Referee

Referee is a marble sculpture located at the south entrance of UW-Milwaukee Panther Arena, depicting an abstracted figure with spread legs and raised arms. The work stands approximately 9 feet (2.7 m) tall and is made from white laminated travertine marble.

The sculpture was created in 1978 as part of the Comprehensive Employment and Training Act, a government program supporting public art projects. It was constructed from leftover marble pieces that came from the demolition of the First Wisconsin Bank building and were donated by Milwaukee Marble Company.

The sculpture embodies the relationship between athletics and creative expression at this arena, which regularly presents basketball, hockey, and soccer throughout the year. Visitors can sense how the dynamic pose reflects the spirit of competition and movement found in these sports.

The sculpture sits right at the main entrance and is easy to spot when arriving at the arena. It serves as a natural gathering point and orientation landmark for visitors heading to events.

Artist Thomas Queoff transformed construction debris that would have been discarded into this permanent installation after the First Wisconsin Bank was demolished. His resourceful approach during a period of tight public art funding shows how creative thinking can turn waste into something meaningful.