First Horizon Park, the home of the Greensboro Grasshoppers Baseball team.
He also loves installing pieces in small towns. The Jumble Arch was previously shown in Salisbury at Livingstone College before making its way to Benson, where it will be on display for one year.
“Every small town — like Benson here — is like, ‘hey, can we do this?’ Of course! And it doesn’t cost much either! What you’re doing is opening up a community with ideas,” he said.
“When you have a town that has art, people will stop in at the local cafe and be like, ‘what’s the story on that art over there?’ Next thing you know, they want to move their business here.”
Mr. Gallucci said he thinks of this particular installation as a “magic portal” — but don’t climb it, please.
“This is kind of a literature thing and a sculptural thing drawn together. I love bringing two different worlds together… One thing I will say is please do not climb this. I would say to people ‘enter the portal of words’ instead,” he explained.
“We don’t want people getting hurt and all that. I think it’s best used as a portal to the town, a portal to the literature found here,” he said, referencing the library.
Be sure to stop by and see the new art installation and snap a few photos. It will make a great backdrop after you find that new library book to read.
