Statue moves from the UC

This semester, returning students may notice something missing from the University Center, assuming that they can find a way past the sheetrock quartering off the UC Arbor.

UH had the untitled statue removed from the UC Arbor and placed in storage in the Energy Research Park to allow for the next step in the New UC project.

The statue, which depicted a cougar attacking a longhorn and an owl, had to be cut into three pieces, carted through the UC Underground and hoisted through a skylight by a crane.

“The biggest problem here is just access,” said Justin Griswold, owner of CrateWorks Inc., the company that removed and transported the statue.

“Luckily, it’s lightweight. That’s pretty light gage metal; it makes it easier to work with.”

Michael Guidry, curator of the University Art Collection, said the ultimate fate of the statue lies in the hands of the System-wide Art Acquisition Committee, but the statue won’t be going anywhere before several weeks of conservation work.

“We need to find a nice, new home for it,” Guidry said. “It was one of the first pieces in the collection.”

Texas artist Bob Fowler built the statue for the University in 1966. He died in November 2010.

“Bob used to come out once a year and clean it,” Griswold said. “That’s what it really needs, yearly maintenance.”

Louis Albizu, a graduate art student who works for Griswold, said he would also like to see the statue back on display.

“I hope they put it in a spot where everyone can enjoy it,” he said. “It’s a pretty cool statue. If you look at it, it’s pretty intricate.”

One possible location for future display could be the Metro light rail stop to be built on Scott Street, Guidry said, but no definitive decisions have been made.

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