“Bull time” every day? That’s what a teacher at the University’s nearby Community Child Care Center said about these Bronze Bull Sculptures. These aren’t just any sculptures. They have become an integral part of the University of Minnesota’s St. Paul campus.
The Bronze Bull Sculptures are located across the street from Haecker Hall. You will find these sculptures on the southeast corner of the St. Paul campus mall. They represent the agricultural legacy of the neighborhood.
The artist Peter Woytuk created these impressive sculptures. He originally installed them in 2001. The sculptures range from 10 to 13 feet long.
Woytuk got the idea after visiting the Minnesota State Fair. It is located adjacent to the St. Paul campus. He saw the large bulls there. Woytuk realized the similarities between the bulls’ muscled backs and rolling hills. This vision took shape and the statues were sculpted.
Craig Amundsen is the Weisman’s public art curator. He said the sculptures are very popular. Younger children especially love them. Kids from the nearby Community Child Care Center climb on them. This results in the need for color restoration every few years.
Amundsen recalled a teacher saying they have “bull time” every day. Before the preschool kids, college students caused commotion. They would move the Bronze Bull Sculptures around campus at night. The bulls would be found in different places each morning.
Each bull weighs around 300 pounds. But a group of strong people could move them. The bulls are now anchored to the ground.
Woytuk’s decision to leave the sculpture untitled may mean he saw no reason to name them. Titles generally provide insight into an artist’s vision. They help make the art more accessible. But the Bronze Bull Sculptures are already accessible enough to the campus community without a title. In their 20-plus years, they have been embraced as a testament to nature. They also represent the St. Paul campus’ agricultural legacy and a play-thing for all ages.
The sculptures were installed in installments. Two were placed in 2001 and one in 2002. This was part of the late-1990s Haecker Hall renovation.
Amundsen said the Public Art on Campus program helped the University invest in public art. The program has invested in 39 pieces for open spaces on campus since 1988. Each piece is site-specific. It represents something about the building or program it accompanies.
Haecker Hall houses the department of animal science. The Bronze Bull Sculptures represent the department’s purpose. They also represent the campus’s focus on agriculture.
Animal science professor Michael White was the committee chairman for the Haecker Hall art piece selection. He said the committee wanted a large, outdoor piece related to animal science. Woytuk created bulls like these for other locations. The committee liked the idea of a piece that could involve the public. Students are invited to climb on and hang out around the sculptures.
The University ran into a snag. The art budget would not cover the bulls’ cost. But Woytuk eventually agreed to create the bulls at a cost of $55,000.
After pranksters moved the sculptures in 2003, the bulls were anchored down.
Architecture student Stu Wester said they are a notable part of student life. He said it’s a rite of passage on the St. Paul campus. You haven’t lived on the St. Paul campus until you’ve got your picture taken with the Bronze Bull Sculptures.
So next time you are near the St. Paul campus, take a moment to appreciate these impressive sculptures. Climb on them. Take a photo. Become part of the legacy of the Bronze Bull Sculptures.