Zephyr (Wooldridge)
Encyclopedia
Zephyr is a public sculpture created by artist Steve Wooldridge in 1998. It is located southeast of the Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis
(IUPUI) University Library and north of New York Street on IUPUI's campus. The overall dimensions of this stainless steel
sculpture are 13 feet (4 m) tall, 2 foot (0.6096 m) long, and 10 feet (3 m) wide.
. Its base is a rectangle that measures 3 foot (0.9144 m) tall and 2 foot (0.6096 m) wide. Next are two cylinders lying on their sides with a north/south orientation. They each have a diameter of 8.5 inches (21.6 cm) and a length of 17 inches (43.2 cm). On top of the cylinders is a right triangle that measures 4 feet (1.2 m) tall and 20 inches (50.8 cm) on the shortest side. It lies at an angle so that the right angle rests between the two cylinders. A third cylinder rests on top of the triangle and it measures 6.5 inches (16.5 cm) in diameter and 1.5 feet (45.7 cm) long. On top of this cylinder and the triangle is a large hoop with a diameter of approximately 7 feet (2.1 m). There is a 10 feet (3 m) pole going through the hoop from the proper bottom right to the proper top left. It passes behind the hoop on the proper left and in front of the hoop on the proper right, where a semi-hollow cylinder with a diameter of 1 feet (30.5 cm) and a length of 10 inches (25.4 cm) rests.
"Steve E. Wooldridge", "1998", and "Zephyr" are visible on the metal next to the proper right side of the base.
locomotive
, dating to the 1930s. Each of the eight geometric shapes has a meaning. The rectangular base represents the core of education. The two side-by-side cylinders represent the wheels of progress while the triangle represents a mode of transportation designed for speed. The small cylinder that supports the hoop signifies fortitude and determination and the hoop itself stands for the circle of life. The long pole represents ambition and the hollow scroll stands for the scroll of knowledge. The artist dedicated the sculpture to today’s youth.
Board of Trustees approved the decision to keep the Zephyr sculpture on the IUPUI campus permanently at their January 28, 2005 meeting. Prior to this it had been on loan to the university for two years.
. He attended the Dayton Art Institute
where he studied three-dimensional design and sculpture. He graduated from the Herron School of Art
in 1963 with a degree in Sculpture. His preferred styles are abstract
, assemblage
, and minimalism
. Wooldridge is known for his site specific sculpture for indoors and outdoors, and he is a member of the Artist Blacksmith’s Association of North America. Fifty-two of his massive blacksmith
ing pieces were featured in the exhibit "Forged Art! The Art of Blacksmithing" at the Wells County Creative Art Center in Bluffton, Indiana
in late 2007. Another one of Wooldridge’s sculptures, Spirit Keeper
, is also located on the IUPUI campus.
1989 campaign organized by Heritage Preservation: The National Institute of Conservation partnered with the Smithsonian Institution
, specifically the Smithsonian American Art Museum
. Throughout the 1990s, over 7,000 volunteers nationwide have cataloged and assessed the condition of over 30,000 publicly accessible statues, monuments, and sculptures installed as outdoor public art across the United States
.
Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis
Indiana University – Purdue University Indianapolis is an urban campus of Indiana University and Purdue University in Indianapolis, Indiana, United States. Indiana University is the managing partner...
(IUPUI) University Library and north of New York Street on IUPUI's campus. The overall dimensions of this stainless steel
Stainless steel
In metallurgy, stainless steel, also known as inox steel or inox from French "inoxydable", is defined as a steel alloy with a minimum of 10.5 or 11% chromium content by mass....
sculpture are 13 feet (4 m) tall, 2 foot (0.6096 m) long, and 10 feet (3 m) wide.
Description
Zephyr is composed of several different three-dimensional geometric shapes, all made of stainless steelStainless steel
In metallurgy, stainless steel, also known as inox steel or inox from French "inoxydable", is defined as a steel alloy with a minimum of 10.5 or 11% chromium content by mass....
. Its base is a rectangle that measures 3 foot (0.9144 m) tall and 2 foot (0.6096 m) wide. Next are two cylinders lying on their sides with a north/south orientation. They each have a diameter of 8.5 inches (21.6 cm) and a length of 17 inches (43.2 cm). On top of the cylinders is a right triangle that measures 4 feet (1.2 m) tall and 20 inches (50.8 cm) on the shortest side. It lies at an angle so that the right angle rests between the two cylinders. A third cylinder rests on top of the triangle and it measures 6.5 inches (16.5 cm) in diameter and 1.5 feet (45.7 cm) long. On top of this cylinder and the triangle is a large hoop with a diameter of approximately 7 feet (2.1 m). There is a 10 feet (3 m) pole going through the hoop from the proper bottom right to the proper top left. It passes behind the hoop on the proper left and in front of the hoop on the proper right, where a semi-hollow cylinder with a diameter of 1 feet (30.5 cm) and a length of 10 inches (25.4 cm) rests.
"Steve E. Wooldridge", "1998", and "Zephyr" are visible on the metal next to the proper right side of the base.
