Thomas Jefferson's words of wisdom and the writings of several notable Virginia poets soon will adorn a section of Grounds bordering University Avenue.
New York artist Agnes Denes designed a permanent "Poetry Walk" consisting of 20 granite stones bearing writings from Thomas Jefferson. It will also include several poems of various contemporary and historical poets from the Albermarle County area and fragments of historical Virginia documents.
The "Poetry Walk" will be located near Brooks Hall and will cover about 520 feet along University Avenue.
Buried underneath "Poetry Walk" will be a time capsule to be opened in the year 3000. More than 400 student questionnaire responses will be placed inside the time capsule to capture current feelings about pressing issues in the community.
The 28 questions, compiled by Denes, delve into the concept of an individual's place in the universe.
The questions include, What do you consider humanity's most important achievement? What is love? How do you feel about death? What is ultimate reality?
Denes said she hopes people walking across the stones will be inspired to think about humanity's "common purpose ... to contemplate the history of the University, Virginia and the South, and to study examples of human thinking and local writings."
Denes and members of Artsboard, a student group devoted to bringing internationally recognized artists to the University, will install and dedicate the "Poetry Walk" this week.
The work will be dedicated Thursday afternoon at 5 p.m., weather permitting.
Denes' piece is part of a larger exhibit sponsored by Bayly Art Museum called "Hindsight/For-site: Art for the New Millennium."
The exhibit is meant to "reflect on Jefferson's contribution to America and democracy and the arts," Bayly Art Museum Director Jill Hartz said.
The exhibit has received funding from several sources, including Philip-Morris, Wachovia Bank and a $50,000 grant from the National Endowment for the Arts.
Eighteen artists will contribute to the exhibit, including Ann Hamilton, Dennis Oppenheim, Michael Mercil, Lucio Pozzi and Martha Jackson-Jarvis.
University art professors William Bennett and Rosemarie Fiore also will display their works as part of the exhibit.
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