Thomas Jefferson statue dedicated at UVa-Wise

A life-size bronze statue of Thomas Jefferson now stands on the upper campus of The University of Virginia's College at Wise. (MORE  PHOTOS)

The statue, a gift from the University of Virginia in recognition of the College's 50th anniversary and in appreciation of Ernest H. Ern's service as chancellor during 2004-2005, was dedicated during a ceremony on Monday.  

U.Va. President John T. Casteen III was the keynote speaker for the event, which was attended by several members of the Board of Visitors, representatives from U.Va., members of the UVa-Wise Board, and more than 200 faculty, staff and students.

 "We've come today to admire and dedicate this statue and thank Ernie Ern for his recent service to the College at Wise," Casteen said.   It was Ern, Casteen said, who noted the need for a Jefferson statue as a prominent symbol to visually link the UVa-Wise campus with the university in Charlottesville.

 The statue, which depicts Jefferson signing the Declaration of Independence, is the third of three produced by Edward Hlavka.   "I hope this statue and the association it celebrates will serve as a cause of contemplation," Casteen said.

 In May 2004, Ern, a senior vice president at U.Va., was called out of retirement to serve as the College's chancellor for a year.   "Petie (Mrs. Ern) and I could not have had a more meaningful year," Ern said.   Like its parent institution, UVa-Wise has "a sense of place, a sense of pride, a sense of belonging, and a sense of future," he said.

 Located just outside the Wyllie Library,   the Jefferson statue stands six feet tall and weighs about 500 pounds. Chancellor David J. Prior accepted the "splendid gift" on behalf of the College, calling the event "one more special chapter" in the history of   UVa-Wise.

 The two other Jefferson statues produced by Hlavka are on display at Mount Rushmore and Jefferson City, Ill.   A native of South Dakota, Hlavka developed an early passion and natural ability for sculpture. As a teenager, he toured Italy and was influenced by the works of the Renaissance masters. He studied at the College of Art and Design in Minneapolis and completed an intensive study of portrait and figurative realism in France.

 Hlavka's work has been exhibited at prestigious national shows and can be found in galleries and private collections across the nation.

A prolific sculptor, Hlavka's work ranges from wildlife and nudes to western figures and portraiture.   Hlavka's monument "Allies in War, Partners in Peace," which stands nearly 20 feet tall, was recently installed at the Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of the American Indian in Washington, D.C. A professional member of the National Sculpture Society, Hlavka lives and works in St. George, Utah.