Five Worst Pieces of Art at Harvard

1. The painting in Leverett Dining Hall.

This garish work was commissioned by the Leverett House master in 1990. The artist, Jerald Webster, made three paintings and the master chose which one his house would display. I can only imagine how ugly the other two must have been.

2. The mural in Quincy Dining Hall.

It’s like a really big, flat sand castle turned on its side and painted. Enough said.

3. Laurence Tribe’s paintings.

Why is a superstar professor of constitutional law painting pictures to illustrate constitutional history? And why are they so bad?

4. The “Sun Gate” in the Leverett Courtyard.

This bronze sculpture, a rethinking of a Shinto gate, is squat, ugly, and boring. What is it doing in the Leverett courtyard? Doesn’t that house already have enough bad art in the dining hall?

5. Kristina M. Moore’s pre-design sketches of each week’s Crimson Arts cover.

Every week, Kristina sketches some of her ideas for the design of the cover, and every week the entire board is perplexed by the incomprehensible shapes she has drawn. Is that broccoli or a guitar? And, yet, it always turns out great, but I’m sure we’re all glad she doesn’t have to do any of the illustrations herself.

­—Alexander B. Fabry is the incoming Features editor and Comp Director. He enjoys museums, esoteric music, and being called Sasha.