Celebrating Our Dolphin in Space
A pod of eight 7-foot-tall ceramic Dolphins is making quite a splash across campus. The ’Phins are not just a curiosity. They are part of an art installation designed to celebrate the first Dolphin in space, Jeanette Epps ’92, Ph.D., who is now aboard the International Space Station. A group of talented art students put their own spin on each of the Dolphins. They used paint and, in some cases, collage to make each one unique.
Creating the Dolphins
Students in Visiting Professor Kim Waale’s art class took on a bold creative challenge—designing and painting the nearly eight-foot-tall dolphin statues for display around campus.
Students worked with the Keenan Center to bring their ideas to life, using 3D printers to create mini models of the dolphins. With an iPhone-based 3D scanner, they captured and edited digital versions, giving them a chance to tweak their designs before moving on to the full-sized statues.
Now featured in spots like the Campus Center and Grewen Hall, the statues honor Epps’ accomplishments while also telling a bigger story—one of creativity, collaboration, and the power of partnership.
