Roots of Knowledge Wins CODAawards People's Choice Award

OREM, Utah, Aug. 31, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Utah Valley University (UVU) is proud to announce that Roots of Knowledge is one of this year's CODAawards People's Choice winners. The 5^th annual internationally acclaimed CODAawards, distributed by CODAworx, celebrate the top 100 design projects that most successfully integrate commissioned art into interior, architectural, or public spaces.

Roots of Knowledge was one of 44 entries in the Education category and was chosen as one of two winners. Located in the heart of the UVU campus – the Fulton Library – Roots of Knowledge is a magnificent stained glass panorama that explores humankind's quest for knowledge since the dawn of time. It is comprised of 80 individual panes of glass totaling 10-30 feet in height and 200 feet in length, and involved the work of 40 artists, 25 faculty, and 350 UVU students. Included in the mural are tens of thousands of pieces of glass and artifacts that include ancient coins, fossils, computer chips, and even a piece of the Berlin Wall.  

"Roots of Knowledge is an extraordinary work of art that underscores UVU's commitment to the very finest elements of the human search for knowledge," said UVU President Matthew S. Holland. "That it has been recognized by the public and the esteemed team at CODAworx speaks to its outstanding ability to educate and inspire."

The CODAawards are reviewed by a jury of thought leaders in the design, architecture, and art worlds. Jurors evaluate each entry on three unique criteria across 10 categories: the integration of commissioned artwork into site-specific projects completed since January 2014; the strength of the collaborative process among the creative teams, commissioners and industry resources; and whether the work blends the art and design seamlessly to create a place as art, rather than a place with art.  

"I am honored that Roots of Knowledge is the CODAawards People's Choice winner because my goal when creating Roots of Knowledge was that it speak to and inspire all people," said Tom Holdman, owner of Holdman Studios and creator of the stained glass windows. "Our team put a lot of love and sweat into this project and we are thrilled that our work is being appreciated by others."

Roots of Knowledge was unveiled in November 2016 to coincide with UVU's 75^th anniversary. It has been hailed by The Guardian as "one of the most spectacular stained glass windows made in the past century" and by CNN as "inspirational" and "a work which embodies the nation's best qualities: excellence, entrepreneurship, ambition and optimism."

About Utah Valley University
Utah Valley University is home to more than 35,000 students. UVU began as a vocational school during World War II, and in the seven decades since has evolved into a technical school, community college, state college, and, finally, a comprehensive regional teaching university. UVU is one of Utah's largest institutions of higher learning and offers programs ranging from career training to high-demand master degrees.

SOURCE Utah Valley University

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