Members of the Bentley University Indigenous Education Committee gather at the annual Bentley MLK day of learning. Photo by Maddie Schroeder.  

Bentley’s 39th annual event on Tues., Jan. 28 honoring the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. offered something for everyone. Programs created for and by our community — including faculty, staff, students and alumni — sparked conversations and creativity. After more than 1,600 people downloaded the event app, campus came alive through music, art and interactive sessions that explored the theme of “Action for Justice.” Read the reactions of participants and presenters and see the MLK video that moved people to tears during the breakfast celebration.  

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Brian Wilson is a senior lecturer in the Media and English Studies Department where he teaches photography. When not in front of the classroom or behind the lens, he can often be found creating sculptures in his home studio. 

His most recent work is Sand Project, a sculpture series that aims to bring attention to our society’s relationship with sand through two sand-based products: glass and concrete. 

“Sand is becoming an important finite commodity," Wilson says. "Locally, the unregulated mining of sand is upending the natural world and has the potential to pollute ground water, as sand acts as a natural filter for drinking water aquifers. Globally, the removal of sand from beaches around the world is exacerbating erosion and coastal damage.” 

How did you get started in sculpture and why is it your current artistic outlet? 

I have always been interested in making things. I grew up working for my dad’s roofing company and as a carpenter’s assistant during some of my undergraduate summers. Sculpture was a way for me to marry my interest in art with my need to make or build. It was a way to express complex ideas that were also pleasing to look at. As a commercial photographer, I was looking for way to express myself creatively and move off the wall.

What is your creative process like? Do you work when inspiration strikes, or do you stick to a routine and “practice” creativity? 

I try to keep a regular studio practice/routine and will make notes, photos and sketches for myself when I’m not in the studio. If I was able to work in the studio every time I was inspired, I think I might never leave. I often forget to eat and lose track of time when I’m working on projects. 

Seems like concrete and glass could be a tricky combination of materials. Any tips or lessons you’ve learned along the way?

That is what I love about this project and being a sculptor: Different projects call for different material. I really like juxtaposing materials that may not seem to fit together or showing people a different way to use, look at or think of specific materials. For this project there was a big learning curve. I never worked with concrete before and there is a concrete graveyard on the side of my house. Thankfully, I have a very understanding and supportive wife. 

For this project I’m creating a mold for the concrete that the glass is embedded in. This creates its own set of problems, such as how to remove the molds without damaging the glass. It’s been a lot of trial and error.

What are essential tools in your studio right now?

I learned how to cut and polish glass for this project, so a good glass cutter is important. To make the molds for the concrete I use a table saw, band saw and lot of hot glue. However, the most essential tool is patience. I want to see the form and make sure it has worked, and I have definitely removed molds too soon. The concrete may not be cured enough, or I removed the form too quickly and shattered the glass.