1. The Sheldon Sculpture Garden
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3. Arietta II by Catherine Ferguson Information about the artist
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4. Click on a color to find out more about Catherine Ferguson

5. Catherine Ferguson was born in Sioux City, Iowa, and now lives and works in Omaha, Nebraska.

6. Ferguson’s work as an artist includes sculpture, photography, drawing, and installations.

7. Ferguson has artwork in Spain, England, and many
other places around the world.
One other place you can see her work
in Nebraska is in Omaha at the
Qwest Center.

8. Ferguson was inspired by Native American burial mounds for many of her sculptures.

9. What inspired Ferguson to create Arietta II ?
Birds in her backyard
Metal bridges in Nebraska
Ancient burial mounds in Iowa

10. CORRECT! Next question What inspired Ferguson to create Arietta II ?
birds in her backyard
metal bridges in Nebraska
ancient burial mounds in Iowa
CORRECT!
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11. What is this sculpture made of?
Painted steel
Bronze
Plastic

12. CORRECT! Next question What is this sculpture made of? painted steel
bronze
plastic
CORRECT!
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13. What animal shapes do you see in this sculpture?
Lions
Birds
Snakes

14. Click to see discussion questions
What animal shapes do you see in this sculpture?
lions
birds
snakes
CORRECT!
Click to see discussion questions

15. Would you want to crawl inside of it? If you did, what would you see?
Why do you think Ferguson created this sculpture like a large round pot?
Would you want to crawl inside of it? If you did, what would you see?
Arietta is a musical term. Why do you think this sculpture was named that?
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16. Bather by Jacques Lipchitz Information about the artist
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17. Click on a color to find out more about Jacques Lipchitz

18. Lipchitz and Pablo Picasso were friends.
What similarities can you see in their art?

19. Lipchitz was a Cubist sculptor.
In cubist art, objects are broken up and re-assembled in an abstracted form. Instead of rendering objects from one angle, the artist shows multiple angles simultaneously to try to present the subject in the most complete manner.
Cubism is like looking at the front and back of a person at the same time.

20. During World War II, the German occupation of Paris forced Lipchitz to move to New York City in 1940.

21. Lipchitz’s father did not want him to study art.

22. What do you see in Lipchitz’s Bather?
Three dogs playing cards
A geometric person
A skyscraper

23. CORRECT! Next question What do you see in Lipchitz’s Bather?
three dogs playing cards
a geometric person
a skyscraper
CORRECT!
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24. When do you think the sculpture was made?
1923
1963
2003

25. CORRECT! Next question When do you think the sculpture was made? 1923
1963
2003
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26. What is the sculpture made of?
Wood
Bronze
Plaster

27. CORRECT! Next question What is the sculpture made of? wood bronze
plaster
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28. What element of art do you see the most of?
Color
Texture
Shape

29. Go back to the beginning
What element of art do you see the most of?
color
texture
shape
CORRECT!
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30. Birth of Venus by Reuben Nakian Information about the artist
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31. Click on a color to find out more about Reuben Nakian

32. Nakian’s parents were from Turkey
Nakian’s parents were from Turkey. He was very poor many times in his life.

33. Nakian was his own worst critic and destroyed most of his artwork.

34. Nakian made this sculpture by dipping wet fabric in plaster, placing it on metal rods, and then casting the whole piece in bronze. This is called an additive process: the artist adds his material instead of carving away.

35. Nakian worked as an artist for 75 years
Nakian worked as an artist for 75 years! Mythological themes were his inspiration.

36. What style is Birth of Venus?
Realistic
Expressive
Neoclassical

37. CORRECT! Next question What style is Birth of Venus? Realistic
Expressive
Neoclassical
CORRECT!
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38. What is Birth of Venus based on?
Greek mythology
Chinese philosophy
Modern physics

39. CORRECT! Next question What is Birth of Venus based on?
Greek Mythology
Chinese Philosophy
Modern Physics
CORRECT!
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40. What type of material did Nakian use?
Bronze
Clay
Paper-mâché

41. Go back to the beginning
What type of material did Nakian use?
Bronze
Clay
Paper-mâché
CORRECT!
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42. Daimaru XV by Michael Todd Information about the artist
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43. Click on a color to find out more about Michael Todd

44. Michael Todd was born in Omaha, Nebraska, but lived in Chicago
Michael Todd was born in Omaha, Nebraska, but lived in Chicago. He went to college at Notre Dame University.