Information
"Zephyr" means "west wind" and is also the name of a pioneer streamlinedPioneer Zephyr
The Pioneer Zephyr is a diesel-powered railroad train formed of railroad cars permanently articulated together with Jacobs bogies, built by the Budd Company in 1934 for the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad , commonly known as the Burlington...
locomotive
Locomotive
A locomotive is a railway vehicle that provides the motive power for a train. The word originates from the Latin loco – "from a place", ablative of locus, "place" + Medieval Latin motivus, "causing motion", and is a shortened form of the term locomotive engine, first used in the early 19th...
, dating to the 1930s. Each of the eight geometric shapes has a meaning. The rectangular base represents the core of education. The two side-by-side cylinders represent the wheels of progress while the triangle represents a mode of transportation designed for speed. The small cylinder that supports the hoop signifies fortitude and determination and the hoop itself stands for the circle of life. The long pole represents ambition and the hollow scroll stands for the scroll of knowledge. The artist dedicated the sculpture to today’s youth.
Acquisition
The Indiana UniversityIndiana University
Indiana University is a multi-campus public university system in the state of Indiana, United States. Indiana University has a combined student body of more than 100,000 students, including approximately 42,000 students enrolled at the Indiana University Bloomington campus and approximately 37,000...
Board of Trustees approved the decision to keep the Zephyr sculpture on the IUPUI campus permanently at their January 28, 2005 meeting. Prior to this it had been on loan to the university for two years.
Artist
Steve Wooldridge was born in Sheridan, IndianaSheridan, Indiana
Sheridan is a town in Adams Township, Hamilton County, Indiana, United States. The population was 2,665 at the 2010 census. The center of population of Indiana is located just northwest of Sheridan.- Geography :...
. He attended the Dayton Art Institute
Dayton Art Institute
The Dayton Art Institute is a museum of fine arts in Dayton, Ohio, USA. The Dayton Art Institute was rated one of the top 10 best art museums in the United States for kids. The museum also ranks in the top 3% of all art museums in North America in 3 of 4 factors...
where he studied three-dimensional design and sculpture. He graduated from the Herron School of Art
Herron School of Art
Herron School of Art and Design, a school of Indiana University, was ranked 45th overall by U.S. News and World Report among graduate schools of fine arts in 2008....
in 1963 with a degree in Sculpture. His preferred styles are abstract
Abstract art
Abstract art uses a visual language of form, color and line to create a composition which may exist with a degree of independence from visual references in the world. Western art had been, from the Renaissance up to the middle of the 19th century, underpinned by the logic of perspective and an...
, assemblage
Assemblage (art)
Assemblage is an artistic process. In the visual arts, it consists of making three-dimensional or two-dimensional artistic compositions by putting together found objects...
, and minimalism
Minimalism
Minimalism describes movements in various forms of art and design, especially visual art and music, where the work is set out to expose the essence, essentials or identity of a subject through eliminating all non-essential forms, features or concepts...
. Wooldridge is known for his site specific sculpture for indoors and outdoors, and he is a member of the Artist Blacksmith’s Association of North America. Fifty-two of his massive blacksmith
Blacksmith
A blacksmith is a person who creates objects from wrought iron or steel by forging the metal; that is, by using tools to hammer, bend, and cut...
ing pieces were featured in the exhibit "Forged Art! The Art of Blacksmithing" at the Wells County Creative Art Center in Bluffton, Indiana
Bluffton, Indiana
Bluffton is a city in Harrison and Lancaster Townships, Wells County, Indiana, United States. The population was 9,897 at the 2010 census. The city is the county seat of Wells County.-Geography:Bluffton is located at ....
in late 2007. Another one of Wooldridge’s sculptures, Spirit Keeper
Spirit Keeper
Spirit Keeper, a public sculpture by American artist Steve Wooldridge, is located on the Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis campus, which is near downtown Indianapolis, Indiana. The sculpture is located in front of IUPUI's HITS building near the Creation Café at 337 West 11th Street....
, is also located on the IUPUI campus.
Documentation
A Museum Studies course at IUPUI recently undertook the project of researching and reporting on the condition of 40 outdoor sculptures on the university campus. Zephyr was included in this movement. This documentation was influenced by the successful Save Outdoor Sculpture!Save Outdoor Sculpture!
Save Outdoor Sculpture! is a community-based effort to identify, document, and conserve outdoor sculpture in the United States. By fostering awareness and appreciation, SOS! aims to advocate proper care of a nationwide public resource....
1989 campaign organized by Heritage Preservation: The National Institute of Conservation partnered with the Smithsonian Institution
Smithsonian Institution
The Smithsonian Institution is an educational and research institute and associated museum complex, administered and funded by the government of the United States and by funds from its endowment, contributions, and profits from its retail operations, concessions, licensing activities, and magazines...
, specifically the Smithsonian American Art Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
The Smithsonian American Art Museum is a museum in Washington, D.C. with an extensive collection of American art.Part of the Smithsonian Institution, the museum has a broad variety of American art that covers all regions and art movements found in the United States...
. Throughout the 1990s, over 7,000 volunteers nationwide have cataloged and assessed the condition of over 30,000 publicly accessible statues, monuments, and sculptures installed as outdoor public art across the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.