The highly anticipated public opening of the Janice Hawkins Cultural Arts Park will be at 4 p.m. Friday at the new International Arts Center on the Troy University campus.

The International Arts Center is located inside the renovated former Stewart Hall and is one of the most comprehensive art galleries in the southeastern United States, said Cliff Lusk, university spokesperson.

“The International Arts Center will house a permanent gallery featuring the works of Pike County native and internationally acclaimed artist Nall Hollis,” Lusk said. “The center will feature the Huo Bao Zhu Gallery that will house a revolving gallery of art and host visiting exhibits. The center will also include student educational space in the form of a classroom, lab and visiting artist areas.”

The Janice Hawkins Cultural Arts Park will feature an outdoor green space and amphitheater that is home to works of art by Huo Bao Zhu, an artist from Xian, China. Huo Bao Zhu’s work is featured at several other campus locations.

The cultural arts park will feature “Warriors Unearthed,” a collection of and interpretive center for 200 replica terracotta warriors.

Qin Shi Huang, founder of the Qin dynasty, ruled a unified China as its first emperor from 221-207 B.C.

“Emperor Qin had constructed for himself a massive mausoleum complex near the ancient city of Xian,” Lusk said. “The tomb was guarded by an army of more than 6,000 life-size terracotta soldiers. The emperor’s tomb remained hidden for more than 2,200 years after his death.”

The Janice Hawkins Cultural Arts Park’s collection of replica terracotta warriors is believed to be the largest such collection of statuaries outside China.
Lusk said Troy University’s Janice Hawkins Cultural Arts Park should attract art enthusiasts and history buffs to the campus from all areas of the country and beyond.

Those who attend the public opening of the cultural arts park will be invited to view Nall’s centerpiece work, “Violata Pax” in the International Arts Center’s plaza.

Troy University invites the public to be a part of this forward and giant step into the cultural arts Friday with the opening of Janice Hawkins Cultural Arts Park.