About the Sculpture

Three sculptural forms emerge from the earth in suspended animation. The symbolism draws from California, Sacramento Valley and Sacramento State sources. The title Tributary serves a dual purpose, paying homage/tribute to the students, faculty, staff, and community of Sacramento State and beyond while identifying place, the Sacramento River Watershed. The ever-flowing tributaries of this vast territory include the Sacramento River, American River, Feather River and the San Joaquin Delta. The leaf-like forms of the sculpture were derived from the California Bay Laurel tree, indigenous to the foothills of California; known as Umbellularia or Myrtle and valued by native populations including Kashaya Pomo, Maidu and Miwok. The tree’s fruit, nuts, leaves and wood were and are currently used for many purposes, including soup, tea and flavorings, furniture and bowls, and medicinal applications. Primary to the conceived principle of the artwork is inclusion and recognition of all that encompasses this site past, present and future.

This sculptural work embodies the true essence and intersection between students, faculty and staff collaborating in solidarity to achieve goals and aspirations. The emergence of each of the sculpture’s components begins as a foundation, an intermediary, and to a fully formed “being,” resembling the maturity of individuals as they grow into constituents of a wholly realized culture. During the day Tributary stands as soft, organic, and voluminous in contrast to the layered shapes that appear as vertical steps, representing our collective journey. As the sun sets each day, interior illumination offers a nuanced light show of color traversing the facets of each form. The pulsing of the work intends to reflect the rhythms of breath and heartbeats from rest to exhilaration.

This is a monument conceived, designed, and built in a public art curriculum by Sacramento State students and faculty of the Department of Art for the University. Vice President of Student Affairs, Ed Mills envisioned a sculpture placed in the Welcome Center Plaza to symbolize the life-changing experience of choosing a university education and a place for student family and friends to take pictures as they venture through their student careers and beyond.

This work took over three years to complete. Starting in Fall 2019 with three design team proposals, Tributary won the award in front of a panel of artists, faculty and staff. During COVID-19, student artists/fabricators worked limited hours yet were committed to the project’s progress. Student artists/fabricators were trained in numerous industrial/art processes to create a four-foot model which was then realized full-scale. The sculpture was completed in the Spring of 2023 with a dedicated group of student artists/fabricators under the guidance of Professor Andrew Connelly and the help and support of many.

Acknowledgements

Art Director, Project Manager, Supervisor, Fabricator:

Andrew Connelly, Professor of Art

Primary Student Artists and Fabricators:

April Arnold, Denise Benitez, Julie Crumb, Orzala Mahshour, Andrew Rosas, Matthew Pugh

Concept and Design Team:

Isabella Flanagan, Janelle Marcione, Andrew Rosas

Student Artist Cohort:

April Arnold, Denise Benitez, Isabella Flanagan, Christina Gutierrez, Tracy Jordan, Lucas King, Orzala Mahshour, Shantha Matthews, John Klaiber, Sam Lee, Janelle Marcione, Ariana Michaelson, Quinn, Melanie Ries, Andrew Rosas, Heather Schlesinger, Rebecca Standley

Commissioned by Sacramento State's Division of Student Affairs.