Wild Goose Chase

Artist / Maker Carolyn Brown Braaksma ((American, b. 1951))

Date1999

OriginUSA

MediumTerrazzo, concrete, brass, glass, mother-of-pearl

DimensionsLarge Blocks: 15 1/2 x 7 1/2 x 1 1/2 in. (39.4 x 19.1 x 3.8 cm) Small Blocks: 8 1/2 x 7 1/2 x 1 1/2 in. (21.6 x 19.1 x 3.8 cm) Terrazzo Floor: 480 x 228 in. (1219.2 x 579.1 cm)

ClassificationsArchitecture, Architectural Ornamentation and Elements

Credit LineAn Iowa Art in State Buildings Project for Maple Hall. In the Art on Campus Collection, University Museums, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa.

Object numberU99.30

Status

On view

Collections

Label TextThe blue, green, gold terrazzo floor in the entry area of Maple Hall incorporates mother-of-pearl, glass slivers, and brass inlays throughout the designs. The epoxy terrazzo is 3/8" thick and incorporates five colors. The central design is a horn of plenty with a brass key and brass star adjacent. The four adjacent corridor walls have terrazzo tiles with designs of stars, shoes, chicken, ornaments, and Amish infant dresses. Along the west corridor are terrazzo tile images of an Amish man and woman, a roaster, a stylized Norwegian circle design, and a sheath of wheat. Along the east corridor are images of a six pointed star, a shoe, a house, and a maple leaf. The terrazzo floor design adjacent to the elevators is repeated on each of the seven floors in the elevator areas and is an Amish quilt design. The lobby entrance walls has molded concrete blocks with bas relief images from the floor design, including shoes, chickens, dresses and leafs. The meaning behind the symbols chosen by Braaksma includes: shoe represents liberty and freedom, man and woman represent humanity, Wild Goose Chase is an historic quilting pattern, a stylized sun is a historic Norwegian pattern, wheat is the awakening life, keys are for wisdom, the house is an Amana house with trellis, the compass and square are tools that help create educated citizens, the star is a German butter-mold print, and the rooster is symbolic of Iowa farm life.

Locations