School administrators, student volunteers and citizens of Columbia who have a passion for art help run the Union Arts Council, which was established three years ago.
The Missouri Student Unions support the UAC, which aims to make the community aware of and more involved with fine arts at MU, according to its website.
Evidence of the UAC’s efforts comes in the form of the 10-foot silicon-bronze sculpture of a tiger emblazoned over the fireplace on the main floor of the Student Center. The sculpture embodies school spirit.
Commissioned by the UAC and created by alumnus Chris Morrey, the tiger is the result of a schoolwide student submission contest held to determine what students wanted to see in the Student Center. At first the tiger might seem unusually construction, but upon closer inspection, it becomes clear the tiger is made of bronze-cast dogwood petals, an homage to Missouri’s state flower.
Opposite of the tiger hangs a three-part work of art titled “The Ladder to Success.”
“The Ladder to Success acts as a visual reminder to students that their Mizzou educational achievements are steps along a lifelong journey toward the realization of their future goals,” according to its informational plaque.
Though students said they missed the plaques on the fireplace explaining the art, they still appreciate the works.
“It’s interesting, to say the least,” freshman Nick Marti said. “It’s something I definitely admire. Being a freshman, sometimes you think that you’re the only one having problems, but this really shows that it all gets better.”
The UAC often collaborates with other organizations when hosting events. The council works with the art department, the Missouri Students Association and the Graduate Professional Council to create opportunities for students to experience and get involved with art, Student and Auxiliary Services spokeswoman Michelle Froese said.
“Look at the MU Student Center, where 17,000 students walk through every day,” Froese said. “We see that as an opportunity to promote art.”
The Council wanted to create a unique environment that would allow students to experience art in their everyday lives, Froese said.
“We don’t want to be a museum — we look at the Student Center and unions as places where people live, and we want people to experience art in those areas,” Froese said.
