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A T T H E M U S E U M :
Who is Lassie?
Lassie is a sculpture of the main character of the book, Lassie
Come-Home. Lassie can be found in the
Pfundt Sculpture Garden.
In 1995, the Museum commissioned a bronze life-size sculpture of Lassie.
Through a selection process, noted animal sculptor Eric Berg was chosen by
the Museum's collections committee to create Lassie. The finished work of
art was first installed in the Michener Art Museum's Sculpture Garden on
April 13, 1997.
About Eric Berg
Eric Berg, renowned animal sculptor, initially studied business, earning a
bachelor's degree from the Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania, in
1968. Upon graduation, he decided to engage his love of animals through the
study of art and entered the MFA program at the University of Pennsylvania,
receiving his degree in 1974.
Other commissions created by Eric Berg include a sea turtle installed at the
New Jersey State Aquarium in Camden and Massa the Gorilla at the
Philadelphia Zoo. "Philbert," the grandest of all piggy banks, is at the
Reading Terminal Market in Philadelphia.
Berg grew up in Pottstown, Pennsylvania, attended The Hill School, then
moved with his family to Allentown. Now he lives in Philadelphia, but
spends several months a year at his farm in Chautauqua County, New York.
He is a member of the American Association of Zoological Parks and Aquariums
and an officer on the executive board of the society of Animal Artists.
Berg discovered his affinity for animal sculptures as a child and as a
college student gave away hand-hewn stone animal carvings as gifts. His
sculptures are permanently installed at Everglades National Park, Royal Palm,
Florida; the Please Touch Museum and the Museum of Natural History in
Philadelphia; and Museums as far away as Colorado, Virginia, Texas and
New Mexico.
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