Utah Valley University has many things that make it special, and among the most notable is its remarkable stained-glass mural, Roots of Knowledge. It’s a world-class work of art that has attracted hundreds of thousands of visitors since its installation in the Fulton Library 10 years ago.
What is Roots of Knowledge?
Through the luminous language of stained glass, Roots of Knowledge tells a story of human achievement and the pursuit of knowledge. The mural stretches 154 feet and is comprised of 80 windows and more than 40,000 individual pieces of glass.
What makes Roots of Knowledge so compelling, and truly unique, is the intricate details it captures amidst the vast story of learning across time. Throughout the windows, visitors can find references to several world religions, major scientific breakthroughs, artistic movements, and cultural milestones. Embedded within its panes are physical artifacts: a fragment of the Berlin Wall, ancient fossils, coins from shipwrecks, a $1,000 bill, and a ruby, carefully placed in the bridle of Alexander the Great’s horse.
The mural begins with the Tree of Life in column A, and tells the story of human knowledge as branches and roots weave through the panes to the Tree of Hope for Humanity in column Z. It traces humanity’s journey from the earliest days of cave dwellers and woolly mammoths all the way to the age of the iPhone and into the future, with a reminder that no person, culture, or era stands alone.
The project was led by celebrated stained glass artist Tom Holdman, who collaborated with then-UVU President Matthew S. Holland to bring the mural to Utah Valley University.
The Making of Roots of Knowledge
Creating Roots of Knowledge was a twelve-year process that demanded as much scholarship as it did artistry. Holdman assembled a team of designers and artisans who consulted with UVU students and professors to develop a storyboard before designing the windows and ultimately bringing the art to life.
Throughout the process, every detail, down to the type of glass and the temperature of the kiln, was deliberate. The result is nothing short of extraordinary. Here is a look at how it came together:
- Step 1: Charting the Vision
Artists organized the project’s scope, created timelines, and designed a mind map to connect the many ideas and concepts that would be represented in the glass.
- Step 2: Making Templates
Designers combined computer images and hand-drawn sketches to develop each window section. After Tom Holdman and the design committee approved the template, the team printed it onto a large sheet of vinyl sticker paper, then used those to make cutting guides on clear glass.
- Step 3: Cutting, Shaping, and Painting the Glass
Artists selected the color and type of glass for each segment, then cut and polished
every piece by hand or with a grinder. Painters built up the images with several layers
of paint, firing the glass in the 1,200°F kiln between each application. They used
sprayers, brushes, stencil tools, and pens to add color and intricate details to the
glass.
- Step 4: Assembling the Windows
Next, artists cut, bent, and shaped pliable lead to fit between the pieces of glass. They soldered the joints to join the framework and hold the individual pieces together. They filled in any spaces between the glass and lead lines with cement and plaster to strengthen and weatherproof the panels. After cleaning and polishing the finished panels, they sealed each one in an iron frame.
- Step 5: Installing the Panels
To prepare for installation, UVU partially remodeled the first and second floors of Fulton Library. Crews installed the windows a few days prior to the November 18, 2016 unveiling. The ceremony was led by then-President Holland and was part of UVU’s 75th anniversary celebrations.
For more information on the making of Roots of Knowledge, including behind-the-scenes photos, visit the digital exhibit: Roots of Knowledge Project—Behind the Scenes.
Lessons in the Windows
Since its unveiling, Roots of Knowledge has been a place of learning, reflection, and connection—and a source of deep pride for UVU. Roughly 80,000 visitors tour the Bingham Gallery each year, drawn by the mural’s reputation and leaving with a lasting impression of the university and the community it calls home.
The gallery is staffed by student docents, who get the rare opportunity, as part of
their university experience, to deepen their own knowledge of the mural's ideas, develop
their communication skills, and share what they are learning with people from all
walks of life. Docent tours provide visitors with context and conversation that brings
additional meaning to the artwork. The stunning panes inspire learners of all ages
to consider stories from across history, ask questions, make meaningful connections,
and reflect on their own place in an ever-changing world.
To date, Roots of Knowledge has hosted nearly 300 field trips, welcoming over 11,000 K-12 students to the gallery. Interactive discussions and hands-on projects invite students to see themselves in the human story and to consider how their own roots, choices, and voices help shape the future.
The gallery also draws university classes from across campus. English, Spanish, Deaf Studies, dance and art classes meet to find their curriculum reflected in the glass. Roots of Knowledge offers a mode of learning that is uniquely visual, uniquely immersive, and uniquely UVU.
Shared Discovery
Roots of Knowledge extends UVU’s educational mission beyond the classroom and into the community. Youth groups, seniors, and families experience a new way to explore history, culture, and art together. Many visitors enjoy themed scavenger hunts that invite fresh ways of seeing the glass with each visit.
Each semester, the gallery welcomes scholars, artists, and other experts to share ideas from their fields in the Roots of Knowledge Speaker Series. Featuring many UVU faculty members, the presentations highlight connections between academic research and the ideas depicted in the mural, making the gallery a place that continues to inspire new research, reflection, and understanding. Past lectures are available to view online in the Speaker Series Archive.
A Decade of Light
This fall, Roots of Knowledge marks a milestone decade at the Fulton Library. In honor of its tenth anniversary, UVU invites students, faculty, staff, and the community to celebrate through a series of special events.
- Artist Open House
November 6 | 6 pm to 8 pm | Bingham Gallery in Fulton Library
Learn directly from Tom and Gayle Holdman and other artists that worked on Roots of Knowledge, and experience the stained-glass mural like never before. Attendance is free and all are welcome. - Making of a Miracle: The Extraordinary Journey of Creating a Stained-Glass Testament
to the Worth of Each Human Soul
November 12 | 1 pm to 2 pm | Bingham Gallery in Fulton Library
In this special Speaker Series event, Roots of Knowledge creators, Tom and Gayle Holdman, will chronicle the intense and demanding, yet beautiful and refining collaborative process, from conception to completion, of this stunning, world-class glass art masterpiece. - Roots of Knowledge Birthday Party
November 19 | 11 am to 2 pm | Bingham Gallery in Fulton Library
All students, faculty, and staff are invited to stop by the gallery to explore the windows and enjoy a complimentary slice of cake.
From open houses to birthday cake, there's something for everyone this November—and the celebration continues with our Roots of Knowledge Speaker Series. Join us as scholars, artists, and community leaders explore various themes woven into the glass. View the Roots of Knowledge Speaker Series schedule for dates, times, and speaker bios.