A Monument to Tolerance

A space between knowing and believing. Jeff Miller

Library Mall has seen many changes over the past few years, but perhaps none as striking as the most recent: the installation of Both/And — Tolerance/Innovation. The sculpture represents “a space between knowing and believing,” say artists David Dahlquist ’80 and Matt Niebuhr. Commissioned by the City of Madison, the sculpture comprises a large stone that leans toward stainless steel plates, whose laser-cut slits project sunlight (and LED lighting at night). The design was inspired by the flow of students who intersect at the location, and the title reflects “an acceptance of seemingly disparate thoughts, coming together in a way that fosters the tolerance that leads to innovation,” according to the artists.

Published in the Fall 2019 issue