USF Sculpture Walk Brings Sense of Community
Story by Whitney Fryer
Each year USF receives a group of sculptures from Sioux Falls Downtown Sculpture Walk. For USF students and faculty, these sculptures are more than just works of art. Their presence brings life, vibrancy, and a sense of community to the USF campus.
“It’s a cool aspect of our campus, being able to have something to spike a thought,” said junior Luke Deboer.
The Sculpture Walk program started about four years ago when Ceca Cooper, Assistant Professor of Art, was approached by the head of the Downtown Sculpture Walk about bringing a few sculptures to USF. Cooper then took the idea to President Mark Benedetto, and a year later, the first set of sculptures arrived on campus.
Each year the sculptures are selected by a committee composed of USF faculty and art students. Cooper begins the process by comprising a list of all the available sculptures. From there “everyone goes and picks their top 25 sculptures, then we convene and compare notes,” said Cooper. Lastly, the list is narrowed down to about 15 possible sculptures and submitted to the Downtown Sculpture Walk program.
As a part of the program, the USF Art Department asks students to partake in a People’s Choice Award by selecting their favorite sculpture.
“I ended up going with Fat Tire because I see it frequently and see a lot of student body really interacting with it,” said Deboer.
Whereas Admissions Counselor, Brandon Hanson voted for Tango.
“It has couple of geometric shapes, squares and circle and this one curvy line going through the whole thing, it’s very beautiful,” said Hanson.
When the results are in, “the winner gets a thousand dollars for having it on campus and for everyone voting for it, so it’s a big deal for the artist,” said Cooper.
Before the sculptures leave campus, USF can purchase any of the sculptures. So far the University has added two sculptures from the Sculpture Walk to their permanent collection. Voting convenes on Friday, October 16. For those who did not get a chance to vote, there is still time to enjoy the art and take in everything the campus as to offer.
