p 140 CENTERPIECES OF CAMPUS LIFE 21FALL/WINTER 2011 THE OUTDOOR SCULPTURE COLLECTION AT STANFORD UNIVERSITY BY ELLEN BECHTOL & MARIKO CHANG


Against a backdrop of tall trees on the Stanford University campus in Palo Alto, California, stands a 40-foot tall totem pole titled The Stanford Legacy. It was carved by Canadian First Nation artist Don Yeomans in 2002 from a 400-year- old cedar tree, and combines elements of traditional Haida culture with modern practice. At the base, Yeomans depicted a chief holding a copper shield to symbolize shared wealth. Above the chief sits a woman whose tears have turned into ropes for a pair of children to cling to. Finally, the Raven—the Creator-spirit—is crowned with a set of wings at the top of the totem pole. This visual narrative tells of the tragic loss that inspired Leland and Jane Stanford to establish a university in memory of their only son. Today, The Stanford Legacy stands in contrast to nearby abstract works by Bruce Beasley, James Rosati, and Charles Ginnever, and to the collection of Rodin bronzes that have made Stanford’s outdoor art holdings world- famous. All, however, echo a deep commitment to multidisciplinary education set forth by the university’s founders. For many students,


faculty, staff and visitors, the sculptures have become centerpieces of campus life and visual reminders of the Stanford legacy.


At a young age, Leland Stanford Jr. was an avid collector who dreamed of creating for his hometown of San Francisco the “grandest museum in the world.” Following his untimely death, Leland’s parents determined it crucial to include a museum with outdoor sculpture as part of the initial plans for the university. It was not until the late 1960s that a concerted effort was made by the Art Department faculty to continue the Stanford’s wishes for a program of outdoor art. Today, staff from the Iris & B. Gerald Cantor Center for Visual Arts at Stanford (Cantor Arts Center), Stanford faculty, and members of the community form the Presidential Panel on Outdoor Art. The panel proposes art for acquisition based on the work’s quality, historical importance, and potential for research and teaching, and maintains oversight of rotations and loans throughout campus. Today, Stanford is home to 140 outdoor sculptures. In particular,


< The Stanford Legacy, 2002, Don Yeomans


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