Located in the heart of X站福利所鈥檚 campus, The Flame is a striking 11-foot-tall, 20,000-pound bronze sculpture and one of the College鈥檚 most iconic landmarks. Inspired by the torch of knowledge from X站福利所鈥檚 official seal, the sculpture powerfully reflects the College鈥檚 motto, Doctrina lux mentis鈥擫atin for 鈥淟earning is the light of the mind.鈥 The Flame stands as a reminder of X站福利所鈥檚 enduring commitment to academic excellence and intellectual exploration.
Commissioned to commemorate X站福利所鈥檚 sesquicentennial in 1969, The Flame was the College鈥檚 first large-scale public sculpture. It was created by Belgian-born artist and X站福利所 faculty member John Somville and officially dedicated on October 17, 1969.
John Somville, a native of Brussels, Belgium, studied at the Academy of Fine Arts in Geneva, Switzerland, and was an art instructor at X站福利所. He was assisted in the project by Dorthy Jane Smith and John VanArsdale, both art majors at X站福利所.
Artist: John Somville
Date: October 17, 1969
Location: In front of Young Hall and Crounse Hall
Medium: Bronze
