Funambulist

2012
Granite, stainless steel, and bronze

Commissioned by Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan.

Funambulist (2012) takes its title from the Latin roots funis (rope) and ambulare (to walk), meaning "tightrope walker." Rising nearly thirty feet, the sculpture evokes the poised figure of an acrobat balancing high above the ground, celebrating the delicate relationship between strength and vulnerability, risk and confidence. The sweeping painted steel elements rise effortlessly from a granite base, creating a compelling sense of lift, movement, and suspended balance.

Inspired by the courage required to move forward despite uncertainty, Funambulist reflects Van Alstine's enduring fascination with equilibrium—both physical and metaphorical. Installed at the entrance to Michigan State University's Wharton Center for Performing Arts, the sculpture serves as a powerful symbol of creativity, aspiration, and the human capacity to find balance through determination, imagination, and grace.