For Immediate Release

Event is in conjunction division’s 65th anniversary celebration ~
Building Better Lives 1942-2007

Los Angeles—Acclaimed American sculptor J. Seward Johnson has collaborated with USC’s Division of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy to celebrate the every day in a new exhibit opening Friday, November 9 at the University of Southern California’s University Park Campus.  A champagne reception will be held from 2:30 p.m. to 4 p.m. at the on-campus home of Associate Dean and Division Chair Florence Clark, North Residential College, 635 McCarthy Way.

Johnson, famous for his trompe l’oeil life-sized human bronze painted sculptures, will unveil a series of works that have permanently captured routines, activities and occupations – the ordinary parts of life that make us human beings.  The pieces have been placed in strategic areas around the University Park Campus for several weeks and will be on exhibition until the end of December.

Sculptures include:

• Summer Thinking (girl on the grass) in Founders Park;
• So, the Bishop Said to the Actress (two men painting) Taper Hall on Trousdale Parkway;
• Things To Do (woman on the bench) outside the USC Center for Occupation and Lifestyle Redesign at 27th and Hoover streets.

Through colorful and lifelike representations, Johnson regularly captures moments in life that are often taken for granted—lying on a grassy lawn with a book, gardening, reading the morning paper, sitting on a bench making a “to do” list. These parts of life happen to be the realm of study for occupational scientists and occupational therapists.  Occupational science studies how choices made every day (use of time, habits and routines) can both enhance or compromise one’s health and well-being.

“J. Seward Johnson’s work is the artistic expression of who and what we are as an academic discipline and profession,” says Florence Clark.  “We are delighted to celebrate his talent and this unique collaboration.”

More information on Johnson and his work can be found at www.sewardjohnson.com.

For media inquiries, please call Angelica Urquijo, director of public relations, USC School of Dentistry at (213) 740-6568.

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The USC Division of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy is a division of the USC School of Dentistry and has ranked the #1 program in the country by U.S. News and World Report for the last eight years. 2007 is the division’s 65th anniversary year. www.usc.edu/schools/ihp/ot/.

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