Artists Registry

After 9/11, I was moved by the stories of the rescue dogs, and the work that they did at ground zero. Picture after picture sent over the web showed dogs and their handlers scrambling tirelessly amidst the rubble looking for survivors. Later, after the U.S. had gone to war with Iraq, I was struck again by an NPR story on the number of animals we employ in our wars. This was the original inspiration for this monument to Search and Rescue dogs. It is intended to be a tribute; the dog having an expression of a “find” on his face. The title “Semper Fi” seemed fitting in light of the overtones of war. I know of no soul more faithful than that of a dog.
The structure that the Shepherd is balanced on began as the girders of a collapsed entryway. As I was working one evening, I noticed the cast shadows from the sculpture across the wall. It was three crosses. The “coincidence” of this and the implied symbolism of the crosses became the emotional center of this piece. The girders in the sculpture represent this ancient practice of crucifixion (far preceding Christianity) which reflects the darker side of mankind, in contrast to the faithful and pure nature of the animals we employ.
Whether our need for their assistance is brought upon us by ourselves, or acts of nature, our rescue dogs are truly “Semper Fi”.