KU Giving Magazine
Perched on Ascher Plaza
Sarah Meiers
![KU_Spring_034-sized](https://kuendowment.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/KU_Spring_034-sized-scaled.jpeg)
The whole flock comes together
From the fires of Ad Astra Foundry, six Jayhawks emerged, forged in bronze. Sculpted by the hands of artist Robin Richerson, their creation was made possible with support from alumnus James Ascher Sr. and his wife, Mary Ellen. All versions of the Jayhawk, for the first time ever, were created in large-scale 3D.
The Aschers, who gave in 2013 to rescue the 1,000-piece Jayhawk collection and provide it with a permanent home in the Kansas Union, stepped up again to support the new Ascher Plaza.
KU Memorial Union Director David Mucci said the idea came about when Jayhawk Boulevard reconstruction caused the necessary renovation of the Union plaza area. Mucci began to reach out to people and found the Aschers more than willing to help.
“We thank James Ascher Sr. and his family for once again coming to the rescue of Jayhawks,” Mucci said.
Even with the Aschers’ support, there wasn’t quite enough to complete the project. The Pi Deuteron Chapter of Phi Gamma Delta, Class of 1980, provided the remaining amount needed, and the plaza became a reality. The bronze Jayhawks were unveiled to the public on March 7, 2019.
“Few people realized they were walking on images of historical Jayhawks when they entered the main entrance of the Union,” James Ascher said. “When I heard we could cast them in bronze and place them outside for all to see, I thought we must do this.
“When I heard we could cast them in bronze and place them outside for all to see, I thought we must do this.”
James Ascher Sr.
![Mr. Ascher's Jayhawks](https://kuendowment.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Mr-Ascher-Jayhawks_289-sized.jpeg)
Photo by Mike Yoder
![Artist Robin Richerson explains the ancient “Lost-Wax” Casting Method the design team employed to create the monuments. Due to the size of the monuments, each Jayhawk was cast in multiple pieces and then welded together. Here, the head and beak of the 1929 Jayhawk has been removed from its ceramic shell.
Photo by Mike Yoder](https://kuendowment.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Mr-Ascher-Jayhawks_045-edited-scaled.jpeg)
Photo by Mike Yoder
![James Ascher Sr. stands next to the 1923 Jayhawk bronze monument prior to the finishing process, which involves the application of chemicals in multiple steps to create the desired patina.
Photo by Mike Yoder](https://kuendowment.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Mr-Ascher-Jayhawks_085-edited-scaled.jpeg)
Photo by Mike Yoder
![Cutting-edge 3D technology was employed to produce the monuments. In the initial steps of casting, a wax or a plastic 3D-printed monument section in this case, is dipped into a ceramic slurry to build up a shell. The sculpture is dipped several times to achieve the shell and then placed inside of a kiln at high temperature to burn out the plastic. Bronze is then poured into the void left within the ceramic shell, which is removed when the sculpture cools.
Photo by Mike Yoder](https://kuendowment.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Mr-Ascher-Jayhawks_111-edited-scaled.jpeg)
Photo by Mike Yoder
![Featured in this photo is the beak of the current Jayhawk. The final cast bronze monument weighs 605 pounds and is the centerpiece of Ascher Plaza.
Photo by Mike Yoder](https://kuendowment.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Mr-Ascher-Jayhawks_148-edited-scaled.jpeg)
Photo by Mike Yoder
![Artist Robin Richerson, Andrew Ascher, James Ascher Jr., James Ascher Sr., Christopher Ascher, Mary Ascher and Matt Palmer of ICON Artworks get a preview of the bronze Jayhawks in miniature.
Photo by Mike Yoder](https://kuendowment.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Mr-Ascher-Jayhawks_300-edited-scaled.jpeg)
Photo by Mike Yoder
Current Issue
Issue 38
Spring 2024
In this Spring 2024 issue, we meet faculty and student researchers who are uncovering clues about how organisms change, learn about exciting brain health developments at the KU ADRC, experience a unique study abroad program and get to know inspiring KU students, faculty and alumni.