In a grassy dip between Western Washington University’s main campus and Fairhaven College lies a square of stones that emits clouds of steam.
Passersby might mistake the gravel patch for landscaping, but it is actually an art installation by Robert Morris. Installed in 1974, “Untitled Steam Work for Bellingham” combines art, industry and nature in a distinctive way.
Museum educator Zoë Fejeran of the Western Gallery said the steam work complements Nancy Holt’s nearby sculpture “Rock Rings.”
“Seeing the two sculptures together makes you feel like you’ve stumbled across some old stone ruins in a misty landscape,” Fejeran said. “You’d never guess that something so ephemeral and beautiful is because of the university’s heating system.”
The sculpture is connected to WWU’s Steam Plant and emits steam three times daily — 8–8:30 a.m., 12–12:30 p.m. and 5:30–6 p.m. While the plant heats buildings, the mist is not hot.
“I think it’s unique and adds an aesthetic to the campus,” Western student Dylan Ing said.
Maintenance of the installation is ongoing, with occasional repairs, such as a recent pipe leak. The gallery worked with Western’s Facilities Management to fix the leak so it would not detract from the sculpture.
CDN thanks Western Washington University professor John Harris for submitting student work from his newswriting class.
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