Since it was unveiled almost exactly three years ago, the playfully beastly Gryphon sculpture at the Stone Road and Gordon Street pedestrian entrance of the University of Guelph has been mauled, climbed, hugged, and probably kissed tens of thousands of times.
It has quickly become a favourite spot for selfie and couple photographs, and group shots. It's hugely popular.
On Wednesday at around noon an elementary school group was spotted climbing the winged creature and posing for a group shot. This photograph of them being photographed was taken from a car window at a stop light.
The Fastwurms artist team of Kozzi and Dai Skuse, who both teach fine art at U of G, were commissioned to do the enormous bronze piece to mark the university’s 50th anniversary celebration.
U of G’s sports teams are, of course, known as Gryphons. The mythological creature has the head, talons and wings of an eagle and the body of a lion. The Fastwurms rendition seems to be wearing a sly little smile, with big friendly eyes.
The creature, which took about a year to produce at a cost of $300,000, is lit up at night.