Wheel Sculpture
"Wheel" by Cort Savage , May 14, 1988
The Wheel is a metal and concrete sculpture created by American artist Cort Savage, who graduated from SU’s School of Art and Design. The piece, commissioned by the Physics Department, can be found on Shaw quad lawn in front of the Physics building entrance. The University held a campus-wide competition for the design of the sculpture in 1987, which Savage won with his design honoring Dr. William R. Fredrickson, former Chairman of the Physics Department. The Wheel is made of tapered steel and stands approximately 8 feet in diameter. The front of the sculpture is dyed concrete with invalid steel strips and a hollow axle. The rear of the sculpture is ground steel with wire-reinforced glass inlays.
The Wheel sculpture has a surface that is articulated with shapes reminiscent of simple tools, with forms carefully balanced to suggest equilibrium. Cort Savage is quoted as saying: “There is a concept in physics known as equilibrium. Just as objects embody either a stable, unstable, or neutral equilibrium, I believe individuals embody a similar equilibrium between rational and irrational thought.” The imposing circular sculpture, which stands 8 feet in diameter, echoes the roof of Hendricks Chapel and the proportions of its parts to the whole are very classical in scale. Dedication services for the William R. Fredrickson sculpture were held October 6, 1988. Chancellor Melvin A. Eggers helped Mrs. Linnea Fredrickson cut the ribbon on the sculpture dedicated to her late husband in front of the Physics Building.
Cort Savage is currently a Professor and Chair of Art at Davidson College in Davidson, North Carolina. As a child, Savage could be found building legos in his parents garage in Northern Indiana. There is where his passion as a maker and problem-solver began. He earned his BA from Indiana University then came to Syracuse University to earn his MFA in sculpture in 1991. While at SU, Savage entered a campus-wide competition offered by the physics department to create a sculpture to honor William Fredrickson, who was the department chairman from 1939 to 1965. Savage won the $3,000 commission and created what is known as the “Wheel”, made of concrete, steel and glass. While Savage hasn’t returned to Syracuse University since earning his MFA, he was surprised to learn his sculpture still stands on campus. He has been teaching sculpture and drawing for almost twenty years. His current sculptures have a mixed-media kinetic feel inspired by an extended recovery period from a rock climbing fall. Savage’s works have been exhibited throughout the United States including the: Mint Museum of Art, Cameron Museum of Art and the New Orleans Center for Contemporary Art. When he is not in the classroom he can be found hiking the mountains of Western North Carolina with his wife and daughter.
SU University Archives; SU Photo and Imaging Archive; smallcurio. (2017). Albert Paley, Banner (1999). Online image; “Cort Savage.” Davidson.edu.