STRIDE by Bill King

William King, American, b. 1925
Stride, 1990
Aluminum
Commissioned by the University Museums, Iowa Art in State Buildings Project for the Lied Recreation Center. In the Art on Campus Collection, University Museums, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa.

The Summer Olympics are in full swing, which means I’m constantly glued to the TV watching some of the greatest athletes in the world swim, flip, and dive their way to medals.  It’s hard for me to imagine the amount of talent, dedication, and sacrifice involved in winning an Olympic medal. 

Over the past week, I’ve thought back to my days of gymnastics, diving, and swimming.  I always enjoyed the sports but found myself growing out of them as life got in the way.  Practices became too time-consuming and injuries stopped further progress.  Olympic athletes push beyond all of these barriers for the chance to become the greatest in the world.  It’s a hard concept to wrap my mind around.

While it may be difficult for the average person to comprehend the dedication involved in pursing an Olympic dream, there are others who can relate.  Other athletes! As I was watching the opening ceremonies it struck me that all of the athletes, despite coming from different backgrounds and different countries, belong to the same community.  They all can call themselves Olympic hopefuls.  Even though they compete against each other, they share common traits and goals.  They all have the same intense drive to compete and passion to be the best in the world.  

You may wonder what this has to do with art.  I admit it took me a while to make the connection myself, but I think art can have a powerful effect on the public.  It has the potential to unite, or more commonly divide, members of the community.  This brings me to the Art on Campus Collection.  A lot of the sculptures on campus have the ability to connect certain groups on campus.  There's a little something for everyone.  Because of the Olympics, I immediately thought of Bill King’s Stride. Perhaps student athletes will see this sculpture and think about their teammates or their own goals for their sports careers.

King's work of art also makes me think about the power of a team.  While multiple athletes run together in the sculpture, they seem to move as one.  While many Olympians complete as individuals, many events rely on the power of the team.  Whether you're on the Iowa State Football team, or a member of the Fab 5 gymnastics team, you rely on your teammates to succeed.  This sense of "team" can extend beyond the literal definition to include your classmates, friends, and living communities.

What I like about the AOC collection is its relatability.  It’s not just for art students but for all students, regardless of major.  Iowa State students belong to multiple groups with multiple interests.  Each group contains a set of unique individuals with common characteristics that can be viewed as a community.  Next time you're around campus, think about what communities you belong to and how the art might relate to you.         

By: Dorothy Witter