Forward

From Rofflehaus

Forward

Artist: William King. Built in 1984. Presented to the Brunnier Art Museum in 1990.

This sculpture has erroneously been said to be in memorial of six members of the ISU womens cross-country team who died in a November 25, 1985 airplane crash.

From ISU's Museum and Arts page:

During its time at Iowa State, Forward has come to represent the students of Iowa State as they pass in a steady stream through the campus life of academics and activities. The stylistic similarities, and tight grouping of the figures, emphasize the commonality of peoples experiences; walking across the beautiful Iowa State campus between classes, sauntering to the library, striding to football games, lining up for a concert, and promenading at graduation.

(Does anyone know what's up with this sculpture? For the longest time, it's located southwest of the library, but I think it has moved to the northeast side recently. Is that the gimmick, i.e. the sculpture of people moving forward together actually moves around? Is there a record of where it's been, etc?)

It's been moved before, but usually just to be repositioned in that same corner between Parks Library, The Durham Center, and Marston Hall. I think the university just treats it like some sort of giant knick-nack.

(Also I remember hearing an interesting a tidbit from one of the tour guides at Brunnier about this sculpture involving a flood. Needs research.)

[edit] News articles

Campus sculptures headed to the fair
The article, 15 years later, a cross country team is remembered, in the 11/30, 2000 edition of the Iowa State Daily is still unavailable due to a change in the Daily's website and general laziness of Rofflehaus contributors. If you'd like to help fix a broken link like this, check out Template talk:ISUD to find out how. Thank you for your patience. (D: 11/30/2000)
The article, Sculpture moves 'Forward' to campus, in the 10/27, 1999 edition of the Iowa State Daily is still unavailable due to a change in the Daily's website and general laziness of Rofflehaus contributors. If you'd like to help fix a broken link like this, check out Template talk:ISUD to find out how. Thank you for your patience. (D: 10/27/1999)