Outdoor Sculpture Collection

John Safer (American, 1922-2018)
Phoenix, 2003
Stainless steel
45 x 36 x 12 in.
Hofstra University Museum of Art, University Purchase, HU2003.6

Phoenix, based upon the mythical bird that rises again from the ashes stands in the Court of Courage surrounding The Hofstra Labyrinth. The stainless steel flame rests on a black granite base, which is adorned with a plaque that lists the names of the Hofstra University alumni, students and trustees who perished on September 11, 2001. Hofstra University is grateful to internationally renowned artist and sculptor John Safer for his design.

John Safer worked from Washington, D.C., and has a significant number of commissions in and around the nation’s capital. Other sculptures by Safer on the University’s campus include Interplay III in the plaza immediately west of Monroe Hall and south of Berliner Hall and Bird of Peace, adjacent to the entranceway of Hagedorn Hall. The vertical, intertwined stainless steel bars of Interplay III evoke the double helix model for DNA developed by Nobel Laureates Dr. James Watson and Dr. Francis Crick.