Pierpont
In the 1970s, leash laws were not as well enforced as they are today. Neighborhood dogs freely roamed the campus, enjoying the attention and company of students. One dog, a golden retriever nicknamed “Pierpont,” was a particular campus favorite. He purportedly belonged to a doctor who lived close by.A group of students approached Demetrios Mavroudis, associate professor of art, and asked him to create a sculpture of the dog. He agreed and the sculpture was completed during a three-month period in 1976. Later it was purchased by the Student Union for display. Originally placed in the Fine Arts Building, it was moved to Tyler Haynes Commons in the early 1980s.
Mavoudis had two assistants working with him on the project. When interviewed for an article about the piece, Mavoudis stated that the process was drawn out because Pierpont could not be made to sit still for very long. The sculptor developed a special affection for the dog while he worked on him and praised his elegance and strength.
Pierpont’s statute sits today in the Westhampton hanging lounge.