Noted artist Scott Stearman of Colorado supervised the installation of his new sculpture, “The Blind Man rising from the Pool of Siloam” on Wednesday morning, July 15, 2009 in front of the new “Janice and Charles Drake Library” at Oklahoma Wesleyan University.
The sculpture, weighing nearly half a ton and standing seven and a half feet tall, faces the stained glass window of Jesus on the west side of the Lyon Chapel/Fine Arts Center. The artist describes the scene with these words:
“The blind man, next to the pool; his staff lays on the ground at his side extending over the water slightly. He is in rags; the result of a life of begging in the street. His small pouch made from a patch of cloth lays on the ground next to him, a few small coins are visible, the reward of this day’s begging. His eyes are open, wide and excited. His expression reflects joy, and at the same time there is a sadness as he sees for the first time the beauty that has been around him all his life and he never could see it. His rugged hands reflect his difficult life. Life as a beggar subjected him to the treachery of the street, beaten, robbed and, because of his blindness, unexpected injury. His face is scarred and his foot is crippled. His head covering is undone and lays across his shoulders. Droplets trickle down his face. Are they tears or water?
“As his vision cleared, he saw himself clearly for the first time. The opportunities of a new life are his. Learning and understanding follows ‘seeing clearly’.
“At his feet is his pouch of small coins. So precious a few moments before, and now forgotten. When we see clearly, we will lay down the things that are temporary in order to gain the things that are eternal.
“His staff lays on the ground…useless now. It was his crutch and his best friend. He relied on it for support, guidance, and defense. And now, because he met Jesus, he doesn’t need it anymore. A smooth worn place on the staff reflects the years he carried it. At the top, a very, very small new sprout with one leaf grows out of the side and represents ‘new life’. New life he can only see since his encounter with Jesus.
“The day the blind man was healed at the pool, there were some who walked by and never noticed the miracle that was happening right next to them; too busy to bother. Some will consider it and others will pass by without notice, just like the people who were at Siloam that day.”
The blind man receiving his sight is no different than a student who, during the course of university study, finds new insight into life, a fresh awareness of the nature of knowledge and is liberated from the chains of ignorance.
Born in 1953, Scott was raised the son of a minister and spent most of his younger years in several western Kansas towns. He attended Southern Nazarene University and pursued a career in television and video production. After working for PBS and ABC affiliates in Oklahoma City, Scott began working as a video production manager.
In 1983, Scott and his wife Hermine visited Colorado on a vacation where he became acquainted with an established sculptor who spent time to explain the process he used in sculpting. Working from his home studio high in the Colorado Rockies, Scott has established himself as a highly respected master sculptor with his work now being marketed internationally.
Oklahoma Wesleyan University (www.okwu.edu) is a four-year Christian university of the liberal arts and sciences that is fully accredited by the North Central Association. OWU also obtained professional accreditation with the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE), the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE), and the International Assembly of Collegiate Business Education (IACBE). It is a member of the Council of Christian Colleges and Universities as well as the Council of Independent Colleges and Universities and the Association of Oklahoma Independent Colleges and Universities.
