Campus art tells us who we are as a community. From abstract sculptures to student creations that are held in the collection, all of it is a part of the sale of stories and markers to our values and moments of change.
I set out to document our campus community’s changing values; through walks and research, I found these pieces that stand out to me as they call to our community to commit to peace.
As the diversity in our student population and education increase, so does the fear and division amongst our community and the state that we call home. But through art, expression, and each other, we can always return to peace.
This statue is located in the third floor hallway of Rolvaag Memorial Library just around the corner of the Circulation Desk. I’ve walked by it for three years, thinking it looked a little bit like a weird upside down table with a baby Jesus in the middle. But, if you read the plaque, it is a project of former Professor Emeritus of Art Mac Gimse. The infant in the center represents care for the innocent, with the old man representing peace efforts of the past, and the woman representing nurturing and forgiveness.
This statue can be found outside in between Holland Hall and the Steensland Library. The stainless steel ribbon reflects the viewer and distorts them, reflecting the warped and winding road to peace. The sculpture is distinctly two-sided, with one side facing out and the other facing the trees behind, which could represent inner and outer peace and the complexity in achieving both.
This sculpture next to the Art Barn reflects a dream for world peace. The center wheel spins the globe that’s in the middle of the sculpture. It serves as a vigil to the victims of oppression and climate change, as well as a promise of continued work forward. The inscription on the base reads “Please spin gently with kindness in your hand and heart”, which provides directions not just for engaging with the sculpture, but also for making decisions that affect the lives and wellbeing of others every day.
