U. makes 'LOVE' on College Green

What the campus needs now is a little love. Or at least that's what University officials, who recently welcomed Robert Indiana's "LOVE" sculpture to the University's family of public artwork, seem to be saying. The polychrome red, blue and green structure, one of Philadelphia's trademark sculptures that also stands in Love Park near City Hall, was donated by Graduate School of Fine Arts Overseer Jeffrey Loria and his wife, Sivia. "LOVE" first appeared at 36th Street and Locust Walk, across from the Psi Upsilon fraternity house, in June. It stands on the spot formerly occupied by Tony Smith's "We Lost," which has been removed from the spot to undergo repairs to damage caused by inclement weather. "We Lost" has been at Penn since 1967, and for decades students have sat upon the large black sculpture to eat their lunches or take a rest in the summer heat. Executive Vice President John Fry said that although "LOVE" is now a permanent piece of campus art, it may only remain at its new spot temporarily until a campus-wide review of Penn's public artwork is completed. University officials announced in April the creation of a campus development plan. A steering committee and five individual working committees composed of faculty and staff members were appointed to examine areas of concern around Penn's physical campus. "All artwork and sculptures are currently being evaluated on where [they] should go," Facilities Services Financial Director Mina Fader said. Fry said that he would not be surprised if "LOVE" found itself a permanent home on the Green. Students and faculty seem confused as to why "LOVE" was chosen as a replacement. "I think its kind of cool and also kind of corny," College senior Bikila Ochoa said in June. "I kind of wonder why they put it right on College Green, what the message is supposed to be to us -- besides the obvious." Others felt that the statue did not belong at Penn. "Its kind of tacky," College junior Jon Sell said. "I think they should set it on fire and put it on top of the high rises." Daily Pennsylvanian staff writer Karlene Hanko contributed to this article.

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