Little Joe
Janice Corkin Rudolf
Cold Cast Bronze
Limited Edition
4" x 4" x 5"

This piece is what sculptors call a "maquette" - a small-scale sculpture created as a model for what may someday become a larger work. Artist Janice Corkin Rudolf first sculpted the piece in clay before casting it in cold bronze.
Janice has long been fascinated by gorillas. As a child, she frequently rode her bike with her father and brother to Franklin Park Zoo, where she became captivated by the gorillas' expressions of curiosity and interest. Throughout her youth, visiting the gorillas remained one of her favorite experiences.

She was later commissioned to create a sculpture of a female gorilla and her baby - Kiki and Kimani, now located outside the entrance to the Tropical Forest - to help visitors better understand how loving and family-oriented gorillas are. To prepare for the work, Janice spent countless hours observing, sketching, and photographing the gorillas in their habitat. During this time, she became especially drawn to Little Joe because of his well-known playful escapades.

Over time, Janice came to feel a special connection with Little Joe. She recalls that he would make a movement with his lips that zoo staff explained was his way of "sending a kiss," an experience that deeply delighted her. From then on, she hoped to someday create a sculpture honoring him. Years later, she learned that Little Joe had left Franklin Park Zoo to begin a family of his own - news that brought her great joy.

Janice Corkin Rudolf is an award-winning sculptor and recipient of the "Sculptor of the Year" award. She holds degrees from Antioch University (M.Ed., Education Certificate), Boston University College of Fine Arts (B.F.A., Sculpture), and Colorado Women's College (B.A., Art). She is currently pursuing a PhD in Education with a focus on art.

Throughout her career, Janice has completed numerous public and community commissions and has served in a wide range of artistic and educational roles. She is the founder and director of Thoreau Street Art Studios (formerly Sudbury Art Studios), has taught sculpture, painting, and drawing through Lincoln Sudbury Adult Education, and is a board-certified art teacher through the Massachusetts Department of Education. Her work also includes portrait, figurative, and animal commissions, an opera character series, leadership roles with the Cambridge Art Association, and work as a freelance journalist and photographer.

For those interested, Janice offers the opportunity to commission this "Little Joe" sculpture in solid bronze, rather than cold-cast bronze, which is a lighter and less dense casting material. More information can be found on her website: https://www.janicecorkinrudolf.com/.

Please note: This item is not eligible for shipping. If you are unable to pick up at Zootopia, please contact [email protected] to make alternate arrangements.