Every day is a good day to learn more about UC San Diego, but we've chosen a particular one to spread knowledge with our new feature called "Triton Tuesday." Each Tuesday, get the inside scoop with fun facts about Triton athletics, the UC San Diego campus and community, and our beautiful home of San Diego, California, in a Did You Know? format.

Among the many unique aspects of the University of California San Diego includes a public art gallery called The Stuart Collection. The 20-plus piece art arrangement is integrated within buildings and spread out across different parts of La Jolla's campus.

Founded by James Stuart DeSilva in 1981, the collection sought to enrich the cultural, intellectual, and scholarly life of the campus with works by today's leading artists. Since its establishment, Mary Beebe has become the director of the diverse assortment.

With support from UC San Diego's Department of Visual Arts, the Stuart Foundation, Friends of the Stuart Foundation, the National Endowment for the Arts, and additional organizations, The Stuart Collection has contributed to UC San Diego's ongoing pursuit of an innovative climate for its general student population.  

Sun God – Niki de Saint Phalle
In 1983, the first piece of work was added to the collection and is arguably the most famous to this day. Sculpted by Niki de Saint Phalle, a colorful 14-foot bird by the name of Sun God was planted on a 15-foot concrete arch located on a grass hill in Muir College. Sun God is a major attraction for all visitors and a popular destination for campus tours. In 1984, the annual Sun God Festival was initiated, bringing an outdoor concert consisting of various musical artists to all students before spring quarter's midterm exams.
 

Vices and Virtues – Bruce Nauman
In 1988, Bruce Nauman embedded 14 neon blinking words (seven pairs) to his Vices and Virtues positioned along the perimeter of the Charles Lee Powell Structural Systems Laboratory in Warren College. According to Nauman, the flashing phrases are seven vices and seven virtues: FAITH/LUST, HOPE/ENVY, CHARITY/SLOTH, PRUDENCE/PRIDE, JUSTICE/AVARICE, TEMPERANCE/GLUTTONY, and FORTITUDE/ANGER.
 

Snake Path – Alexis Smith
The Snake Path is a winding 560-foot-long, 10-foot-wide pedestrian path in the form of a serpent that wraps around foliage surrounding the base of Geisel Library. The head of the snake was positioned closest to the library, as the tail fades off into Warren Mall. The scales of the snake are individual, colored hexagonal tiles.
 
Bear – Tim Hawkinson
Tim Hawkinson constructed his distinguished Warren Bear in 2005 out of eight granite stones. The final product stands at 23'6" feet high and weighs 180-tons. It joyfully sits in the courtyard of three of UC San Diego's well-known engineering buildings in Warren College, welcoming professors, students, and families. 
 
 
Fallen Star – Do Ho Suh
In 2012, Do Ho Suh enhanced the Stuart Collection with The Fallen Star, a small house that was precariously situated on a corner of Jacob's Hall. Seven stories high, The Fallen Star not only offers a beautiful panoramic view of campus and the La Jolla community, but also generates a feeling of disarray upon entry. 
 
Next time you visit the campus of UC San Diego, keep your eyes peeled for more products of The Stuart Collection. Explore "The Enchanted Forest" for Terry Allen's Trees or head over to Revelle College to discover campus's "Stonehenge" in Richard Fleischner's The La Jolla Project. These pieces are only a small chunk of the amazing art UC San Diego has to offer! 
 
For a virtual tour of The Stuart Collection, click here.
 
PRIOR TRITON TUESDAYS
• 1992 Dream Team Finds a Home at Main Gym (Sept. 1)
• UC San Diego Home to Award-Winning Faculty (Sept. 8)
• UC San Diego Athletics Hall of Fame (Sept. 15)
• Exploring Dr. Seuss in San Diego (Sept. 22)
• La Jolla's Wonderful Weather (Sept. 29)
• Academic Excellence on Display by the Tritons (Oct. 6)
• Getting to Know Our Unique College System (Oct. 13)a
• La Jolla's Local Beaches (Oct. 20)
• Renowned Surf in San Diego (Oct. 27)
• University Rankings Recap (Nov. 3)
• Notable Triton Alumni (Nov. 10)
• Sustainability at UC San Diego (Nov. 17)
• UC San Diego's Student Body (Nov. 24)
 
About UC San Diego Athletics
After two decades as one of the most successful programs in NCAA Division II, the UC San Diego intercollegiate athletics program begins a new era in 2020 as a member of the Big West Conference in NCAA Division I. The 23-sport Tritons earned 30 team and nearly 150 individual national championships during its time in Divisions II and III and helped guide more than 1,400 scholar-athletes to All-America honors. In addition, 83 Tritons have been named Academic All-Americans, while 37 have earned prestigious NCAA Post Graduate Scholarships. UC San Diego scholar-athletes exemplify the academic ideals of one of the world's preeminent institutions, graduating at an average rate of 91 percent, one of the highest rates among institutions at all divisions. For more information on the Tritons, visit UCSDtritons.com or follow UC San Diego Athletics on social media @UCSDtritons.