The Lobo Statues
One of the smaller Spirit of the Lobo statues posed near the Duck Pond
Among the numerous public art installations on campus, you’ll encounter many iterations of the University’s mascot, the Lobo. First suggested in 1920, the Lobo is a recognizable and beloved school symbol, representing teamwork and fearlessness.1 Let’s take a tour of the statues around campus.
Lobo In Tight Grove
Sculpture Dedication. December 8, 1997.
Where might you encounter a real Lobo? While it is unlikely you’ll ever stumble across a Mexican grey wolf in the wild, you can find them in the mountain ranges of New Mexico. But, with a bit of wonder, you can imagine encountering one in its natural habitat with a visit to the Lobo in Tight Grove. Situated among century-old ponderosa pines, you’ll find the UNM Lobo surveilling the corner of University and Central. The statue, sculpted by Michelle Middleton and cast by Richard Wortman, was a gift from the Alumni Association in 1997 to commemorate its 100th anniversary. 2
The Lobo finds an apt home in the man-made forest on the edge of campus. Tight Grove, a cluster of ponderosa pine trees and Rio Grande cottonwoods transplanted from the Sandia Mountains, was created by and named for then-University President William George Tight and the students who transplanted the trees in 1905.3 Tight Grove and the Lobo statue serve as a peaceful retreat on campus and a reminder of the state’s natural beauty.
John Tatschl’s Lobo
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The Lobo in his current location. Photo by Carol Highsmith
The oldest of the lobo statues, John Tatschl’s Lobo, has been a staple of campus since its unveiling in 1947. Tatschl, an Austrian artist and professor, began his career at the university the year prior and quickly became known for his contributions to art across campus. The Lobo statue was the first such work, followed by The History of Writing in the Zimmerman Library stairwell, the colorful glass wall of the College of Education Building (formerly Travelstead Hall), and the altar screens inside the Alumni Memorial Chapel. Outside of artwork at the University, Tatschl constructed many other bronze statues across the country
Unlike the lobo statue in Tight Grove, Tatschl’s Lobo does not conform to a realistic style. Rather, the Lobo reflects “the mechanized streamlined artistic styles utilized by some post-war Modernist artists.”4 Aside from the abstraction, the Lobo measures larger than the Mexican grey wolf at approximately 4 feet high and 7 1/2 feet long. Tatschl, in a 1961 interview for the New Mexico Lobo, stated he believed the statue to be the only bronze statue between El Paso and Denver. Today, Tatschl’s lobo is one of many bronze statues on campus alone.
Construction of the Lobo
Tatschl supervising the installation of his statue.
Approached by either the student government or the fraternities and sororities on campus, Tatschl was commissioned by a university group to create a plan for the statue in the spring of 1947. The student group wanted to erect a memorial statue to honor the students and alumni who lost their lives during World War II.5 By homecoming of the same year, he completed the statue. The bronze lobo was constructed in half a year for just $2800. When the statue was relocated in 1961, the cost of the new pedestal and hoists to move the statue was roughly $600.
Various delays pushed back the statue’s dedication, including difficulty fundraising. Following the Lobo War Memorial dance sponsored by the Interfraternity Council on November 7, funds were finally secured. The statue was presented to the University President J.P. Wernette during the half-time activities of the New Mexico-West Texas football game on November 29, 1947.
Locations
Tatschl’s Lobo has made many homes across campus throughout its nearly 80 years. Originally placed outside Zimmerman Stadium, it was moved following the stadium’s relocation and demolition in the 1960s. From its second home mounted atop a 20-foot-high stone pedestal, near the Stanford and Central entrance, the Lobo welcomed students and visitors from the median. Currently, it resides between Johnson Center and Johnson Field on the east side of the building.
Hodgin Hall Lobo
A popular prop for graduation photos, the Lobo Head fittingly lives outside the Alumni Building.
Can’t get enough of Professor Tatschl’s Lobo? You’ll find an oversized replica of the head of Tatschl’s original Lobo outside Hodgin Hall. The replica was completed in June 1985 by the Shidoni Foundry in Tesque, New Mexico. The bronze statue is a donation to the University and Hodgin Hall by Eleanor and Dr. Randy Seligman.6
Spirit of the Lobo
Lurking among the trees and bushes of central campus, you’ll encounter smaller bronze lobo statues in various poses. The statues were donations to the University during the 2014 Spirit of the Lobo campaign. The campaign, begun by then-University President Robert Frank, set out to commemorate what it means to be a Lobo through the installation of permanent bronze statues throughout the community. Purchased through the UNM Foundation, the statues were available for $5,000, with the opportunity to install them either on campus or elsewhere. Each statue on campus has a plaque thanking the donors. Similar to the Lobo in Tight Grove, the 36” lobo statues are realistic representations of the school mascot. 7
3D Lobo Statue Scan
A Conversation Between Two Lobo (Statues)
Bibliography
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Highsmith, Carol M, photographer. One of several sculptures of a lobo, or timber wolf, on the campus of the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque, the largest city in New Mexico. United States New Mexico Bernalillo County Albuquerque, 2020. -12-27. Photograph. https://www.loc.gov/item/2020742577/.
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University of New Mexico. Dept. of Facility Planning Records, 1889-, collection UNMA 028, Box 60. Center for Southwest Research, University Libraries, University of New Mexico.
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University of New Mexico. Dept. of Facility Planning Records, 1889-, collection UNMA 028, Box 53. Center for Southwest Research, University Libraries, University of New Mexico.
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University of New Mexico. Dept. of Facility Planning Records, 1889-, collection UNMA 028, Box 9. Center for Southwest Research, University Libraries, University of New Mexico.
