Sculptures shape campus hot spots

At first glance, the six sculptures across the University of South Dakota campus may be seen as merely objects.

To Dean of the College of Fine Arts Larry Schou, these pieces of art are about defining new hot spots for students to gather.

A brochure is in production so students and visitors can navigate from statue to statue while reading each artist’s biography and  statement.

Information about “Legacy” the coyote statue and the Doc Farber statue will be included.

Brochures will be available in mid to late-September at offices like Admissions, media relations and downtown Vermillion.

President James Abbott approached Schou to chair a committee in charge of selecting the sculptures to be brought to the university.

Schou turned to Jim Clark, the director of Sioux Falls’ SculptureWalk, who he had known previously.

Clark offered artists the chance to submit their work through an international call, and after about 30 sculptures were entered, the committee met to narrow it down to the top six artists’ work.

“We really got a great variety of admissions and really selected a great variety of artists,” Schou said.

Each college at USD took part in funding the leases of the sculptures.

It cost $1,500 to lease the works individually, adding up to a total of $9,000 over two years. Schou said new art will come in to replace the existing pieces after the lease of two years is up.

Clark said USD will start out with six sculptures, and could get up to 10 over the coming years.

The sculptures were brought onto campus following a detailed plan.

Five-foot deep holes had to be dug, followed by the installation of cement slabs and stone pedestals put in place by Jasper Stone Company. Schou said the process went smoothly overall.

Schou said he wanted the sculptures spread around the campus, not clumped together, as an opportunity for people to experience the different visuals available on the USD campus for each locations.

He said while trees surround one, another is out in the open with a sky backdrop.

Junior Amelia Heiden said she sees the addition of the new sculptures as an interesting attraction.

“The pieces add more positive energy to campus, It gives students something to look at other than the old buildings around campus,” Heiden said.

Reach reporter Josie Flatgard at [email protected]