It’s the end of an era for Illinois Wesleyan University’s School of Theatre Arts [SoTA].
For 23 years, a giant Aphrodite head sat atop McPherson Hall. According to a statement from the theater school, this figurative (and literal) monument will soon be taken down, as it has denatured over time and become infested with wasps, posing a safety threat to campus.
Born in 2002, this head was crafted for a production of Big Love by retired scenic design professor Curtis Trout and was meant to be tossed while striking the show’s set.
And then she wasn’t.
As legend has it, Aphrodite's size made her difficult to properly dispose of and students railed against the idea of throwing her out, so her new home became the building’s portico.
She’s remained there ever since, coming down only to be painted every few years. She donned a mask in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Debate around removing the head, which has become a roadside attraction and treasured quirk of IWU's treelined campus, began in February. Staff realized that the damage she sustained from braving the elements year-round made it impossible to rebuild, and hornet's nests had been discovered inside the Styrofoam mold.
According to a Facebook post, SoTA faculty reached out to Trout to get his blessing to remove the head. He gave his OK and asked alumni to respect the difficult decision.
Currently, Aphrodite remains on the portico, as the staff has not yet decided on the safest course of action for removing her. They plan keep her in place through IWU's homecoming and have her removed no later than December.
