Indiana University Dedicates 'Spirit of Indiana' Bronze Sculpture in Miller Plaza
6/7/2021 4:45:00 PM | General, Capital
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Indiana University President Michael A. McRobbie presided over Monday afternoon's dedication of the 'Spirit of Indiana' sculpture, the 4,830-pound bronze that was installed in Miller Plaza on the south end of Memorial Stadium in March.
The dedication took place on the Excellence Academy's concourse adjacent to the new art piece. Other speakers at the event included IU Vice President and Director of Athletics Scott Dolson; former IU Vice President and Director of Athletics Fred Glass; sculptor and artist Dora Natella; and project benefactor Patricia Miller.
As its name would suggest, the artwork is inspired by "The Spirit of Indiana" creed that was first introduced as Indiana University's theme in 1925. It served as a tribute to team over self, which is depicted in the artwork with five student-athletes coming together as one. The Spirit of Indiana creed was later modernized and utilized by Glass when he unveiled the Spirit of Indiana: 24 Sports, One Team slogan in 2010.
With that creed serving as the project's inspiration, Natella set out to create a bronze sculpture that would be a centerpiece of the southern entryway to the IU Athletics campus and also complemented the many other beautiful art pieces on the Bloomington campus.
"A major focus of IU's Bicentennial was to strengthen the university's commitment to art as a public trust, and to affirm the fundamental principle that the arts enrich the lives of all members of the university community. Miller Plaza gave us an additional opportunity to do just this through the addition of Professor Natella's superb piece," McRobbie said.
Natella is an Italian-raised, classically trained sculptor who is on the faculty at Indiana University South Bend. Natella's award-winning sculptures and work is exhibited and showcased in both private and public collections around the world. Calling this latest work the 'culmination of a dream" in her creative practice, Natella offered words of praise and thanks to the many mold-makers, artisans, engineers, models, and fabricators who were a part of her team throughout the process.
"It is my hope that when people see this monument, they will be inspired by its message of hope and that it will serve as a reminder that anything can be accomplished when we work together," Natella said.
That message is evident not only in the piece itself, but on a plaque that will soon accompany it. It will read:
"The Spirit of Indiana.
This sculpture embodies the longstanding IU tradition of team over self.
The idea of being stronger together.
It portrays the contribution of the individual and the strength of a team.
A classic representation of the powerful moment when athletes come together in a huddle before the competition begins.
Collectively, they complement and bring out the best in one another.
Together, they will accomplish more than they ever could have on their own.
It represents who we are as Hoosiers.
Stronger together.
Team over self.
The Spirit of Indiana."
Monday's event was the culmination a project that was first envisioned in 2014, in the early stages of the discussions about the Excellence Academy facility. It was made possible by the major gift by Patricia and Michael Miller toward the "For All: The Indiana University Bicentennial Campaign."
"I want to offer my sincerest thanks and appreciation to Pat and Mike Miller for their generosity, their vision and, quite honestly, their patience since this idea began to take shape 7 years ago," Dolson said. "You're the reason we're here today. We all know the saying that good things come to those who wait, and we knew that we wanted to make sure that we did this right. We've done that."
The dedication took place on the Excellence Academy's concourse adjacent to the new art piece. Other speakers at the event included IU Vice President and Director of Athletics Scott Dolson; former IU Vice President and Director of Athletics Fred Glass; sculptor and artist Dora Natella; and project benefactor Patricia Miller.
As its name would suggest, the artwork is inspired by "The Spirit of Indiana" creed that was first introduced as Indiana University's theme in 1925. It served as a tribute to team over self, which is depicted in the artwork with five student-athletes coming together as one. The Spirit of Indiana creed was later modernized and utilized by Glass when he unveiled the Spirit of Indiana: 24 Sports, One Team slogan in 2010.
With that creed serving as the project's inspiration, Natella set out to create a bronze sculpture that would be a centerpiece of the southern entryway to the IU Athletics campus and also complemented the many other beautiful art pieces on the Bloomington campus.
"A major focus of IU's Bicentennial was to strengthen the university's commitment to art as a public trust, and to affirm the fundamental principle that the arts enrich the lives of all members of the university community. Miller Plaza gave us an additional opportunity to do just this through the addition of Professor Natella's superb piece," McRobbie said.
Natella is an Italian-raised, classically trained sculptor who is on the faculty at Indiana University South Bend. Natella's award-winning sculptures and work is exhibited and showcased in both private and public collections around the world. Calling this latest work the 'culmination of a dream" in her creative practice, Natella offered words of praise and thanks to the many mold-makers, artisans, engineers, models, and fabricators who were a part of her team throughout the process.
"It is my hope that when people see this monument, they will be inspired by its message of hope and that it will serve as a reminder that anything can be accomplished when we work together," Natella said.
That message is evident not only in the piece itself, but on a plaque that will soon accompany it. It will read:
"The Spirit of Indiana.
This sculpture embodies the longstanding IU tradition of team over self.
The idea of being stronger together.
It portrays the contribution of the individual and the strength of a team.
A classic representation of the powerful moment when athletes come together in a huddle before the competition begins.
Collectively, they complement and bring out the best in one another.
Together, they will accomplish more than they ever could have on their own.
It represents who we are as Hoosiers.
Stronger together.
Team over self.
The Spirit of Indiana."
Monday's event was the culmination a project that was first envisioned in 2014, in the early stages of the discussions about the Excellence Academy facility. It was made possible by the major gift by Patricia and Michael Miller toward the "For All: The Indiana University Bicentennial Campaign."
"I want to offer my sincerest thanks and appreciation to Pat and Mike Miller for their generosity, their vision and, quite honestly, their patience since this idea began to take shape 7 years ago," Dolson said. "You're the reason we're here today. We all know the saying that good things come to those who wait, and we knew that we wanted to make sure that we did this right. We've done that."
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