Aluminum cows and sheep graze on the grass at the small park in the Eastwick neighborhood. On their sides are benches for visitors to sit on. To make certain the herd does not wander off, three aluminum border collies keep watch, and a mustachioed man in a Phillies cap also sits nearby to enjoy the scene.

This humorous installation, the work of Rosalie Sherman, was commissioned by the Redevelopment Authority through an area-wide competition. Sherman reasoned that a large, portentous sculpture for the site would be inappropriate. Instead, she wanted to create a lighthearted work that could be enjoyed by neighborhood adults and children alike. The first installations, in 1983, were the three cows and five sheep. In 1985, invited to expand the sculpture, Sherman added the border collies and the Phillies fan. She protected all projecting points, such as ears and tails, with a rubberized coating so that children would not be injured. The work can be seen not only by people who venture into the park, but also by pedestrians and motorists who pass by on the street.

Adapted from Public Art in Philadelphia by Penny Balkin Bach (Temple University Press, Philadelphia, 1992).