Sculpture: A Wyoming Invitational Ongoing Sculpture: A Wyoming Invitational is a major exhibition of large-scale sculptures sited across campus and in the City of Laramie. Comprised of 17 sculptures by internationally known artists, the exhibition was inspired by the extended closure of the museum's galleries and is a response to the increasing interest in Laramie and at the university of enhancing our community with public art. For Moroles and Parson, references to Wyoming's extractive industries were incorporated into their decidedly different sculptures. Moroles recycled and transformed a steel tank into an interactive sculpture, creating windows as both framing elements from which to view Prexy's Pasture and simultaneously as entryways from which to climb into the work. The ability to rotate the work enables an ever-changing positioning of views. Parson's Molto Allargando, named for a musical term meaning a gradual increase or rise to a crescendo, uses the industrial materials of steel and glass to create a work that appears mechanical, having two bucket-like forms at its ends that "scoop" up the earth and placed along a horizontal "horizon" line. Reed furthered his exploration of placing a viewing "ring" relative to a distantly placed "outlyer" to create an experience of discovery for the viewer. His command of the space of his work is remarkable. James Surls new work, In Circle, offers departures from his known wood and bronze work by using stainless steel. Its linear and circular form suggests a molecular structure that appears to roll. Dougherty's monumental Shortcut made from saplings was inspired by the unpaved "shortcut" on which the sculpture is constructed and the boulders of the Simpson Family Plaza. Four hut-like forms with entries and skylights are placed so the pathway is not interrupted. Siegel's site along the Laramie Greenbelt offered a natural setting surrounded by pathways, roadways, and corporate structures. Known for his use of recycled materials—red mulch, in this case—the artist created a meandering worm-like form. Flooding of the Laramie River early in the installation process influenced the final form of It goes under. John Henry's River High is from a new series of monumental sculpture and created for the Wyoming exhibition. Fifty-five feet tall and visible from the surrounding valley, it is be a beacon that says contemporary public art is on view in Laramie. Stan Dolega has taken his inspiration from the Veedauwoo to create a new steel and stone work called Veedauwoo Modernized. Measuring 10 ft x 10 ft x 8 ft, it marks a return to sculpture making for the Laramie artist. Four women sculptors are in the exhibition. Linda Fleming's Refugium was the centerpiece of her recent New York exhibition. Another interactive work, viewers are able to enter the sculpture and sit on a chair where one is engulfed by the shadow-patterns of the laser cut steel forms. Charmaine Locke's Open Book is a call for world peace as the phrase "Why" is written in five languages on the sculpture. Deborah Butterfield's Billings is a signature work from her collection representing her found and welded steel construction process. Ursula von Rydingsvard's Doolin Doolin, generously lent to the exhibition by Neltje, is also a signature work by this artist who specialized in constructed and carved works made from cedar planks. Five sculptures from the Art Museum's permanent collection are included. Jun Kaneko's Untitled (dango) with the thumbprint-like design was purchased from his solo exhibition at the museum. Jesus Moroles' Eclipse was gifted to the museum and is a unique work that combines polished and sawn textures. John Kearney's Alligator is from a series on endangered animals the artist created in the 1970s. Robert Russin's First Steps was gifted following his retrospective exhibition mounted at the UW Art Museum in 1991. A special invitation to the artists of Ark Regional Services to create an outdoor sculpture for their new Creative Arts Center resulted in the painted steel work titled Synergy: A Tribute to Alexander Calder. An exhibition of this scale would not be possible without the generosity and work of many. Special thanks to Don Bath, Bath Ranch and Lefty Cole, Deerwood Ranch for opening their ranches to Patrick Dougherty to collect saplings for Shortcut; Cheyenne Recycling Center for delivering red mulch for It goes under; and Lonn Mullins and Ben Hornok, Haselden Construction. Sculpture: A Wyoming Invitational has been organized by the University of Wyoming Art Museum in cooperation with the University of Wyoming, various agencies in the City of Laramie, and the Albany County Public Library. Made possible through the generosity of an anonymous sponsor and the National Advisory Board of the UW Art Museum, with additional funding from the UW President's Office, UW Academic Affairs Office, UW Physical Plant, Wyoming Cultural Trust Fund, Guthrie Family Foundation, FMC Corporation, Richard & Judith Agee, John & Mari Ann Martin, American National Bank, First Interstate Bank of Laramie and First Interstate Bancsystem Foundation, Elizabeth Firestone Graham Foundation, Haselden Construction, Murdock Law Firm P.C., Rocky Mountain Power Foundation, Albany County Tourism Board, Laramie Parks & Recreation, Laramie Economic Development Corporation and the Laramie Beautification Committee, Wyoming Public Radio, Albany County Library Foundation, and the Wyoming Arts Council through the Wyoming State Legislature and the National Endowment for the Arts which believes a great nation deserves great art. Images: TOP - Jesus Moroles, Granite Windows, 2008, found steel tank, granite, 7 feet tall x 8 feet diameter, lent by the artist. Located on Prexy's Pasture, west of Half Acre Gym. CENTER - Patrick Dougherty, Short Cut, 2008, saplings, 17 x 21 x 39 feet, site-specific installation, lent by the artist. Located at the northwest corner of Prexy's Pasture. BOTTOM - Charles Parson, Molto Allargando, 2008, steel, glass, plastic, earth, 65-feet, lent by the artist. Located On Prexy's Pasture, north of Ross Hall