"The Character of a Champion"
Serving as the entrance to the University of Georgia Vince Dooley Athletic Complex, “The Character of a Champion,” is a bronze sculpture on a Pennsylvania black marble base depicting head football coach, Vince Dooley being carried by two football players by local Athens artist, Stan Mullins. The statue celebrates the coaching career of Dooley, who served as the head football coach from 1964-1988 and led the Dawgs to a National Championship in 1980. Vince Dooley has been quoted by the Associated Press as saying, “ I really do like it. I like it because it involves the players and not just me” about the statue. Mullins hopes the tradition of “rubbing the foot” will take off for students and athletes to pass by the statue, rub Dooley’s foot, and receive some of the coach’s luck.we invite you to walk around the statue and rub the foot for good luck while you ponder the statue. What do you notice? How would you describe the expressions on the players’ and Coach Dooley’s face? For a more in depth look at the statue through the eyes of the artist himself, check out this video: http://stanmullins.com/portfolio/characterofachampion/
Bust of Judge Frank D. Foley by William J. Thompson
Inconspicuous in its corner by the ticket window outside of Foley Field, the bust of Judge Foley cuts a rather unimposing figure, depicting a man in a rumpled UGA baseball uniform, intent on welcoming visitors to the Diamond Dawgs’ home field. The bust stands in memoriam of Judge Frank D. Foley, an attorney from Columbus, GA, and notable UGA alumnus. Foley, the pitcher and first-baseman for UGA’s 1908 championship baseball team, was also a lifelong supporter of the University of Georgia and its athletics program. Even though the bust has moved around quite a few times, it is currently located at the visitor’s entrance to the stadium. Installed as part of a 1968 memorial project for Judge Foley (including naming the baseball field in his honor), the bust was meant to honor Foley’s commitment to the University and his role in the 1908 Diamond Dawgs baseball season. As part of the project, William J. Thompson (an art professor at the UGA Lamar Dodd School of Art) created the bust. Thompson, who worked at UGA from 1964 to 1983, was well-known for his sculptures, and during his time at UGA, he created a variety of sculptures that represented various historic figures, locations and events. For more information on William J. Thompson’s sculpting process, check out this audio file of his interview with Barbara Reasley of the Richard B. Russell Oral History Project, where Professor Thompson discusses his “experiences with the sculpting process”: http://ohms.libs.uga.edu/viewer.php?cachefile=russell/RBRL216RBROH-101.xml
Tennessee Cut - Sculpture by Horace Farlowe
Measuring 28 by 23 by 20, "Tennessee Cut" is a pink marble sculpture by artist Horace Farlowe, former emeritus professor at UGA's Lamar Dodd School of Art. The sculpture is part of his window series, which compels views to look through the sculpture from different angles as if it was a window. Carefully poured by Dave Lawson with Facilities Management Division, the smooth concrete plinth places the sculpture at a height that helps viewers see the sculpture as Farlowe intended. Working primarily with sculpture, Farlowe's works can be seen worldwide in Spain, Germany, Italy, and the United States. The sculpture took on a second life when it transferred ownership from the UGA Hotel and Conference Center to the Georgia Museum of Art. Previously tucked into a hidden garden, it is now in a more predominant viewing location in front of one of the GMOA entrances. Look at the sculpture and then look through the sculpture as if it is a window. What do you see when you look through the sculpture? If you could frame any landscape, what would you want to communicate? To read more about Horace Farlowe, visit his website, which is linked below. http://www.horacefarloweart.com/index.html
"The Vigil" Deer Sculpture
Towering 8 feet tall stands “The Vigil,” a mysterious metal sculpture in a tucked away corner of Lake Herrick. This mythical deer was created by two UGA students named Sam Weaver and Ryan Woods. Both enrolled in Lamar Dodd’s “Construction in Metal” course in the Fall of 2014, not knowing each other. After seeing that their skills would mutually benefit each other, Weaver being fluent in the works of welding and Woods carrying the passion of art, both paired up for the final project. The animal inspiration came from a pile of scraps outside of the metal studio. Woods spotted an old motorcycle gas tank in the pile and thought it looked like a deer head, so they sculpted around that! 6 years after the students ventured out into the muddy lake making the installment, the silent and steadfast deer still stands.Check out the a full interview with the artists here: https://bit.ly/3pgVAFJLook at the sculpture from different angles. How does it change the perspective of the deer? Are more sections of the sculpture more defined than others in certain angled views?
The Butler Garden at UGA Veterinary Hospital
The Butler Garden, built beside the emergency building of the UGA Vet school, was created for pet owners needing respite and reflection of their relationship with their furry friend. This peaceful place made with brick, granite, and steel plaques that commemorate donors of the Vet School is perfect for sitting and having a moment with your pet, whether physically present or in your heart. The garden began its build in April 2019 and finished this past March by the Koons Environmental Design group.Take a scavenger hunt and count how many bronze cats and dogs you find. Are there more cat or dog statues at this memorial? Sit by the fountain after reading the plaques and think about all the impact of pets on your life. Did they have silly names? If you could have any pet now, what would it be and why?
