Wooster reveals new sculpture of bagpiper on campus
As the new semester began, The College of Wooster revealed a new piece of art on campus, an eight-foot-tall bronze sculpture titled The Piper and located by the Burden Family Patio in view of the Lowry Center and the Scot Center. Gifted to the College by alumnus R. Wayne Randolph ’69 and his wife, Wendy W. Randolph, the sculpture portrays a woman playing bagpipes clad in traditional tartan regalia. The sculpture will greet students and fans as they make their way to Papp Stadium and embodies the spirit and tradition of the Wooster community.
“We are thrilled The Piper has arrived on our campus after years of planning and work to create this beautiful piece of art that celebrates one of our most distinctive traditions,” said Carolyn Ciriegio ’08, vice president of advancement. “This thoughtful gift from Wayne and Wendy is a statement of their commitment to the College they’ve known for more than 60 years and their confidence in the future of the Wooster community.”
A biology major at Wooster, Randolph became a veterinarian, practicing for 50 years. The owner of Countryside Veterinary Hospital in Flemington, New Jersey, Randolph and his wife worked there for 43 years until their retirement in May 2024. In November 2021, while hosting two members of Wooster’s Advancement team at his home, Randolph asked if the College would be interested in a bronze life-size bagpiper on campus, as he knew a talented sculptor who could create such a piece. After four years of careful planning, designing, and casting, it was successfully installed on Aug. 8, and an official dedication ceremony will take place during Homecoming Weekend, held Oct. 18-19.
“We have to give back because Wooster gave a lot to us,” said Randolph. “I applied to a number of small, high quality liberal arts schools, and I picked Wooster. It’s really one of my best decisions ever.” The sculpture was crafted by renowned sculptor James Sardonis, whose art is inspired by the natural forms of human, plant, and animal life. After Sardonis created the original clay model, Glenn Campbell, foundryman and owner of Campbell Plaster and Iron in West Rutland, Virginia, enlarged the piece and casted it in bronze. “We could never have done it without these incredibly talented artisans,” Randolph said.
The Piper was installed on Aug. 8, and an official dedication ceremony will take place at Homecoming Weekend in October.
Posted in Homepage Featured, News on September 4, 2024.
