DaytonDailyNews.com

The huge block of Masabi black granite has had quite a journey.

World-class sculptor Jon Barlow Hudson first saw it as part of a rockface in January at a stone quarry north of Duluth, Minn., owned by the Cold Spring Granite Co. The largest block ever quarried there was trucked to a stoneworking factory just south of St. Cloud. A hole was cut using a computer-programmed diamond wire saw. By the beginning of May, the granite was housed in Hudson's studio in Yellow Springs, the site of its final transformation.

Seven weeks later, "Synchronicity X: I Am the Light of the World" was ready for its final journey. Wagner Crane and Rigging of Springfield was responsible for the drive to Cedarville University; it arrived at 9:06 a.m. June 24.

A 100-ton heavy-duty Eastland Crane from Columbus arrived around 9:45 a.m. Danis Building Construction supervised, and two hours and 45 minutes later, the 27-ton sculpture was permanently installed just outside the new Center for Biblical and Theological Studies bordering Cedar Lake.

"We had sent out letters to 500 different sculptors throughout the world, and ended up picking the best right here," said vice president of Christian Ministries Robert Rohm.

"Jon Hudson came up with this incredible idea, something more modern and expresses the theme of the building, 'I am the Light of the World,' from the Gospel of John, Chapter 8, Verse 12."

Hudson's idea was a massive rectangular piece that stands 16 feet tall with a three-sided pyramid carved into the hexagonal opening on both sides. The shape of the negative space was created by the intersection of the two pyramids, rotated 60 degrees from one another.

His granite sculpture has an east-west placement, so sunlight will reflect off the mirrored and smooth surfaces. It is facing the lake, close to the wide steps that jut out over the water from the window-walled corner of the building.

"He captured the idea of our theme 'I Am the Light of the World," perfectly,' " said Cedarville President William Brown.

Hudson has BFA and MFA degrees from the California Institute of Fine Arts, with an additional BFA from Dayton Art Institute. He has sculptures placed in 23 countries around the world. His next installation will be a 22-foot-long double helix at Wright State University next to the new science building. But in the meantime, he can sit back and enjoy the fruits of his most recent labor.

"I've never seen this particular sculpture standing up. It's as new to me as it is for you," Hudson said. "It's one thing to visualize and feel confident about your idea; it's quite another to see it in person."

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The multiple steps of installation

1. Mats are placed underneath crane for even weight distribution.

2. Counterweights are added to crane for balance — in this case, 17.5 tons.

3. Sculpture is picked up horizontally and set on railroad ties.

4. A spreadbar is added to the top to keep it even and prevent crane rigging from marring the work's surface when it's moved.

5. Sculpture is slowly righted; if not even, holding straps have to be adjusted.

6. Work is slowly moved over to dry base to check alignment of pins with holes.

7. Cement mortar is mixed and spread evenly on base; apoxy is tubed into holes.

8. Sculpture is once again moved into position and set down on base.

9. Grout is added around the base's perimeter.