Students walk over the decorative medallions on the entranceways of the Fisher College of Business everyday, but many do not know these pieces of artwork, along with others from all over campus, have been funded by the Percent for Art Program.

The Percent For Art Program was established on July 1, 1990, through Ohio legislation. The legislature ruled public buildings that are state-funded using at least $4 million, must use 1 percent of this money for acquiring, commissioning and installing artwork.

“It is administered at the state level by the Ohio Arts Council,” Julie Karovics, manager for the Percent For Art Program, said.

Ohio State facilities built after 1990 or facilities with major renovations that were state-funded have received funds from PAP.

A selection and review committee is appointed for each project to decide what works of art will go in the buildings. The Campus Art and Memorials Committee, along with people who will be involved in the new building, help choose the artwork.

There are no set rules on what constitutes art; each case is different. The committee decides what will best suit the building.

“We treat this art as a collection,” Karovics said.

“We look for a wide array of artwork, so that it can become like a library, so that students can walk around and see the artwork and learn from it.”

According to Karovics, one of the most visible forms of art is the terrazzo floor in the Schottenstein Center. This floor, which depicts images of OSU sports figures, cost close to $2 million, $150,000 of which was state funded, she said.

“Garden of Constants,” the numbers and symbols sculpture outside of Dreese Lab, is a highly visible piece of art funded from this state program. It was completed in 1993. The numbers and symbols are representative of mathematics and engineering programs at OSU.

Tour groups have visited the Science and Engineering Library to see Dale Chihuly’s glass sculpture, “Wall Installation #4.”

“This is a very dramatic piece,” said reference librarian Jane McMaster. “It gives a focal point and enriches the environment of the library.”

David Cole, professor emeritus in the Fisher College of Business, said well-known artist Barbara Kruger brought an international perspective to Fisher with her mosaic, marble and steel medallions in the entranceways of the five buildings.

There are also phrases written in the granite in the courtyard that “really add to the attractiveness of the building,” Cole said.

It was Kruger’s decision to put the medallions in the entranceways to add dimension and beauty, Cole said.

The state’s appropriation for this project was about $532,000.

There are a lot of new plans for the Percent For Arts Project still in design, Karovics said.

One of these projects will be outside the future site of the Knowlton School of Architecture.

Robert Livesey, director of the school, said about $90,000 will be used to enhance the southern garden. This amount is about 1 percent of the money the state donated to the school.

Livesey was part of the committee that chose Michael Van Valkenburgh Associates to design and enhance the 40-by-60 foot garden.

“The garden will radically change every season,” Livesey said.

There are no definite plans for the garden yet, but Van Valkenburgh will use plant materials in a colorful and exuberant way, Livesey said.