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By Madison Mathews
Johnson City Press
Photo by Lee Talbert
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MILLIGAN COLLEGE — In keeping with a tradition of its Christian heritage, Milligan College has added a nearly 18-foot-tall Celtic cross to the grounds of its campus.
According to Milligan President Don Jeanes, the Celtic cross has long been a part of Milligan’s history as it appears in the college’s logo. A 12-foot-tall Celtic cross also adorns the spire of Seeger Memorial Chapel, and the Celtic cross design was used in the creation of a sidewalk leading to the Mary Sword Campus Commons – where the new cross structure stands.
The new addition to the campus was made possible due to a donation by longtime Milligan friend Mary H. Phillips, of Butler, Pa., made shortly before her death in January 2009. Phillips requested the donation be used to purchase artwork for the college.
“This is one of the first pieces of artwork that we’ll have and that was her intention to buy some artwork for our campus or possibly in the lobby of the Gregory Center,” Jeanes said.
The cross stands nearly 18-feet-tall and measures about 9-feet-wide. The 8,000-pound structure was constructed entirely out of half-inch steel by Asheville, N.C., artist Stefan Bonitz, owner of Steebo Design.
After visiting Asheville, Jeanes and his wife, Clarinda, discovered a piece constructed by Bonitz, which was later purchased to put in front of the newly-constructed Gilliam Wellness Center.
When Milligan received the donation from Phillips, Bonitz was commissioned by the Jeaneses to construct the Celtic cross.
As a local artist, Bonitz said he was glad to provide a piece of art to the college.
“It was definitely an honor to have a piece here and especially a larger piece representing my work on the campus here,” he said.
Bonitz said the cross was built with an internal frame to keep the plates from warping during the welding process.
For the first time in 20 years of welding, Bonitz said he had to basically lay on the structure as he was applying the beadwork.
The steel became so hot at times that Bonitz likened the welding process to “laying on a hot griddle.”
Bonitz and his assisant, Christy Lennox, had to design a metal gauntlet for him to wear during the welding process.
“It was fascinating watching him work on it,” Jeanes said of his visits to Bonitz’s studio.
Jeanes said the newly-designed Celtic cross was designed to both complement the campus layout and emphasize the college’s focus on Christian education.
“My goal here in the 13 years that I’ve been here is to improve the general first-time appearance of the campus … and it’s another way to enhance the beauty of the campus and make a statement about our Christian heritage,” he said.