The year 2013 marks the twenty-fifth anniversary of the Public Art on Campus program on the University of Minnesota Twin Cities campus. In 1988, the University established the program in response to a law passed by the Minnesota Legislature that allowed up to one percent of the total appropriation for any state-funded building to be used for the acquisition of works of art. Since then, the University has commissioned and installed more than two dozen public art works on campus. The University’s collection is highly visible—placed in areas where the pieces become a part of everyday life—adding interest to parks plazas, and indoor atriums.
A virtual on-line tour of the featured 25 artworks is accessible in the Target Studio for Collaboration iPads and at PA25.org. Each of the works presented in the exhibition is the result of a collaboration between the artists and members of the University community. Public artist in residence, Diane Willow, has installed two pieces of interactive public art in the studio during the exhibition. They are designed with the intention to help create a stronger sense of community on campus. One piece involves small speakers mounted on bamboo sticks where visitors can hear words of encouragement left by previous visitors.
