ART WALK: Western Washington University Sculpture Collection

Stone Enclosure: Rock Rings by Nancy Holt. Western Washington University sculpture collection, Bellingham, WA.

At Western Washington University in Bellingham, Washington, giant sculptures occupy the campus from one end to the other. It is one of the most notable university art collections in the country. It features works from the late 20^th century to the present, ranging from massive to delicate, functional to inspirational, industrial to organic, conceptual to humorous, complex to deceptively simple. A huge variety. They are constructed of stone, metal, wood, cement and other materials.

Mark di Suvero (b. 1933), For Handel (pictured), 1975. Painted steel; 27’ h. and Mindseye, 1978. Steel. For Handel was created specifically for the Performing Arts Plaza and dedicated to the 18th Century composer George Frederic Handel. 

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In mid-July I visited the Western Washington University campus with my family, taking a self-guided tour of the art following a map and brochure we had downloaded from the art department website. Most of the sculptures are outdoors, although a few are inside buildings. The tour also included the art galleries in the Performing Arts Center--on one side an exhibit of a series of Alexander Calder tapestries and on the other, of paintings by Northwest artists. (Through the art gallery windows to the west is a magnificent view of the Bellingham harbor.)

A series of 13 tapestries by the sculptor Alexander Calder are presented near the left entrance to the Concert Hall of the Performing Arts Center.

We parked at the east end of the campus and then worked our way west, more or less in numerical order. By the time we stopped at each of the 31 pieces described in the brochure, it took us about two hours. It was a cool, overcast day, not unusual weather for Bellingham, which made it comfortable for walking and perfect for photography.

Beverly Pepper (1924-2020), Normanno Column, 1979-80. Cast iron; 102” h. x 11 1/4” w. x 11 1/4” d. Normanno Wedge, 1980. Cast iron.

Here are a selection of pieces that we saw. Most of the pieces in the collection are larger than life. I made a point of including people (usually my brother Tom) in many of my photos to provide a sense of scale. 

Robert Morris (1931-2018), Untitled (Steam Work for Bellingham), 1971; installed 1974. Rock with variable volume of steam. (Robert Morris was my sculpture teacher when I was in art school.)

Do Ho Suh (b. 1962), Cause and Effect, 2012. Cast resin and stainless steel. Hundreds of tiny figures, connected feet to shoulder, make up this hanging sculpture. 

Bruce Nauman (b. 1941), Stadium Piece, 1998-99. Concrete. 

Tom Otterness (b. 1952), Feats of Strength, 1999. Bronze. One of seven charming figures, each approx. 15” high

Lloyd Hamrol (b. 1937), Log Ramps, 1974. Reconstructed 1983 & 1995; Cedar.

Richard Serra (b. 1939), Wright’s Triangle, 1979-80. Corten steel

Alice Aycock (b. 1946), The Islands of the Rose Apple Tree Surrounded by the Oceans of the World for You, Oh My Darling, 1987. Water-filled cast concrete.

Isamu Noguchi (1904-1988), Skyviewing Sculpture, 1969. Painted iron plates.

Detail. Alexander Calder tapestry, 1974-75. Dyed and braided maguey fiber panel. Manufactured in Nicaragua.

David Ireland (b. 1930), Bigger Big Chair, 2004-07. Painted steel plates

Anthony Caro (1924-2013), India, 1976. Steel, rusted and varnished;

James FitzGerald (1910-1973). Rain Forest, 1959; installed 1960. Bronze fountain;

I thank my sister-in-law, Karen Neely, for leading us on this excellent tour. If you want to find out more about any of the pieces in the tour, download the Western Sculpture Garden brochure.