KU Today: Grab your cellphone and get outside for curated sculpture tour during Spencer renovations

Museum temporarily closed but 'An Ear for Art' is always open

'Jayhawk, Academic Jay' by Elden C. Tefft was cast in 1958 and is located in front of Strong Hall.

The Spencer Museum may be closed for renovations, but if you’re looking for a curated tour, all you need is a cellphone. The museum’s KU Campus Sculpture Tour, “An Ear for Art,” will guide you through more than a dozen outdoor sculptures.

Listen to the history of the each sculpture and its artist, and find out interesting facts about each piece of outdoor art on campus.

Here are a few highlights from the tour:

? Moses: The 10-foot bronze figure kneeling in front of Smith Hall was made in 1982 by Elden C. Tefft. Together with the stained glass window, the sculpture is a 3-D representation of the university seal. Learn about Tefft and what the imagery represents for KU.

? Cranes: The 7-foot copper sculpture of four cranes intertwined is called “Korean Cranes Rising.” The sculpture is a Korean War Memorial, made in 2005 by Jon Havener. Learn how the four cranes in the sculpture represent the Korean conflict.

? Tai chi Figure: The approximately 10-by-16-foot angular figure practicing the Chinese martial art of tai chi is certainly eye-catching. It was made by Ju Ming in 1985. Find out why it’s in front of the law building.

“An Ear for Art” is presented by the Spencer Museum of Art with support from the Shumaker Family Foundation, Mark and Lauren Booth and the Estelle S. and Robert A. Long Foundation.

The Spencer Museum has been closed since spring 2015 as it undergoes major renovations. The museum will remain closed until the project’s completion, slated for mid-2016.

Renovations and additions at Spencer include a glass-encased entryway, expanded lobby and an expanded object study area and teaching gallery. Another notable addition will be a two-story window feature, which will allow natural light inside the galleries and connect the museum to Marvin Grove.