A massive amount of outdoor sculpture is one of the things that make Philly such a unique city. Penn's campus is no stranger to giant sculptures filling its most public spaces. Each piece is varied and thought-provoking. Here are a few that all should examine closely before graduating.
The Split Button, at College Green, is perhaps the piece of art most synonymous with Penn. This piece was constructed by Claes Oldenburg and Coosje Van Bruggen and is supposed to represent the layout of Philadelphia and William Penn's vision of a Quaker haven. I'm sure these artists would be proud to know that their work is now a place for "quickie" grade inflation, or expression of Pride.
The Peace Sign by David Linquist was brought to Penn in the late Sixties and, standing next to Van Pelt Library, has since been a nexus for hippie activities. It is most famous as the spot where Kathy Change immolated herself in 1996 to prove a point. The point was lost, but the vocal minority of Penn activists still galvanizes around the cause represented in this statue.
The most infamous of Penn's sculptures is Covenant by Alexander Lieberman, better known as the Dueling Tampons. The only thing to say about this monstrosity is that it is absolutely atrocious. There are even two shades of blood.
Most recently, Penn has brought a symbol of Philadelphia, Love by Robert Indiana, to the center of campus. This sculpture is a welcome change, as no other work on Penn's campus symbolizes the spirit of Philadelphia more than this masterpiece.
Probably the most artistically notable sculpture is Alexander Calder's Jerusalem Stabile. This is the big red sheet-metal piece next to the Fisher Fine Arts Library. It is notable not because of its intrinsic artistic qualities, but because of the fame of the sculptor. Personally, I've never liked Calder, but if you want to see fame and talent combined, check out Henry Moore's abstract sculpture Reclining Figure: Angles in the lobby of Steinberg-Dietrich Hall. There are things of beauty on this campus other than the women's track team.
