Cornerstone

School of Architecture, University of Oregon, Eugene, Oregon
2016
Douglas fir, low-iron glass, glass etching, objects
55" x 80" x 10"
Commissioned by the University of Oregon

Cornerstone honors Professor DeNorval Unthank, Jr., the first Black graduate of the university's architecture program. An angled glass sculpture rests on a slab of Douglas fir. Unthank's own architectural drawings are etched into the low-iron glass, and an internal glass case holds tools and personal items from his working life, chosen by his family.

Over his long career, Unthank received 30 awards, was named a Fellow of the American Institute of Architects, and designed buildings across the city. The work places his legacy at the foundation of the school, where new generations of architects now train.