Sculpture reflects campus, community

BY EMMA STENZEL
Cardinal Staff

Amid the Oakes Plaza of Saint Mary’s University stands a towering structure, composed of many steel, bronze and wooden bars positioned to form several crosses. This dramatic sculpture, while very much a part of theWinona campus, is often overlooked by SMU’s students and staff.

“I walk by it a million times a day, but I never think about it or its history,” said the University Archivist Dr. Bill Crozier.

There is actually much to be known about Oakes Plaza’s focal structure, titled “Gateway to Belief.” In the early 1990s, SMU’s former president, Brother Louis DeThomasis, envisioned for the campus a garden to be complemented by art, according to Dr. Mary Fox, professor of Interdisciplinary Studies. Thus, the idea of “Gateway to Belief” was born.

“Gateway to Belief” was created by the Russian sculptor and architect Alexander Tylevich, said Crozier. With the help of nearly 60 other local artists and artisans, the sculpture was successfully constructed in 1995. “Gateway to Belief” was a gift to the university donated by Rosemary Oakes Kalm ’74.

The donation honors Kalm’s mother, the late Grace Gibson Oakes, who had recently passed away at the time. According to Crozier, the structure’s completion was a ceremonious event.

“A large crowd came to see the sculpture,” said Crozier. “The concert choir and band were there. Even Bishop Vlazny was there.”

Though celebrated at first, “Gateway to Belief” received some negative responses soon after. Fox said that the piece was very controversial, provoking many thoughts and opinions about the art. Despite its abstract design, however, critics admired the piece for its cultural integration. Tylevich dedicated himself to incorporating particular aspects of location into his art. He took into consideration the history of the area and the human activities that took place there. Because of this, “Gateway to Belief” reflects various elements of the SMU campus, along with the Winona community. For instance, Crozier said that the bronze panels portray Winona’s Native American history, as well as a number of Catholic symbols and beliefs. The steel towers form the shape of a cross regardless of where the viewer is standing. Even its red, silver and yellow color scheme relates it to the well known “Columns” structure in the plaza.

These are only a few of the many symbols added to “Gateway to Belief.” Although the structure has been a part of SMU’s campus for nearly 15 years, “Gateway to Belief” still accurately depicts the culture and history of the community. So long as the structure stands tall in Oakes Plaza, it will continue to bring the university into the future. “Gateway to Belief” holds much more than meets the eye.