45. Todd makes art in Los Angeles, California
Todd makes art in Los Angeles, California. He’s taught at many schools in both California and Vermont.

46. Todd often uses the circle in his work, using it to represent both everything and nothing: circles have no beginning and no end.

47. Todd is influenced by Enso, a circular brushstroke used by master calligraphers. His sculptures mimic this type of drawing.

48. Daimaru is the Japanese word for:
Abstraction
Dragon
Big circle

49. CORRECT! Next question Daimaru is the Japanese word for…? Big circle
Dragon
Abstraction
CORRECT!
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50. How was this sculpture put together?
Glue
Welding
Duct tape

51. Click to see discussion question
How was this sculpture put together?
Metal Glue
Welded
Duck tape
CORRECT!
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52. Is this sculpture two-dimensional or three-dimensional?
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53. Old Glory by Mark di Suvero Information about the artist
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54. Click on a color to find out more about Mark di Suvero

55. Mark di Suvero was born in Shanghai, China, but grew up in San Francisco.

56. He made models of his sculptures using wood before moving onto I beams and other architectural materials for his large-scale works.

57. While in the hospital, he encouraged other patients to paint.
When he was preparing for his first one-man exhibition, he was injured in an elevator accident. His spine was crushed and he was told he would never walk again.
While in the hospital, he encouraged other patients to paint.
With his brother’s help, he returned to constructing his I-beam sculptures.

58. One thing Mark di Suvero enjoys doing is helping other artists
One thing Mark di Suvero enjoys doing is helping other artists. He started an organization called the Athena Foundation.

59. Where was this sculpture made?
Lincoln
New York
Miami

60. CORRECT! Next question Where was this sculpture made? Lincoln, NE
New York, NE
Miami, FL
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61. The I beams used in this sculpture are also used for what?
Buildings
Furniture
Sailing

62. Click to see discussion question
The I-beams used in this sculpture are also used for what?
buildings
furniture
sailing
CORRECT!
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63. Why do you think Mark di Suvero made Old Glory red?
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64. Floating Figure by Gaston Lachaise Information about the artist
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65. Click on a color to find out more about Gaston Lachaise

66. Lachaise loved his art and his wife
Lachaise loved his art and his wife. She was the inspiration for all his work. He moved to America for her.

67. Lachaise not only made sculptures of women but also carved glass and a Civil War monument in Boston, Massachusetts.

68. He was using his father’s woodworking tools before he was old enough to attend school.

69. His sculptures are known for “purposeful distortion” and appearing like they float in the air.

70. Does this sculpture look light and weightless
Does this sculpture look light and weightless? How was Lachaise able to do that? If you needed to making a floating figure, what would you do the same or different?

71. Why do you think this figure is bald?

72. Go back to the beginning
Discuss what Lachaise meant for “purposeful distortion” in his sculpture.
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73. Greenpoint by Richard Serra Information about the artist
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74. Click on a color to find out more about Richard Serra

75. Before becoming an artist, Richard Serra used to work in a steel mill and in shipyards.

76. Serra’s sculptures are so huge that one of his assistants died in an accident while a piece was being assembled. Another assistant was seriously injured.

77. Serra uses computer software to design his sculptures.

78. Serra believes that the space around his sculptures is just as important as the sculpture itself. He decides on how his works look according to where they will be placed.

79. Where was this sculpture originally supposed to be located?
Denver
Germany
Canada

80. Where was this sculpture originally supposed to be located?
Denver
Germany
Canada
CORRECT!
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81. What is Greenpoint named after?
The artist’s favorite movie
His pet’s name
His studio

82. CORRECT! Next question What is Greenpoint named after?
his favorite movie
his pet’s name
his studio
CORRECT!
Next question

83. What art movement is Serra considered part of?
Pop art
Minimalism
Impressionism

84. Go back to the beginning
What movement of art is Serra considered part of?
Pop art
Minimalism
Impressionism
CORRECT!
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85. Fallen Dreamer by Tom Otterness Information about the artist
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86. Click on a color to find out more about Tom Otterness

87. Otterness is best known for his cast bronze sculptures of whimsical, cartoonish characters.

88. His public works are housed in parks, plazas, subway stations, libraries, courthouses, and museums.

89. He often makes multiple versions of the same sculpture
He often makes multiple versions of the same sculpture. Fallen Dreamer is one of three casts.

90. Otterness grew up in Topeka, Kansas, and now lives and works in New York.

91. What do you think the title Fallen Dreamer means
What do you think the title Fallen Dreamer means? Does it suit the sculpture? Would you keep the title or change it?

