Cyclic Synergy

Institute for Agricultural Biosciences Facility, Oklahoma State University, Ardmore, OK.
70” x 96” x 96”, stainless steel, concrete
Commissioned by Oklahoma State University

Cyclic Synergy is a sculptural tribute to the evolving history of agricultural experimentation in Oklahoma and the scientific innovation housed within the Institute for Agricultural Biosciences. Installed at the facility's entrance, the work consists of six vertical stainless steel panels arranged in a form reminiscent of a cellular structure or molecular diagram—visible as both a sculptural presence from the ground and a scientific pattern from above.

Each panel represents a stage in the agricultural timeline:

• Sun – the source of energy and life, at the root of all agricultural growth.

• Seasons – early human understanding of planting, harvest, and cycles of the natural world.

• Settlers – representing the arrival of farmers with seeds, tools, and evolving methods, ushering in a new era shaped by railroads, refrigeration, and mechanized tools.

• Study – agriculture as an academic discipline, formally researched and recorded by colleges and universities.

• Science – a period of accelerated discovery, with experimentation at the cellular level improving production and yields.

• Synthesis – a culmination of knowledge, integrating past and future, with agriculture embracing energy, sustainability, and global impact.

The sculpture changes with the light—its pierced and brushed metal surfaces reflect weather, movement, and time. From each angle, the work offers a different visual experience, engaging visitors both visually and conceptually as they enter a place of forward-looking research.