‘Numa’ makes official UAFS debut

info for this story submitted by the University of Arkansas at Fort Smith

What began more than a year ago as an idea of University of Arkansas at Fort Smith First Lady Janice Beran became a reality with the unveiling of a 15-foot bronze lion sculpture.

"We now have a permanent, tangible symbol of our commitment to those qualities," Paul Beran, UAFS chancellor, said during the Wednesday (April 28) unveiling ceremony. He congratulated his wife and the committee of "energetic, dedicated people" from across campus and from the community who sought the artist and planned each phase of the lion’s completion.

Also speaking was the lion’s creator, internationally known sculptor Jon Hair, who said he was excited when he was told he had been selected as the artist for Numa.

"Do you know why?" Hair said. "Because I think the UA Fort Smith faculty, campus and especially the students are really awesome. … UA Fort Smith people are the best people in the world."

Hair, who has had more than 30 major public art commissions in the last nine years alone, has 41 of his sculptures placed at 24 different colleges since 2001.

Also speaking at the unveiling were Sam T. Sicard, chair of the UAFS Board of Visitors, and Bill Hanna, chair of the UAFS Foundation Board.

Sicard praised Janice Beran for her work with the committee on this project and with other artistic efforts.

Hanna lauded the courage taken in stepping out to complete such a project.

"There’s no question that this university, our university, has exhibited it," Hanna said. "UA Fort Smith has never been content to play it safe. Since the very beginnings, it has consistently pushed ahead into uncharted territory — building, growing, investing, refining."

Hanna also told of the new Numa Society, being formed with a group of 50 charter members who give $3,000 each to be used for commissioning additional pieces of sculpture for the campus.

"As a commemorative gift," said Hanna, "charter members will receive one of only 50 limited-edition, numbered bronze marquettes, miniatures of the Numa."

Richard Gunselman, a student member of the Lion committee, urged those present at the unveiling to note the importance of the event.

"We’ll be the first ones to see Numa," Gunselman said. "When we come back to campus in 10 years or 25 years or 50 years, and the students then can’t imagine UA Fort Smith without this sculpture, each of us will be able to say, ‘I was there the day Numa was unveiled.’"

Dr. Marta Loyd, vice chancellor for university advancement, said the lion sculpture was made possible through the generosity of Sally Boreham and Pearl Raney, who are both deceased.

Others who served on the Lion Committee include Anne Thomas, from the UAFS Foundation; Beth Presley, assistant athletic director and chair of the Numa committee; Chancellor’s Coalition for the Visual Arts members Don Lee, Dr. Henry Rinne, Stacey Jones, Sherron Shuffield and Peggy Weidman; Dustin Smith and Louis Whorton, Athletics Department; Peter Cullum, Steve Dobbs, Susan Devero and Keith Fudge, campus representatives; student representatives Michael Pharis, Michael King and Johannah Hendrex; and Fort Smith Booster Club members Bill Wilson, Mary Beth Sudduth and Wanda Srygley.