A new sculpture on loan from St. Louis City will represent local artist Ernest Trova. It will be located in the “pasture,” otherwise known as the corner of Laclede Street and Vandeventer Avenue.
Saint Louis University has accepted the City’s offer to loan the City-owned Trova sculpture to the University. Trova, a native of St. Louis, is an internationally renowned sculpture.
According to Bridget Fletcher, assistant to the president, SLU already has three Trova sculptures on loan and in storage. Those pieces had been in various places around campus including outside of Kelly Auditorium and near Vandeventer Avenue at the Islamic Center.
The University is paying the city a minimal fee in exchange for loaning the statues, Fletcher said.
The new sculpture used to sit in front of the original convention center. When the convention center was redone, the statue was removed and put into storage. It has remained in storage for 10 years or more, according to Fletcher.
Contrary to many students’ beliefs, the University was not in search of additional artwork. “The city contacted us; Father [Biondi] did not approach them,” Fletcher said. “The city thought it was a shame for the statue to be in storage. It could be someplace where it would be prominently displayed and the City thought of us.”
The new Trova piece, a 25-foot tall, stainless steel sculpture, is entitled “AB/BEDU of 1978.” It will be placed on the green space at Laclede and Vandeventer, along with the other three Trova sculptures that the University already has on loan from the City.
The pieces will be spread around the perimeter of the pasture allowing plenty of room for student events like Spring Fever and the booths from the MTV Campus Invasion tour.
Nanette Boileau, curator of the Pere Marquette and McLennan Gallery, said the Trova pieces that will be displayed on SLU’s campus are abstractions from the “Falling Man Series.”
Boileau said the new piece is a worthwhile addition to the campus. “It will play well with the surrounding buildings,” she said. “Not only students will be able to see his work, but also those driving by.”
The artist is well-represented in St. Louis. Trova has several notable pieces in the city including in front of the Magnum Bank off of Brentwood Road, at Laumeier Sculpture Park and Museum and in many private gardens.
