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LEGACY WALK AT FLORIDA STATE UNIVERSITY
By Bruce A. Davis
On Heritage Day 2005, Florida State University celebrated the second phase of a planned four phase Legacy Walk, a historical tour of campus that focuses on it's architecture, sculpture and green spaces, by unveiling the Landis Green Legacy Fountain Sculptures created by the renowned sculptor and FSU alumnus Edward Jonas.
After statehood in 1845, the General Assembly of the Florida legislature, enacted a bill that established two seminaries in 1851. FSU was created as the women's seminary of education in 1857 due to Tallahassee's "good facilities." The men's counterpart had been established in 1854.
In 1905 under the Buckman Act, the State of Florida restructured it's higher education system and changed Florida State College into the Florida Female College, and again changing it's name to Florida State College for Women in 1907. The University of Florida and a normal college later to be called Florida A&M University were also established.
Senator Leroy Collins (Florida's first two term Governor 1955-61) introduced legislation to return FSCW to co-educational status to meet the growing demand for a college education for returning World War II veterans. It was signed into law by Governor Millard Caldwell May 7, 1947.
The first segment of the Legacy Walk unveiled in October 2004 was the Eppes phase named for Francis Whayles Eppes VII, the University founder. Arriving from Virginia in 1829, Eppes, the great grandson of Thomas Jefferson, served at Justice of the Peace and Intendent of Tallahassee before focusing on educational matters. Eppes served on the Seminary's Board of Trustees and was President for eight years.
Beginning at the Eppes Statue (created by Jonas and dedicated in 2003) located near the entrance to the Westcott Building on the easternmost portion of the campus, the path is embedded with symbols and lined with bricks and banners plus maps and information guiding visitors past the oldest and most historical buildings on campus ending at Dodd Hall.
The second phase of the Legacy Walk begins at the Landis Green Legacy Fountain Sculptures and heads North toward the Bellamy Building, behind the Crenshaw Building and Moore Auditorium with their renovated grounds, circling Integration Statue and around the Student Services Building and back to Landis.
The Fountain Sculptures include six bronze figures, three historical figures depicting the 1905-1947 era when the University was Florida State College for Women and three contemporary figures representing present day life at FSU. Displayed in accurate, historic clothing and hairstyles, the three historical figures of the FSWC era are representative of the dress uniforms of the "F" Club, an athletic accomplishment organization, the "Jack Tar Middies", campus uniform, and the wool swimsuit worn for years in the indoor at Montgomery Gym. The three contemporary figures in more modern dress, represent the diversity that exists on the FSU campus today. The fountain and plaza of classic proportions, blending with the surrounding architecture, has the three historical figures facing Landis Hall. The contemporary figures, transitioning through the wall of water, represent the passing of time and the University's contemporary growth.
Sculptor Edward Jonas found his way from Cocoa Beach in Brevard County to Tallahassee in the late sixties because of his desire to train with FSU's championship gymnastics program. Graduating with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree, Ed was about to settle on a career of drawing book illustrations and coaching gymnastics when he began to reflected on his mentor's urgings. Fred Holschul, a now deceased FSU faculty member with a rich art background from the renowned Balhaus in Germany, told Jonas that he should become an artist. Holschul had endured Hitler's repression of the modern arts in Germany and the abolishment of the Balhaus. Holschul had even had the occasion to sketch Benito Mussolini, the fascist dictator, while studying in Italy.
Ed Jonas's rich background in portrait art, his knowledge of muscular movement and his unwavering loyalty to FSU made him the natural choice for creating the Legacy Walk Sculptures. Jonas employed a four-stage process to create an illusion of motion: 1) armature and bone position, 2) second stage muscle and skin, 3) pre-clothing nude, and 4) final clothed Marquette. Other Jonas work includes the one and a third life football figures called Sportmanship in front of Campbell Stadium, consignment work for some of the PGA's greatest golfers, portrait work of various State political leaders and the creation of the Portrait Society of America's Gold Medal. Ed resides in Tallahassee with his wife and three children. His work can be seen at www.edwardjonas.com.
For more information on the Legacy Walk at Florida State University, contact the Office of University Relations at (850)644-1000 or visit www.fsu.edu/-legacy/. Seminole students, alumnae and all Floridians should be proud of the Legacy Walk. Please visit one of Florida's great Universities and support art!
Footnote:Information for this article was derived from the FSU Heritage Day 2005 Brochure, The Florida Handbook/Morris and an interview with Edward Jonas.
Bruce A. Davis
Professor Emeritus
Miami Dade College
Director: Flip Flops & Fitness
(813) 641-3375
brucedavis56@verizon.net
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