One day, there was just a dirt hole. The next day, Akbars Garden arrived, already assembled.
The sculpture was installed Thursday on the patch of the EMU lawn at the corner of 15th Avenue and University Street, across from the Student Recreation Center.
The stainless steel edifice, created by a prominent Portland sculptor and donated by the Schnitzer family, took a peculiar trip up and down Interstate 5 to get to campus.
Sculptor Lee Kelly, who keeps his studio in Portland, built the structure — with its unsymmetrical, spiral designs that reflect sunlight off the two silver arches –from 1983 to 1984.
Kelly’s sculpture stood for 17 years at the Claremont Hotel in Berkeley, Calif. Denise Grote, assistant of the vice president and general manager of the Claremont Hotel, said the sculpture sat on a corner of the property called the carriage entrance, on a hillside.
Grote said the hotel, built in 1915, was owned by Harold Schnitzer, who is known for owning one of the largest collections of Pacific Northwest art — both old and new.
When Schnitzer sold the hotel in 1989, he donated the sculptures on the grounds to various places such as the University. Akbars Garden was moved by truck to Kelly’s warehouse in Portland where it underwent repairs, including the addition of base plates on the sculpture’s foundation, University architect Chris Ramey said.

Former Associate Vice President Duncan McDonald approved the sculpture’s location with the help of the sculptor, donor and the University’s sculpture committee.
Ramey said the sculpture’s location across from Gerlinger Hall is also fitting because alumni often frequent Gerlinger Lounge.
The structure stands out in its space on the open lawn, which elicited mixed reviews from passersby.
University grounds crew worker Jonathan Stevens said he thought it was a good location, but added, “I’m wondering if it’s going to get tagged a lot in the future.”
EMU Craft Center employee Ralph Wilson said time will soften the sculpture in its grassy location, which is not surrounded by many trees. People will become used to such a large, glossy sculpture.
Sophomore Jessyck Hereth said she thought the sculpture was a nice addition to campus, and freshman Leah Petit said she noticed the hollow sound the structure made when she knocked on the side of the lattice work.
“I really like the spiral design on the metal,” Petit said, although she added that the sculpture looks a little out of place and doesn’t quite mesh with its environment.
As a renowned leader in outdoor sculpture, Kelly is known for his “aesthetic subtlety and use of light” in his contemporary metal sculpture, said Laura Alpert, an art professor who specializes in sculpture. Alpert is also on the University sculpture committee, which deals with selection and placement on campus of significant pieces of artwork.
“It is an exceptionally high quality piece of art for this campus,” Alpert said. Kelly was unavailable for comment. Harold, Arlene and Jordan Schnitzer donated the piece to commemorate the completion of a private $255.3 million fundraising drive for the University from 1992 to 1998 called the Oregon Campaign. Jordan Schnitzer is a 1973 graduate of the University, and the money from the campaign went toward student scholarship, faculty support, development of new programs and new facilities at the University, according to Janet Fratella, director of outreach projects with the University Development Department.
Akbars Garden was not the Schnitzers’ first major donation to the University.
Ann Mack, director of communications with the University Foundation, said the Schnitzer family of the Schnitzer Care Foundation in Portland has made several major gifts to University, including creating the Judaic Studies Program in the College of Arts and Sciences in 1998.