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The '''Blaze statue''' is a 16-foot-long, smoke-breathing concrete statue of [[UAB]]'s "[[Blaze]]" mascot located in the concourse at [[Bartow Arena]].
:''This article is about the concrete statue at Bartow Arena. For the bronze statue at the [[Collat School of Business]], see [[Blaze Means Business]].''
[[Image:Blaze statue.jpg|right|thumb|375px|The first Blaze statue on April 29, 2008]]
[[File:Blaze 2014.jpg|right|thumb|275px|The second Blaze statue on May 23, 2015]]
The '''Blaze statue''' is a large sculpture of the [[UAB Blazers]] "[[Blaze]]" mascot that was dedicated on the pedestrian plaza outside the south entrance to [[Bartow Arena]] on [[April 29]], [[2008]]. ({{Locate coords inline | lat = 33.50158 | lon = -86.80884 | zoom = 17 | type = h}})


The statue was proposed as part of a series of "new campus traditions" developed by the [[Commission on UAB Traditions]]. The [[UAB National Alumni Society]] raised the $30,000 needed to commission the green and gold-painted sculpture from Homosassa, Florida artist T. J. Neil. It was dedicated on [[April 29]], [[2008]].
The original 7,000 pound concrete statue was proposed as part of a series of "new campus traditions" developed by the [[Commission on UAB Traditions]]. The [[UAB National Alumni Society]] raised the $30,000 needed to commission the green and gold-painted sculpture from Homosassa, Florida artist T. J. Neil. The statue was 9 feet tall and 16 feet long and sat on an 18-inch tall concrete pedestal measuring 7 feet by 14 feet. It was illuminated by green-colored floodlights and rigged with an internal apparatus to allow it to "breathe smoke" on game days and other special occasions.  


The statue stands 9 feet tall and 16 feet long and sits on a 14 by 7 feet-wide pedestal 18-inches tall. It weighs 7,000 pounds
Neil's original concrete statue suffered structural damage and was removed in the Summer of [[2013]]. The [[UAB Student Alumni Society]] and [[UAB National Alumni Society]] commissioned a replacement, similar in size, which was installed in [[2014]]. In the interim, a [[Blaze topiary]] was installed on the [[UAB Campus Green]].


==References==
==References==
* "Bay area artists sculpt major university's mascot." (April 5, 2008) [Tampa] Bay News 9
* "Bay area artists sculpt major university's mascot." (April 5, 2008) [Tampa] Bay News 9
* Ayers, Jerry (April 29, 2008) "Blaze is smokin' today." ''Birmingham News''
* Ayers, Jerry (April 29, 2008) "Blaze is smokin' today." {{BN}}
* "Blaze at Bartow Arena succumbs to elements, heads for vacation" (July 31, 2013) ''UAB Reporter''
* "'Blaze' on vacation from UAB's Bartow Arena." (August 8, 2013) WBRC 6/myfoxal.com
* [http://www.uab.edu/reporter/work-resources/construction-transit/item/7615-blaze-topiary-to-get-new-life-and-a-winter-home "Blaze topiary to get new life and a winter home"] (May 24, 2017) ''UAB Reporter''


==External links==
==External links==
* [http://www.uab.edu/handbook/traditions/b-statue Blaze Statue] at uab.edu/handbook/traditions
* [http://www.tjneil.com T. J. Neil's World of Concrete Sculpture] website
* [http://www.tjneil.com T. J. Neil's World of Concrete Sculpture] website
* [http://www.flickr.com/photos/uabblazers/sets/72157604855148925/ UAB Blaze Statue] construction photos on Flickr.com


[[Category:UAB public art]]
[[Category:UAB public art]]
[[Category:UAB sports]]
[[Category:UAB Blazers]]
[[Category:2008 works]]
[[Category:2008 works]]
[[Category:2014 works]]

Latest revision as of 09:36, 17 August 2018

This article is about the concrete statue at Bartow Arena. For the bronze statue at the Collat School of Business, see Blaze Means Business.
The first Blaze statue on April 29, 2008
The second Blaze statue on May 23, 2015

The Blaze statue is a large sculpture of the UAB Blazers "Blaze" mascot that was dedicated on the pedestrian plaza outside the south entrance to Bartow Arena on April 29, 2008. (map)

The original 7,000 pound concrete statue was proposed as part of a series of "new campus traditions" developed by the Commission on UAB Traditions. The UAB National Alumni Society raised the $30,000 needed to commission the green and gold-painted sculpture from Homosassa, Florida artist T. J. Neil. The statue was 9 feet tall and 16 feet long and sat on an 18-inch tall concrete pedestal measuring 7 feet by 14 feet. It was illuminated by green-colored floodlights and rigged with an internal apparatus to allow it to "breathe smoke" on game days and other special occasions.

Neil's original concrete statue suffered structural damage and was removed in the Summer of 2013. The UAB Student Alumni Society and UAB National Alumni Society commissioned a replacement, similar in size, which was installed in 2014. In the interim, a Blaze topiary was installed on the UAB Campus Green.

References

  • "Bay area artists sculpt major university's mascot." (April 5, 2008) [Tampa] Bay News 9
  • Ayers, Jerry (April 29, 2008) "Blaze is smokin' today." The Birmingham News
  • "Blaze at Bartow Arena succumbs to elements, heads for vacation" (July 31, 2013) UAB Reporter
  • "'Blaze' on vacation from UAB's Bartow Arena." (August 8, 2013) WBRC 6/myfoxal.com
  • "Blaze topiary to get new life and a winter home" (May 24, 2017) UAB Reporter

External links