Tuesday, September 02, 2003

TO: Wilmington Area Media

FROM: Kenneth Luck, PR Intern

RE: Reinstallation of the Seahawk Sculpture

7 to 9 a.m., Thursday, Sept. 4, Warwick Center

NOTE TO MEDIA: The seahawk will be enclosed with a side opening for viewing. Due

to damages that can be caused by the welder’s arc, protective goggles will be on loan for

photographing of the reinstallation.

The University of North Carolina at Wilmington cordially invites you to attend the reinstallation of the UNCW bronze seahawk statue, which was stolen in July from its granite base in front of the Warwick Center. The seahawk will be placed back on its perch Thursday, Sept. 4 from 7 to 9 a.m.

The work will be completed by artist Dumay Gorham, III, a native of Wilmington. His metal sculptures appear in businesses throughout the area including bicycle racks he designed for downtown. Gorham also created large steel jellyfish for the lobby of the UNCW Center for Marine Science.

The person who removed the Seahawk has yet to be caught. The office of the chancellor is offering a reward of $250 for information that identifies the person responsible.

David Gessner, a creative writing department faculty member and author of Return of the Osprey: A Season of Flight and Wonder, will be available at the reinstallation to discuss seahawks, also known as osprey. He offers research into their natural history and behavior along with close observation of seahawks in the wild.

The bronze mascot seahawk is valued at $70,000. The cost of the reinstallation is approximately $500. This includes reinforcements within each leg to strengthen them to prevent future theft. None of the repair costs are covered by insurance.