92. Sandy in Defined Space by Richard McDermott Miller
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93. Click on a color to find out more about Richard McDermott Miller

94. One of Miller’s favorite sayings is “Art is more a matter of the hand and eye than of the mouth.”

95. Sandy was on originally on loan to the Sheldon, but so many people liked the sculpture that UNL students started a fundraising drive to purchase it.

96. Miller creates sculptures in a realistic style
Miller creates sculptures in a realistic style. Instead of working from pictures, he uses live models. First he sculpts in wax and then he casts in bronze.

97. Miller was in the U.S. Army, but instead of becoming an officer, he went to work with the artist Gutzon Borglum, creator of Mount Rushmore.

98. Where should you stand to view this sculpture? Why?

99. Superstructure on 4 by David Smith Information about the artist
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100. Click on a color to find out more about David Smith

101. Smith was inspired by Cubism, and his favorite artist was Pablo Picasso.

102. Smith learned how to weld and rivet while he worked in an automobile factory.

103. Smith’s medium of choice was stainless steel
Smith’s medium of choice was stainless steel. In Superstructure, the steel’s reflective quality allows viewers to see the interaction between the sculpture and the environment.

104. Smith’s art-making process is called assemblage
Smith’s art-making process is called assemblage. He gathers pieces of metal, moves them around, and welds them together when they look right.

105. How would you describe this piece to someone who has never seen it?
Would you have named this sculpture a “superstructure”? Why or why not?
How would you describe this piece to someone who has never seen it?

106. Torn Notebook by Claes Oldenburg and Coosje van Bruggen
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107. Click on a color to find out more about Claes Oldenburg and Coosje van Bruggen

108. Oldenburg and Van Bruggen were married and created artwork together from 1976 until Van Bruggen’s death in 2009.

109. Oldenburg is a Pop artist
Oldenburg is a Pop artist. He wants his art to do something beyond sit in a museum. He’s interested in showing humor and wit in his art.

110. Oldeburg and Van Bruggen used everyday objects as inspiration for monumental sculptures.

111. Oldenburg has created sculptures out of many different materials, including fabric and fur.

112. What is the notebook’s spiral supposed to represent?
A tornado
Curly hair
Homework

113. What is the notebook’s spiral supposed to represent?
a tornado
curly hair
homework
CORRECT!
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114. What words can you see on the sculpture’s paper?
Mountains, snow, pine trees
Skyscrapers, ocean
Wind, buffalo, barbed wire

115. Go back to the beginning
What words should you see on the sculpture’s paper?
mountains, snow, pine trees
skyscrapers, ocean
wind, buffalo, barbed wire
CORRECT!
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116. Torso by William Zorach Information about the artist
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117. Click on a color to find out more about William Zorach

118. Zorach loved to draw as a child but his family did not support his career choice.

119. He married Marguerite Thompson who was also an artist
He married Marguerite Thompson who was also an artist. Both artists’ works centered on themes of love, family, childhood, animals, and nature.

120. Zorach was born in Lithuania
Zorach was born in Lithuania. His family moved to Cleveland, Ohio, in His family was poor with ten children (William was the eighth). At age 12 he got a job in a lithography firm to help support his family.

121. After studying painting in New York and Paris, Zorach turned to sculpture, a medium for which he is better known. He worked mostly in wood and stone. Torso was first made in stone, and bronze copies were created later.

122. Why do you think Zorach didn’t include a head, arms, and legs in Torso?

123. Breach by Roxy Paine Information about the artist
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124. Click on a color to find out more about Roxy Paine

125. Paine likes to play with relationships between natural and artificial objects. For example, he uses machines to build sculptures that look like they’ve been made by nature.

126. Paine decided he wanted to be an artist when he was 15 years old.

127. Paine was born in New York City, where he continues to live and work.

128. Besides making art resemble nature, Paine also designs machines to create art.

129. What material did Paine use for this sculpture?
Stainless steel
Silver
Plastic

130. CORRECT! Next question What material did Paine use for this sculpture?
stainless steel
silver
plastic
CORRECT!
Next question

131. How many different parts is Breach made out of?
300
3,000
30,000

132. Click to see discussion questions
How many different parts is Breach made out of?
300
3,000
30,000
CORRECT!
Click to see discussion questions

133. Go back to the beginning
Why did Paine call this sculpture Breach? For help, look up the definition of the word.
How would the sculpture change through the seasons? How would it stay the same?
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134. Oh no,
you have to
try again!