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By BSU Alumni & Foundation

Published 4:55 pm on January 22, 2025

It's time for a pop quiz: Who can name this recognizable sculpture that's been on campus for nearly two decades?

Whether you've got it already or need a few more clues, keep reading to find the answer!

The sculpture was crafted by Red Lake artist Gordon Van Wert and was installed near the Bridgeman Hall pergola in July 2008. The half-ton limestone and cast glass sculpture depicts an American Indian elder channeling energy from Lake Bemidji and its surroundings.

The half-ton limestone and cast glass sculpture represents the first technologies that man utilized: the sun and the wind. Mankind understood how to use the energy from the sun and wind to create a better living condition for themselves and their community, from growing crops to harnessing the wind for sailing, these original technologies are the bedrock of man’s development.

Van Wert, a U.S. Army veteran, has art on display throughout the United States. Select pieces also reside in the homes of celebrities like Robert Redford and Goldie Hawn.

Scroll below the next photo for the answer to our question.


Answer: This sculpture is named "Sun and Wind."

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