This sculpture installed on the Joe Johnson/John Ward Pedestrian Mall in summer 2009 consists of ribbons of curved aluminum around a central axis to create a whirling series of pathways. At the top of the 30-foot-tall spiral form, a single arrow emerges in an arc of neon light that ends in a starburst shape. Aycock views A Startling Whirlwind of Opportunity as a metaphor for the “labyrinth of dynamic possibilities and interconnections that occur in the university environment.” She is the designer of many other public art projects—including Waterworks for the University of Nebraska at Omaha’s Peter Kiewit Institute and East River Roundabout for the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation.
From Volopedia article accessed on May 13, 2026.
This was made possible by a gift from alumnus Wilton F. “Chick” Hill, an investor who earned a UT Engineering Degree in 1973.
Artist: Alice Aycock