Here’s a tip!

In spacious room 255 of Neuberger Hall, adjunct sculpture professor Robert Rhee’s 3D art class works tenaciously on their latest project.

Some help their colleagues glue wood together. Others discuss designs. The sound of hammering resonates throughout the room. To a passerby, this room would look like any other art class.

But the students in this particular classroom have embarked on a journey to redefine the way sculpture is seen in Portland.

Originally from New York, first-year professor Rhee moved to the area a few months ago because he enjoyed the atmosphere of Portland State.

“The coolest thing about Portland is it has one of the highest percentages of privately owned businesses in the country, specifically food carts and restaurants,” he said. “When you walk around Portland, you see stores and sights that come from an individual person’s desire for something. It goes against the ‘generalization’ of our lives as consumers.”

Rhee’s inspiration led to a three-week project he put together for the 22 students in his class. In this project, students selected a food cart of their choice, asked the owners a series of questions and then designed a tip jar—made partially out of wood—that is a stylistic response to the space around it.

“The project is for each student to radically redesign the tried-and-true tip jar,” Rhee said. “To make the project more specific, each student is asked to choose one local food truck and create a unique sculptural jar for that truck.”

This innovative approach to sculpture will enhance the relationship between sculpture art and the Portland public. The project was finished yesterday.

“I wanted my students to think about contemporary art in terms of a larger range of engagements,” he said. “Making a work of art for someone who has a public role, like a food truck, helps because it has so much more traffic, in a sense, than most contemporary art galleries.”

Employees at the food cart Loco Locos, a site chosen by sophomore Lina Ryapolov, seem to agree.

“I think it’s a good idea because it allows the public to know a little more about what we do here and helps the artist out,” said Brenda Horneras, who has been working at Loco Locos since it opened five months ago.

Students’ truck choices ranged from French Cajun food cart chosen by post-baccalaureate Maria Greene and a hot dog stand chosen by sophomore Alisa Moore, to a soup company chosen by sophomore Jessica Herborne and Hawaiian food chosen by sophomore Lindsay Glines.

The sculptures range in diversity—and not only in their visual appeal and the kind of food they represent. Each project made a slightly different impact on each student.

For some, it helped them reach beyond their comfort level.

“When we got the assignment I started to think ‘what in the world am I going to do?’ I was so out of my comfort zone,” Ryapolov said. “Professor Rhee told me I could do it, though, so I just walked down the street, saw a food cart and just went for it.”

Others, such as sophomore Otis Romero, felt it hit close to home. His project reflected a Mexican theme because it was close to his heart.

“I’ve never had any of my art on display before, so it’s a little nerve-wracking,” Romero said. “People will actually be interacting with it. I’ve never had that experience before.”

Rhee’s biggest concern was that he felt it would be difficult for young artists to not only express themselves in their sculptures but also fit the needs and desires of another person.

He could not be happier with the results.

“What I’m most proud of is that they have all gotten excited by the responsibility they have in making art because the pieces they’re making are for people and for specific spots,” Rhee said. “These are difficult and advanced responsibilities for an artist, and I think they’ve all come up with really creative solutions.

Rhee added that, depending on what you look for in art, you’re bound to find it in one of these pieces.

“Sculpture doesn’t have to live just in a museum or a gallery,” he said. “There are so many opportunities for sculpture in our day-to-day lives that are available to us if we chose to recognize them.”