‘I’m really happy:’ College Avenue Campus frog gets restored

It might not have turned into a prince, but the iconic College Avenue Campus frog sculpture has definitely undergone a transformation.

On Wednesday, the sculpture’s refurbishment had been completed. Over the course of more than 50 years, the sculpture has undergone several renovations, but the latest one began in 2018.

The sculpture was created by the late artist Joe Fafard and 10 of his female sculpting students in 1971.

“It’s a really beautiful important day, for us as a family and us as a community as well,” said Fafard’s partner, Alyse Hamon.

Hamon was in attendance at an event at the University of Regina’s College Avenue campus dedicated to celebrating the renewal.

It was supposed to be held outside, but took place indoors due to rainy weather.

Curator and preparator Alex King said the giant ceramic amphibian was created in the “spirit of rebellion” as part of the 1960s-70s counterculture.

The sculpture was a form of paying homage to artist David Gilhooly. He was teaching at the U of R, but his contract was not renewed.

“Everyone was very sad that he was going and so they decided sort of in protest and in homage to his work, because he loved frogs, to make this frog sculpture,” King said.

She said the students rolled out the statue from the old campus art studio.

“The story goes that they rolled it out at night and so by the time that it was discovered in the morning, the administration couldn’t really do anything about it,” King said.

“I think it was kind of a controversial find, but it sort of eventually became this very beloved sculpture in Regina.”

The frog was subject to an attempted “kidnapping” in 1971 when a group of engineering students from the University of Saskatchewan were in town for a football game.

King said the students were going to hold it for ransom as a prank, but they accidentally broke it when trying to take it away.

The frog has a special place in the heart of Wendee Kubik. She was one of the 10 students who helped make it in 1971.

“(Working with Fafard) was great. He was very collaborative. There was no hierarchy; he included us all,” Kubik said.

She fondly reminisced on what it was like to plan and build the frog and was very appreciative of its restoration.

“I’m really happy,” Kubik said. “My kids have climbed on it, my grandkids have climbed on it. Lots of people have told me (about the frog).”

Kubik said she never thought it would become the local icon it ended up as.

The exterior of the frog had worn down throughout the years. The project carried on after Fafard’s passing in 2019. It received support from Gordon and Leslie Diamond.

The team of artists that worked on it was led by Phillip Tremblay, with support from Frans Lotz and Jay Kimball. The concrete was provided by Eco Concrete Levelling Ltd.