The statue in front of the new Snow College Humanities Building helps me explain to myself how I feel about my work in the humanities. Like most art, it speaks to emotion and to our image-making ability. Since its meaning is personal, it is easier just to explain the myth that inspired the art and leave the meaning of "Icarus Descending" to those willing to ponder instead of just glance on the way by.
It has been hard for me to retain an image of the art in my mind. I suppose it is a matter of education. Since I understand music better than I do art, I can go to a concert and carry the music with me for weeks. Perhaps because my brush with a piece of art is often only a casual glance rather than observation, I have walked repeatedly to the front of the building to look again as I try to carry the image and explain how I feel. It wasn't until I spent some time with the statue on a snowy evening that I started carrying the image in my mind.Perhaps most would view "Icarus Descending" by Angelo Caravaglia as an improbable narrative that combines two myths. It may even be tempting to dismiss any sculpture that responds to any myth as a fantasy illustrating untruth. To do this, however, is to misunderstand myth. The importance of myth is not that it literally occurred at some particular date and place, but that it reflects a partial glimpse of a reality beyond dates, places and the events themselves. Myths help us understand why we believe.
When Joseph Campbell, in the PBS series "The Power of Myth," challenged viewers to consider changing the idea of a myth from the "search" for meaning to the "experience" of meaning, Moyers asked him how to get the experience. Campbell answered, "Read myths."
Those who understand the myth and observe the sculpture will have the advantage. Their cultural literacy will allow them to combine the separate myths of Icarus and Pegasus and have a more complete experience with the art.
Icarus was the son of Daedalus. Both were imprisoned in a maze constructed by Daedalus to hold the monster Minotaur. The imprisonment there seemed appropriate since Daedalus had helped Ariadne, daughter of King Minos, elope with Theseus, the slayer of the Minotaur. The only way to escape the maze was by flight, so Daedulus made wings for himself and his son. The wings were attached with wax and thread.
Daedulus warned Icarus that flying too low would get the wings wet and cause them to fail. Flying too high would expose the wings to the heat of the sun and cause the wax to melt. Daedulus made his escape by flying the middle course, but Icarus flew too near the sun and fell into the sea.
Pegasus is a winged horse that sprung from the blood of Gorgon Medusa who was killed by Perseus, a son of Zeus. On one occasion the Muses were holding a contest of song, which charmed the streams and made Mount Helicon grow heavenward. The growing mountain angered the god Poseidon, who ordered Pegasus to stop the growing by striking it with his hoof. The strike formed the fountain Hippocrene, whose waters now inspire those who write poetry. Two other fountains of inspiration, Aganippe and Pierie, were also made by the hoofs of Pegasus.
"Icarus Descending" combines the two myths. Pegasus seems to be looking up at the falling Icarus who is himself reaching out for a place to land. He doesn't seem to be reaching in desperation. Perhaps he knows that he can be saved even though he pushed the technology of flight too far.
He is saved by Pegasus, the creator of inspiration for poets. He is saved from the misapplication of technology by the humanities.
I don't want to impose meaning on this art for others. The statue doesn't mean; it just is. But the meaning may be shallow for those who just glance instead of study. It may also be shallow for those who don't believe there is value in the advice of Joseph Campbell; "Read myths."