tree of wisdom sculpture by alexander tylevich

‘tree of wisdom’ by alexander tylevich

american sculptor and architect alexander tylevich has conceived an 40-foot tall bronze and steel sculpture entitled ‘tree of wisdom’ installed at regis university in denver, colorado. placed in front of the science building, the piece serves as a focal point for the campus, combining the aesthetic elements of the tree of life and the dna double helix as a clarion call to life-long learning.

the multi-faceted artwork rises from the plaza with its mainmast central column and ‘rays’ of steel cables, suggesting a vessel at sea or the interconnecting strands of wisdom. the cross is encircled by its steel and bronze tree-of-life spiral, mirrored by a companion spiral on the plaza floor. as the viewer follows the lines of the spiral, numerous images in bas-relief honor to jesuit accomplishments in scientific research such as a cannonball transforming into a broken sword, numerals (some in braille), letters in various alphabets and tree leaves depicting the four seasons (the veins resembling an EKG, a violin, human profiles, a russian onion dome).

these elements are complemented by the moon in its phases, a flowering camellia, a mouse, a frog – all informed by the jesuit contributions to science. the sculpture is unified with its location through its companion spiral on the plaza floor and its embedded glass and bronze letters, numerals and symbols, along with messages from jesuit philosopher teilhard de chardin.

detail of the steel cables

the 40-foot sculpture is made from bronze and steel

the piece is in honor of jesuit accomplishments in scientific research

mouse detail

frog detail

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