Monumental Relief Sculpture on the Griffith Fine arts Building in Historic Nacogdoches
The series of seven monumental relief sculptures adorning the exterior walls of the Griffith Fine Arts Building on the campus of Stephen F. Austin State University in historic Nacogdoches are pictorial representations celebrating the arts. The center panel above the main entrance presents the Greek conception of a Muse as source of inspiration to the creative artist. On the left the muses of poetry and dance are symbolized by the figure with the lyre and the flute, while the masks of comedy and tragedy are controlled by the muse on the right. The scroll, tablet, and wreath of the two central figures are associated with the muses of epic poetry(Calliope) and history(Clio). Through its interconnected rhythms, style, and theme, the center panel uniting music, drama, and epic poetry with history implies two basic ideas: The interrelatedness of all the arts and their foundation in ancient Greek culture.