How many sculptors does it take to resurrect a 2,200-pound limestone sculpture?

Six students and three faculty members from Kansas University’s department of art found out the hard way.

They put their minds together for a little more than two hours Saturday morning to revive a statue in KU Professor Emeritus Elden Tefft’s front yard, 1315 Naismith Drive.

“Man, that’s heavy,” said John Hachmeister, associate professor of sculpture and faculty adviser for Ministry of Sculpture, the KU student group that volunteered for the project.

“They have to tear it up before they fix it,” Tefft said, as he watched them work.

The group was glad to help “just out of respect for (Tefft) and the sculpture and what he means to KU,” said David Werdin-Kennicott, graduate student and member.

Tefft said a “group of guys” knocked the sculpture down when KU defeated Missouri a few years ago.

“One year when it was down, (Missouri) beat KU and I figured they’d come put it (back) up, but they didn’t,” Tefft said, laughing.

A limestone cat sculpture by Kansas University professor emeritus Elden Tefft has been re-erected at 1315 Naismith Drive. A KU student group put up the fallen statue Saturday.

The sculpture has lain in his yard ever since. He said he’s grateful the group volunteered its time.

Tefft designed the cat statue to serve as a “gate guardian” for his home.

“This is kind of an important thing in my life,” he said. “I’ve been waiting a long time.”

“It’s a really difficult task,” said Hachmeister, who directed the project. “It’s not just like picking up a rock. You’re lifting something that’s very heavy, but fragile.”

The group carefully used a chain to connect the statue to an old pickup truck and then hoisted it up in two pieces.

“The Egyptians can do it without wheels,” Werdin-Kennicott said.

Once they got it standing, they connected the pieces together with adhesive.

“It’s a little on the tedious side,” Hachmeister said.

“I didn’t think it would be this much work,” said Anna Koehn, KU student. “It’s a good feeling.”