Should you happen to stroll the nature walks of Florida Gulf Coast University and come upon a tree stump covered with mirrored tiles, know that you are in a sacred space.
That’s the view of Utah-based artist Wendy Wischer, who created the four shimmering sculptures that encompass a work she calls Templa. The locations for Wischer’s permanent site-specific sculptures were chosen to encourage the discovery of these less-traveled spaces across campus. 
The project was part of the 2017-18 Crossroads of Art and Science Artist in Residency program, through which Wischer collaborated with Win Everham, professor of marine and ecological sciences, and students in the “Conservation Strategies for a Sustainable Future” course.
According to Everham, “In our hectic, technology-driven world, reconnecting with the natural world can slow us down and help us find peace. Our campus is a sacred place.”
Wischer says of the works, “The colors of the nearby surroundings, as well as the viewers who stop and sit, can be seen in the reflection, creating an ever-changing view of the work.”
The Crossroads program is sponsored by Gene and Lee Seidler, Alice and Dean Fjelstul and the State of Florida, Department of State, Division of Cultural Affairs and the Florida Council on Arts and Culture.