Dr. Robert Canady used a stained glass theme for the tiger statue he designed as part of the U of M Alumni Association’s centennial celebration campaign. One hundred tiger statues were uniquely designed to designate the 100 years the U of M has been open. They will be displayed on campus through the end of the year before being placed in various locations around the city.

“Each tiger represents one of the 100 years (1912-2012) the University has been open,” says Tammy Hedges, executive director of the Alumni Association. “A historical fact about the U of M for that year appears on a plaque that accompanies each statue.”

The Association offered 100 of the uniquely designed, life-size tiger statues to alumni, businesses and fans for sponsorship. Each tiger statue, based on the measurements of mascot TOM II, is made of fiberglass and stands about 6 feet high, 3 feet wide and weighs 600 pounds. The tiger design was created by U of M senior art education major Brooke Ebersole. After being displayed on campus, the statues will appear at locations throughout the greater Memphis area beginning in early 2012.

Alumni Association coordinator Alexa Begonia says sponsors chose a year based on when they were married, had children or graduated from the U of M, among other things.

While the pose for each tiger statue is the same, some of the Mid-South’s finest artists showed off their talents to make each one distinctive. They include Jamie McMahan, NJ Woods, Pam Cobb and Dr. Robert Canady.

Canady, a noted stained glass artist, chose to pay tribute to the U of M’s Office of the President through his tiger statue. He used hundreds of stained glass-type designs on the tiger statue to contrast with its fierce pose in demonstrating how a University president has to be determined in making decisions yet diplomatic.

“It’s very symbolic of the leadership and the position of the president,” says Canady, who is married to U of M President Shirley Raines. “They have to be strong and forceful at times, but also keep an open mind.”

Each stone on the base of the tiger statue has the name of a member of the President’s Council or a major event that has occurred during Dr. Raines’ administration, such as the creation of Tiger Lane or the new University Center.

Another important element that played into the design scheme was that Canady wanted to “keep it obvious that it is a tiger.”

Canady is known for his stained glass windows, having donated several to area churches, including Wrights Chapel in Arlington, Freedom’s Chapel in Parkway Village and the Wesley Foundation Chapel, which is located a block from the U of M.

Other artists used images of Memphis for their designs in an effort to showcase the heritage of the U of M and the area.

 “We want people to see what an asset the University is and show what the U of M means to the community,” says Mark Long, past president of the Alumni Association and an alumnus who helped develop the idea for “Tigers Around Town.”

— by Laura Fenton