During the American Bicentennial, Nebraskans commissioned a series of modernistic sculptures for Interstate highway rest areas to dramatize a meeting of past and future. More than a hundred artists entered the competition, and eight were selected, with each artist given a place to work in a community near the rest area where the sculpture would be exhibited. The project was and remains controversial, with no agreement on what each sculpture means, reflecting a spirit in which people are free to think, feel, and talk about them as they like. The eight works are Arrival by Paul Von Ringelheim at the Blue River eastbound rest area, Crossing the Plains by Bradford Graves at the York westbound rest area, Memorial to the American Bandshell by Richard Field at the Platte River eastbound rest area, Nebraska Wind Sculpture by George Baker at the Kearny westbound rest area, Roadway Confluence by Hans Van de Bovenkanp at the Sidney westbound rest area, Up/Over by Linda Howard at the Ogallala westbound rest area, Nebraskan Gateway by Anthony Padovano at the Brady westbound rest area, and Erma's Desire by John Raimondi at the Grand Island eastbound rest area.