An update on past news
Wednesday, January 1, 1997
Wednesday, January 1, 1997
You've heard the saying, "Adam was a rough draft," referring facetiously to the biblical Adam.
It happens that shortly after the sculpture was officially presented to the university, artist Satoru Abe, not satisfied with his creation, decided to make changes. After a meltdown, a new Adam emerged, and the gift of the Class of '54 went back on campus.
But not for long. Because the sculpture was not anchored, mischievous students moved it around, once parking Adam in a tree. Two professors, chagrined admirers of modern art, clandestinely took Adam away for safekeeping. It took Adam more than a quarter-century to return to the Manoa campus. Finally, a retired professor, who remained anonymous, confessed he had conspired to spirit Adam away.
Adam returned in 1982, and was protected. Abe, his creator, welded the statue to a heavy square block. It worked: No one carted Adam off after that.
The sculpture makes its home on the first landing of the stairway leading to the second floor of Sinclair Library. "It's quite dusty and not really paid attention to," confided Ceanne Hamadon, UH student-in-charge of circulation at Sinclair Library. "I didn't even know it was there until you called - and I've been here five years."