Public Art
Mike Fields, 2023
Commissioned and donated by Gary Schneidmiller
The inaugural Cougar Pride statue was installed on the Pullman campus in 2008. A replica of this statue was subsequently installed on the WSU Tri-Cities campus in Spring 2023.
John Hoge, 2008
Nestled under three large trees and overlooking the Columbia River, this artwork is intended as a meeting place or a space for quiet study.
Leaping Cougar Sculpture
Avard T. Fairbanks
The leaping cougar is a prominent symbol of Washington State University. Fairbanks’s bronze cougar sculptures are displayed on all WSU campuses. They were given by the WSU Alumni Association to show statewide Cougar pride.
Paul Vexler, 2021
Ribbon Writing by Paul Vexler is comprised of three ribbons of painted aluminum, suspended in Collaboration Hall. Vexler likens the sculptures to Arabic calligraphy that is so beautiful on its own, even when the literal meaning is not known. The sculpture hints at verbal and visual worlds of meaning that are sometimes read and sometimes simply known. Two of the ribbons (in orange and teal) undulate and zig-zag across the space, while the yellow ribbon is formed like a knot.
Tom McClelland, 2012
The form of the sculpture represents a book filled with the personal stories of military veterans and their families. Using quotes from veterans returning to complete their education at WSU, those “stories” rise into the air, as if on the wind that is so prevalent in the area. This adds to both the implied movement of the sculpture and to its site specification.
Peter and Sue Richards, 2002
Wind is a strong natural phenomenon in the Tri-Cities. Local Native American stories tell of the struggles between warm and cold winds the area. This relationship between wind and the surrounding landscape inspired Wind Riders by Peter Richards and Sue Richards. This installation is located along the bike path at WSU Tri-Cities. It is comprised of three wind vanes made from repurposed bicycles. The artists mounted the bicycles to 20-foot poles, which swing freely to show the direction of the prevailing wind. Next to the poles are a bench and a bronze water fountain shaped like a wooden barrel. The installation encourages bicyclists (and everyone) to stop for a drink of water and enjoy the views and landscape.