Gertie Gets Her Ducks in a Row

Gertie Gets Her Ducks in a Row

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Artist	Benno Rothschild
Year	2007
Type	painted steel
Location	RiverSculpture!, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Owner	Riverwalk District BID

Gertie Gets Her Ducks in a Row is a public art work by artist Benno Rothschild. It is located on the Milwaukee Riverwalk in downtown Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Description

Gertie Gets Her Ducks in a Row depicts Gertie the Duck and her ducklings rowing in a regatta. Gertie stands at the bow of the boat with her wings raised and facing toward her ducklings. The ducklins populate the boat's hull and each hold an oar with a pink shaft and blue fin. The ducklings are each painted a bright solid color--orange, purple, red, green and yellow. Gertie's body and wings are blue and her back is red. All of the ducks have yellow bills and large eyes. The boat's hull is dark blue with squiggles of paint in varied colors and shapes applied. The sculpture is propped aloft by four steel legs.

Location

The work is installed near the Wisconsin Avenue bridge across the Milwaukee River, site of the historic event from which the sculpture draws inspiration.

Artist

Benno Rothschild created Gertie Gets Her Ducks in a Row as while a student at the Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design. To make the work, Rothschild collaborated with children participating in programming offered by La Causa Crisis Nursery and Respite Center.

Vandalism

The work was repeatedly vandalized following its installation. After the ducklings were stolen from the work in March 2012, Rothschild told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "I am really frustrated with what has happened here.... This is a work that was designed to be uplifting and inspiring for people from different generations."