The sculpture on the Joe Johnson/John Ward Pedestrian Mall is A Startling Whirlwind of Opportunity by New York-based sculptor Alice Aycock. Aycock was chosen by a student/faculty/administrator committee of eight that began its work in January 2005. After reviewing the work of approximately 220 applicants, the group narrowed the finalists to four: Aycock, Tim Prentice, James Russell, and Wendy Ross. The finalists visited the campus and described their plans for a sculpture for the site. Aycock was chosen as the sculptress in 2007. The acquisition of the sculpture was made possible by a gift from Memphian Wilton D. “Chick” Hill (BS in industrial engineering, 1973) whose business was hotel management. The $250,000, 25-foot sculpture was installed in summer 2009 and dedicated in September.
At the dedication, held in the Clarence Brown Theatre because of rain, Hill, Aycock, and Provost Susan Martin agreed that the sculpture’s efforts to capture the whirlwind of opportunity available at UT had been successful.