NEWS RELEASE
Contact: David West
News Bureau
Northwestern State University
Natchitoches, LA 71497
(318) 357-6466
http://www.nsula.edu/news
5/29/2007
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NATCHITOCHES – Lisa Rachal has turned a small box into a sculpture that would be tempting to any child with a sense of adventure. Rachal, a senior art major at Northwestern State University, created a 13.5' Dr. Seuss style playhouse “Truffula Loft,” which is on display in the outdoor sculpture area near the new wing of the A.A. Fredericks Center for Creative and Performing Arts.
The inspiration for sculpture began as a class assignment in Matt Deford’s Sculpture II class and grew.
“Our class assignment was to create a box. I was clueless as to what he was asking for, so I decided to go to the public library and read through children's books,” said Rachal. “They have always fascinated me, especially Dr. Seuss. I saw all kinds of neat buildings in ‘The Lorax.’ So I built a small ‘lorax’ inspired box about a foot tall.
“During my sophomore reviews in the art department, Matt Deford joked that it was good, but it would have been even better if it was big enough to get in, about five feet tall. So when I signed up for Matt's Sculpture II class, our first assignment was to build another box, and I immediately knew what I wanted to do.”
Rachal spent five months building the playhouse using wood and steel.
“I had never used any of the wood tools before, and I had only welded once. At the same time as I was building the piece, I also had to learn how to use all the machinery,” said Rachal, a Natchitoches Central High graduate, who was a student under Cheryl Gianforte.
The playhouse became a family project with her father and mother Bob and Rhonda Rachal, brother Jeff Rachal, uncle Paul Kay and boyfriend Aaron Estein helping her learn to use the tools and do heavy lifting. All of them along with her nieces Tanner and Griffin Rachal helped paint the playhouse.
When the sculpture was done, her teammates on the NSU rowing team helped her move it the quarter of a mile to the Hanchey Gallery.
“Truffula Loft” will be on display for the rest of the summer.
-30-