A bronze statue of University of Idaho mascot Joe Vandal will make its public debut at 2:30 p.m. Saturday, and will become a permanent fixture between the ICCU Arena and the P1FCU Kibbie Dome on the west side of the Moscow campus.
Joe Vandal poses with Gareth Curtiss during the sculptor’s visit to Moscow in February.
The school commissioned the larger-than-life statue to recognize the Associated Students of University of Idaho for their decades-long support for the P1FCU Kibbie Dome and other campus resources and facilities. In 1974, the group voted to allocate student fees to add a roof to the dome and make other improvements to what’s now a nationally recognized landmark on the Moscow campus.
The unveiling event coincides with the official Vandal Tailgate prior to the football game against UC Davis, which starts at 4 p.m. A short program will include remarks from University of Idaho President Scott Green, ASUI President Seyi Arogundade and artist and sculptor Gareth Curtiss. Curtiss collaborated with U of I students, alumni, employees and community members to create and refine the design of the statue, which is one-and-a-half times larger than the real-life mascot.
“While leaning into the future, Vandals honor decades of student support,” President Green said. “We look forward to unveiling this symbol of the Vandal spirit as a timeless monument to the generous contributions of our Vandal student body, past and present.”
Cast in bronze, the Joe Vandal statue weighs about 2,000 pounds and stands more than 9 feet tall on a 5-foot-wide base. Once installed, the statue will be covered and fenced off until Saturday’s unveiling.
