This sculpture of a ram is the work of John Kearney, an artist known for creating animals out of chrome car bumpers. Various examples of his work are on display throughout Chicago.
Ram has a unique history. It belongs to the McCormick Theological Seminary in the Hyde Park neighborhood of Chicago. The Seminary has named the ram Herald and considers him something of a mascot. Ram was originally installed in the Seminary's north side campus in 1970. When the Seminary moved to Hyde Park, Herald was initially left behind. But not for long:
"One late night in the very first week of their residence in Hyde Park, a number of McCormick students were waxing theological at Jimmy’s Woodlawn Tap Room (not for the last time) and reminiscing about the old campus. The hour grew very late, the students became more nostalgic, and their inhibitions decreased. Amidst all of the “elbow bending,” someone came up with the idea to liberate Herald the Ram (one of the left-behind statues) from the North Side campus. It would stand in front of the repurposed frat house as the students’ contribution to the move and bring a little bit of home to Hyde Park. Plus, the students would have quite the story to tell for the rest of their lives.
"And so, a plan was hatched. Volunteers stepped forward. A U-Haul van was rented and the intrepid liberators drove to the North Side. Under the cover of dark, they hoisted Herald into the truck (with no small amount of difficulty) and delivered him to the front lawn of the new McCormick building at the corner of 56th and Woodlawn. The next morning, he greeted a very surprised administration and faculty, who demanded that those responsible step forward and admit their guilt. Not one liberator ever did confess her/his participation." (
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