Shep

Artist / Maker Nina de Creeft Ward (American, b. 1933)

Date1999

OriginUSA

MediumBronze

Dimensions27 x 40 x 16 in. (68.6 x 101.6 x 40.6 cm)

ClassificationsSculpture

Credit LinePurchased with funds from the Art in State Buildings Program for Reiman Gardens, and in memory of Jamie Joy Helmer. In the Art on Campus Collection, University Museums, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa.

Object numberU2000.58

Status

On view

Collections

Label TextShep is a farm dog that has been placed at the entrance of the Children's Garden at Reiman Gardens. With a happy looking face and his right paw extended outwards, Shep greets children and adult visitors to the garden with a warm welcome. Although Shep is cast in bronze, his thick fur-like body encourages children to shake hands, embrace his neck and pat him on the back. Artist Nina Ward's first plan for the design of Shep was to make several drawings of her own dog. After Ward had a design that she liked, she created sever small models from wet clay. These small models allowed Ward to adjust the proportions and gestures of Shep to the exact position that she wanted. After small models were made, Ward moved onto a full size model of Shep, which was fired and is now part of the University Museums Permanent Collection. Shep was then shipped to Max-Cast foundry in Kalona, Iowa where Shep was cast in bronze, using a sand mold method of casting.

Locations