University of Illinois Alma Mater Sculpture

The icon of the University, this is the obvious place to take a picture when you graduate.

The Alma Mater is getting a bath and a facelift! It’s about time!
I was driving along memory lane this morning when I hit the brakes in astonishment because there was a crowd, some news trucks, and some huge trailer and crane attached to the Alma Mater. The first thought that went through my head was disbelief that they could be removing such an iconic figure. My second thought was… well, I’ve always had a secret wish to «sit» on the Alma Mater’s throne (this wish created one night at Legends… amidst a drunken debauchery episode)…and I won’t get to do that? WHAT? So naturally it’s with great relief to tell you that it’s just undergoing restoration.
Conceived in 1922, the 13-​foot Alma Mater was cast in 1929 by the American Art Bronze Foundry and was paid for by donations by the Alumni Fund and the classes of 1923 – 1929. The statue was designed by sculptor Lorado Taft, a university graduate. The statue was originally located behind the Foellinger Auditorium. On August 22, 1962, the Alumni Association moved the sculpture to its present location in front of Altgeld Hall. The bronze sculpture consists of a central mother figure wearing academic robes, standing from her throne, and is flanked by two other figures representing «Learning» (to her left) and «Labor» (to her right), after the University’s motto «Learning and Labor.» It sits on a podium of granite. It originally was created from 30 sections soldered together. Taft had originally envisioned the sculpture to be interactive, by allowing students to climb and play over it. I’m pretty sure that’s not allowed anymore, but there is definitely a long line during graduation to pose with the sculpture. However, over the years, the bronze has weathered to a green patina and the outside has corroded quite a bit. Thus, the restoration. Andrzej Dajnowski from Forest Park in suburban Chicago will be doing most of the restoration… but the Alma Mater should be back by May 2013.
And I for one cannot wait. It’s what defines U of I.