Paw-parazzi: Photos reveal Wilbur and Wilma at the pool, in the mountains and on the moon

Paw-parazzi: Photos reveal Wilbur and Wilma at the pool, in the mountains and on the moon

By Andy OberUniversity Communications
Printer-friendly version PDF version
Chris Richards uses wires, glue, tape and miniature props for his photos of Wilbur and Wilma. (Photo by Chris Richards, University Alumni and Development Program)
Chris Richards uses wires, glue, tape and miniature props for his photos of Wilbur and Wilma. (Photo by Chris Richards, University Alumni and Development Program)
Chris Richards
Chris Richards

"Social media is an insatiable beast," says Chris Richards, principal photographer for the University Alumni and Development Program, which is part of the University of Arizona Foundation.

Feeding that beast, especially during slower times on campus, is not always easy. However, some out-of-the-box thinking by Richards has led to some creative content and a new star turn for Wilbur and Wilma Wildcat in the form of dioramas featured on the University of Arizona Alumni Association Instagram and Facebook pages.

"As I was thinking of fun ways to make something different for Wilbur and Wilma fans, I remembered my social media director has a desk full of stuffed animals," said Richards, who joined the University in 2018. "Getting our actual mascots for a photo takes a bit of planning, but these stuffed versions are always available."

A few trips to some craft stores got Richards most of the set pieces he needed, from a tiny lounge chair and barbecue pit to goggles and a mini-smartphone. He used the pieces to create scenes of Wilbur and Wilma hanging poolside, watching fireworks at "A" Mountain and even celebrating the anniversary of the moon landing on the lunar surface.

"In the case of the Apollo photo, we had to special order the teddy bear spacesuit," Richards said. "The only lunar lander we could find in the right size was a LEGO-style kit that had to be assembled from lots and lots of pieces."

While it can be tricky to get the perfect shot with human subjects, these particular versions of Wilbur and Wilma present their own challenges. Since the stuffed animals he's using are not posable, Richards has used a combination of tape, wire, safety pins and glue to position them how he wants. And because one set piece toppling over can take other pieces with it, setting up the photos can take a lot of patience, which, Richards admits, is not his strongest suit.

Even so, he expects to create more dioramas in the future – perhaps during the holidays.

"It's a different technique, but it's been fun to see what I can get away with," Richards said. "I'm sure we have not seen the last of the costumes for Wilbur and Wilma."

See a photo gallery of Richards' creations. Read the history of Mr. and Mrs. Wildcat on the Arizona Athletics website.

UA@Work is produced by University Communications

Marshall Building, Suite 100. 845 N. Park Ave., Tucson, AZ 85719 (or) 
P.O. Box 210158B, Tucson, AZ 85721

T 520.621.1877  F 520.626.4121

Feedback University Privacy Statement 

2024 © The Arizona Board of Regents on behalf of the University of Arizona