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More Smithsonian Searches     Who else has...     Russin, Robert I.,     Animal -- Beaver     Dress -- Accessory     Sculpture

The Beaver, (sculpture). Artist:  Russin, Robert I., 1914- , sculptor. Title:  The Beaver, (sculpture). Other Titles:  Beaver Shrine, (sculpture). Benny the Beaver, College Mascot, (sculpture). Dates:  Late 1957. Dedicated May 4, 1958. Relocated summer 1983. Removed 1998. Digital Reference:  Medium:  Sculpture: soft brown limestone; Base: concrete on granite. Dimensions:  Sculpture: approx. 4 ft. 10 in. x 2 ft. x 3 ft.; Base: approx. H. 5 ft. Diam. 20 ft. (2,740 lbs.). Inscription:  (On sculpture front:) 1956 unsigned Description:  Sculpture of a beaver standing on its hind legs holding a shield in front of himself with his front paws. The beaver stands on a natural boulder. The boulder is placed in the middle of a octagonal-shaped seating area which once served as the location of the college flag pole. Subject:  Animal -- Beaver Dress -- Accessory -- Shield Object Type:  Sculpture Owner:  Destroyed. Provenance:  Formerly administered by City University of New York, City College of New York, Physical Plant Services, Convent Avenue at 138th Street, New York, New York 10031 Formerly located City University of New York, City College of New York, Convent Avenue at 138th Street, Quadrangle between Amsterdam & Convent Avenues, 138th & 140th streets, New York, New York 10031 Formerly located City College, Behind Findley Student Center on the South Campus, New York, New York 10031 until summer 1983. Remarks:  In 1933, City College President Robinson suggested the beaver, a symbol of intelligence and industry, as the college mascot. Solomon E. Jaffe, a member of the class of 1956, organized a campaign to raise funds for the mascot sculpture. Robert Russin, class of 1933, was selected as the sculptor. The Beaver was struck from a two ton block of Winnemucca (Nevada) limestone. In 1958, Russin came to New York to take part in the installation of the sculpture in its original site, the rear of Findley Student Center. With the consolidation of the college to the North Campus, the sculpture was moved in the summer of 1983 to the Quadrangle between Amsterdam & Convent Avenues, replacing the college flagpole. In 1998, additional weather damage caused the sculpture to disassemble into numerous pieces, forcing its removal from view. For additional articles see New York Times, Nov. 17, 1957 and City College Alumnus (Winter 1983-1984), pg. 3. References:  Save Outdoor Sculpture, New York, New York survey, 1993. City College of New York, 2005. Illustration:  Image on file. City College Alumnus (Winter 1983-1984), pg. 3. Note:  The information provided about this artwork was compiled as part of the Smithsonian American Art Museum's Inventories of American Painting and Sculpture database, designed to provide descriptive and location information on artworks by American artists in public and private collections worldwide. Repository:  Inventories of American Painting and Sculpture, Smithsonian American Art Museum, P.O. Box 37012, MRC 970, Washington, D.C. 20013-7012 Control Number:  IAS NY000108   Copy/Holding information Smithsonian AmericanArt Museum Control Number   Inventory of American Sculpture NY000108 Add Copy to MyList Format: HTMLPlain textDelimited Subject:   Email to:

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