As an alumnus of BYU from the era of the 1970's, I recently read the article on the BYU Web site about the 'Tree of Wisdom' and wish to briefly comment further on it.
I remember well the rather perplexing curved white pillars of the 'Tree of Wisdom' when it first stood out front of the Harold B. Lee Library on the southern border of the Administration quad.
Some students would walk into one another as they gazed upon it, trying to figure out its similitude.
Others liked to use it to sit in the shade and lean up against while they read or studied. I was a Freshman/Sophomore at BYU when it was donated to celebrate the University's centennial in 1975. I can remember looking at
it at night when I ventured around campus and it was lighted. Another very interesting angle on the sculpture was to view it midway between the
transition of a broad root structure and expanding branches.
At the particular point wherein roots and branches seemed to balance out, it gave you the impression of an hour glass, indicative of the time and patience it takes for knowledge to mature into wisdom. True to form, it is indeed a piece of inspired artwork that stimulates thought. Perhaps through additional observation and insight, there is yet more to be learned from it.
Gary A. Drew
BYU Alumnus 1979