I Am the Door of the Sheep (Ik ben de deur der schapen)

About this artwork.

Above the main entrance of the Goede Herderkerk there is a wall sculpture made of brick. This sculpture depicts a shepherd with staff and sheep near a chapel. It also has a text that reads: “I am the door of the sheep. My sheep hear my voice.” 
 
The maker of the wall sculpture, Egbert Reitsma, is also the architect of the church building. In 1920 Reitsma set up shop as an architect in the residential studio he designed himself on Noorderstationsstraat in Groningen. He developed into a representative of the Groningen expressionist architectural style, which is closely related to the Amsterdam School.
 
The statue and the church building are made of the same type and colour of brick. The sculpture is given depth and shape by the different relief levels that Egbert Reitsma has used.  
 
A Reitsma brick sculpture can also be found on the facade of Grote Markt 24.

Facts & Figures.

• Design
  Egbert Reitsma

• District
  Korrewegwijk & De Hoogte

• Year of creation
  1955

• Art type
  Relief, Art in / on a building

• Material
  Brick

• Dimensions
  h 6,70 x b 3,60 m