Troy University First Lady Janice Hawkins hosted a reception at Residence Hall Wednesday to preview the Park and Art Project underway at the university.

Maj. Gen. Walter Givhan, senior vice chancellor for advancement and economic development, said the One Community, One Spirit, One Troy vision and partnership was inspired by Troy University Chancellor Dr. Jack Hawkins and University First Lady Janice Hawkins.

“Their vision was realized and is unfolding under great leadership,” Givhan said.

Chancellor Hawkins said upon arrival at Troy University in 1989, he and his wife realized how important relationships are to success.

“We build on the successes of others,” Hawkins said in acknowledging the relationships, including the City of Troy, that have provided building stones of success for the university.

Troy University’s Park and Art Project is one of those relationships.

Hawkins said the idea to turn a gulley veiled in kudzu into an art park actually began in Vail, Colorado.

“Janice and I attended a concert at the Gerald R. Ford Amphitheater in Vail,” Hawkins said. “We realized that we could have an amphitheater of that caliber at Troy University. We could build it, one step at a time.”

The chancellor announced the contributions of his friend and friend of Troy, renowned Chinese sculptor Huo Baozhu, who has donated 100 terracotta warriors to the Park and Art Project. The Confucius Institute at Troy University commissioned the sculptor to do an additional 100 terracotta warriors. Terracotta is clay-based ceramic and the warriors refer to the collection of sculptures from 200 B.C. found in the Xian region of China

Several of the sculptures will be placed on other Troy University campuses but the majority will come to Troy University in Troy.

An additional 10 pieces of Huo Baozhu sculpture will be a part of the Park and Art Project.

“As Alabama’s international university, Troy University has a rare opportunity to make a lasting contribution to the arts,” Hawkins said.

The display of terracotta warriors will be the largest in the United States and could become a tourist attraction.

First Lady Janice Hawkins said it was former Troy resident Ken Hendricks who first had the vision of an outdoor “museum” at the university.

And the park is one part of the efforts to foster the arts on the university campus and in the Troy community.

The First Lady previewed another phase of the Park and Art Project, which is the renovation of Stewart Dining Hall as a permanent art gallery and interpretative center.

Hawkins said the former dining hall will be used for academic purposes as well as for artistic displays.

“There will be permanent gallery space as well as space for traveling exhibitions,” Hawkins said. “Gallery space will be provided for artists who have donated their work to the university, including internationally acclaimed artist, Nall, a Troy native.”

The building will also house a student gallery, a workroom for visiting artists and computer labs for the graphic design department.

Troy Mayor Jason A. Reeves said the City of Troy is proud to be in partnership with Troy University in the advancement of the arts in the community.

Reeves said partnerships afford opportunities to leverage resources to improve the quality of life for all citizens of a community.

“I am excited about the vision of One Troy — about the vision to grow the community and the university,” he said. “We are proud to be a part of the vision.”

Reeves said it is amazing to see how far the community has come in the arts.  In speaking to the Chancellor and First Lady he said, “No one dreamed it; but y’all dreamed it.”

Reeves expressed his belief that Troy has the potential to become an arts destination.

Givhan closed the reception on a high note by announcing that Troy University has received a Daniel Foundation Grant in the amount of $500,000 to assist in making the Park and Art Project a reality.