 A Dragon for Dorchester is an eight-foot long gentle bronze beast with a heart-shaped tail that affirms his loving nature. Resting close to the ground, FukuRiu-Japanese for "Lucky Dragon"-invites children to come over and give him a pet, and even sit on his back and look over the stacks of books he keeps by his side. As well as encouraging reading, FukuRiu promises wisdom to the children who rub the jewel in his head three times. The dragon lives on the Nonquit Street Green. He is the invention of Nancy Schon, whose interest in creating interactive sculptures that people-especially children-can touch has made her a leader in the new genre of play sculpture. Her best-known work, Make Way for Ducklings, has greeted visitors to the Boston Common since 1987. 

A Dragon for Dorchester

 Nancy Schon describes the how the bronze dragon sculpture was installed in The Nonquit street green, Dorcester. 

 The artist describes her process thus: "When asked to create a sculpture for the Children`s Patio at the Newton Free Library in memory of a 4 year old boy, I thought it appropriate to choose a character from children`s literature. I chose Eeyore because he is not only a lovable personage, but one from whom a very important lesson could be learned. When the day of his birthday came he was supposed to receive a hunny pot full of hunny, and a balloon. By the time his gifts arrived, the hunny pot was empty and the balloon was broken. Instead of being angry, he took the stick from the broken balloon and made a game of sticking the stick in and out of the hunny pot. Perhaps we can all learn a lesson from Eeyore. Piglet was commissioned by a woman who wanted to celebrate the short life of her dear brother. She thought her brother had characteristics just like Piglet. He was timid, yet brave and he was able to conquer his fears. Piglet and Pooh loved each other and were best friends. In the sculpture, Piglet is whispering a secret to Pooh. What that secret is, we will never know - because it is a secret!" 

Newton Free Library

Eeyore, Winnie the Pooh and Hunny Pot

 Nancy Schoun discusses her sculptures at the Newton Free Library and plans for a future installment. 

 Through a reference to one of Aesop's fables, local sculptor Nancy Schon pays tribute to all Boston Marathon participants, who come from a variety of backgrounds and run for many different reasons, including charity fundraising. In contrast to the official marathon memorial installed by the Boston Athletic Association, Schon's oversized characters emphasize the effort, not the outcome, and remind us that "slow and steady wins the race." Courtesy of Boston Art Commission. 

The Tortoise and the Hare

 Nancy Schon describes the story behind her 'Tortoise and Hare' sculpture ay Copley square in Boston. 

The garden has been created to represent the motif of 'river of life'. There are two 36" bronze Monarch butterflies landing on boulders with a birdbath between. Buddleia (butterfly bush) bushes surround the sculpture. 

Garden is across Francis from Brigham and Women's Hospital. 

Francis Street Garden

Butterflies

By any measure one of the most beloved sculptures in town in Nancy Schon's Make Way for Ducklings which sits in the Boston Garden and depicts Mrs Mallard and her eight ducklings. The incredibly popular children's book of 1942 tells the adventure of the Mallard offspring after a long and frightening journey dodging bicycles all the way from the Charles River to the Boston Garden so that they could have a new home with the swan boats and eat peanuts with Mr Mallard. Copies of the sculpture have found their way to Moscow and even the White House. Nancy Schon, originally trained as a modern sculptor, saw this work and its immense popularity as a transitional moment in her career and turned to figurative animal sculpture since then; many of her subsequent works can be found throughout the city's parks. &nbsp;

Make Way for Ducklings 

 Nancy Schon, a public art sculptor, discusses the idea and design behind her public artwork, "Make Way for Ducklings". 

 Nancy Schon discusses the process behind the making of the public art work, "Make Way for Ducklings," located in Boston. 

 The figures in the Gnoman represent past, present and future. They also represent growth as each figure shown is larger than the last. The first figure (past) is shown carrying a lamp, indicating Florence Nightingale and the beginning of nursing as we think of it today. The second figure (present) is shown holding a book, indicating the important educational and intellectual changes in the profession. The third figure (future) is shown carrying a Globe indicating the multiracial nature of nurses. 

Bullfinch lawn, Massachusetts General Hospital

Massachusetts General Hospital

Nursing Sundial

 Nancy Schon explains her sundial sculpture at MGH for Nurses Alumni. 

 Nancy Sch&ouml;n is a sculptor of public art displayed internationally. She is best known for her work in the Boston, Massachusetts area, notably her bronze duck and ducklings in the Boston Public Garden, a recreation of the duck family in Robert McCloskey's children's classic Make Way for Ducklings. It is featured on the Boston Women's Heritage Trail. Sch&ouml;n graduated from Boston's Museum School in 1952. Her series, The Reflective Giraffe, with a giraffe as the central icon, is a tribute to her husband Donald Alan Sch&ouml;n. 

 Barbara Bush gave a duplicate of Schon's sculpture, Make Way For The Ducklings, to Raisa Gorbachev as part of the START Treaty, and the work is displayed in Moscow's Novodevichy Park.  

Nancy Schon

SITES

PLAYLISTS CURATED by Nancy Schon

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