The long-awaited "Millipede" and its sculptor, Tom Otterness, are landing on campus right on time for their official welcome on Wednesday, Oct. 29, at the Ulrich Museum of Art. The two are traveling separately, however.

Otterness, Wichita native and world-renowned artist, is flying in for the installation and celebration. "Millipede," at 25 feet long, 5 feet wide and 4 feet high, needed a truck to get to town.

The big bronze creature, commissioned through the Ulrich Museum's private endowment in 2006, will join one of the top 10 best campus outdoor sculpture collections in the United States.

For the city surrounding WSU, it will be the second Otterness sculpture; his "Dreamers Awake" graces the front lawn of the Wichita Art Museum.

At WSU, "Millipede" will reside south of the Ulrich Museum of Art, in the middle of the island on Fairmount Street.

Otterness, born in 1952 in Wichita, set out for New York City in 1970, encouraged by art teacher Don Weddle at Southeast High School. At age 18, he joined the Art Students League in New York. Today he still lives in New York and works out of his own studio.

Widely known and respected for his public sculptures, Otterness has works permanently displayed in outdoor venues in major cities in the United States, Canada and Europe. Tending these days toward whimsical beings, his works are in parks and even line parts of the subways of New York City.

Patricia McDonnell, director of the Ulrich Museum, is excited about getting to celebrate an artist who has been recognized and touted in his lifetime.

"There is a romantic notion of the genius artist struggling in his or her garret," said McDonnell, "working against all odds for artistic insight and praying for public respect."

More often in 21st-century America, McDonnell said, the garret is not part of the story. "Keep the day job" is a well-worn slogan in the arts, where finding recognition is tough work, she said. So it means a lot to her, both professionally and personally, to recognize such a talented artist in his hometown.

"I am so looking forward to Wednesday," she said. "The entire metropolitan area should join our collective salute to the accomplishments of Tom Otterness."

For a look at other work by Otterness, go to www.tomostudio.com/.