Feature Details

Name: Shelter

Description: Shelter at the San Jose Animal Care Center consists of three parts: a frieze, sentinel statues, and a “Gallery of Myths.” The artist considered this project as a homage to our relationship with our beloved pets. The 104 foot long aluminum frieze covers a long arc over the entrance to the center. The frieze is decorated with cutouts of cats and dogs emphasizing their curious and jovial natures. At night the frieze it lit from behind, highlighting the cutouts. Two sentinel statues of a dog and a cat stand on either side of the entrance; heraldic figures guarding the center. These free standing engravings of granite and steel are placed upon models of the animal care center accentuating the purpose of the center as an animal care facility. The “Gallery of Myths” is a series of eight granite tablets along the portico of the building, which describe stories, myths, or aphorisms about cats and dogs connecting humanity with the mythos of pets.