Sanborn, Gregg

English

University of New Hampshire

University of New Hampshire
University of New Hampshire Scholars' Repository
Media Relations Administrative Offices
11-21-2005
Artist Selected For UNH Mascot Sculpture
Gregg Sanborn
Follow this and additional works at: https://scholars.unh.edu/news
This News Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Administrative Offices at University of New Hampshire Scholars' Repository. It has
been accepted for inclusion in Media Relations by an authorized administrator of University of New Hampshire Scholars' Repository. For more
information, please contact nicole.hentz@unh.edu.
Recommended Citation
Sanborn, Gregg, "Artist Selected For UNH Mascot Sculpture" (2005). UNH Today. 1542.
https://scholars.unh.edu/news/1542
9/29/17, 12(23 PMArtist Selected For UNH Mascot Sculpture
Page 1 of 2http://www.unh.edu/delete/news/news_releases/2005/november/gs_051121wildcat.html
Artist Selected For UNH Mascot Sculpture
Contact: Gregg Sanborn
UNH Alumni Association
(603) 862-2040
alumni@unh.edu
Nov. 21, 2005
DURHAM, N.H. — An artist noted for his realistic bronze and stone sculptures has been
selected to create a sculpture of a wildcat, the University of New Hampshire’s mascot, the UNH
Alumni Association announced recently.
 
Matthew Gray Palmer of Friday Harbor, Wash., will cast a larger-than-life-sized bronze wildcat
sculpture, to be mounted on boulders in a grassy area in front of the Whittemore Center on Main
Street in Durham. The Alumni Association hopes to unveil the new sculpture during
Homecoming Weekend 2006, Oct. 13–15. 
 
Fifty artists submitted proposals; Palmer was selected from a group of four finalists. A
committee of UNH staff, faculty, alumni and parents spent two and a half years developing the
guidelines, inviting bidders, reviewing the applicants and making the final selection. 
 
Palmer’s winning proposal says the sculpture will “emphasize grace, balance, strength and
intelligence,” and will represent a “sleek and powerful” wildcat. Some of his previous public
works are on display at the Arches National Park; Columbus Zoo; Hanover College in Hanover,
Ind.; Toledo Zoo; Butler University in Indianapolis, Ind.; St. Charles Mercy Hospital in Oregon,
Ohio; and the Longaberger Company’s memorial garden, and are viewable on his web site at
http://www.matthewgraypalmer.com/  
 
Palmer began his training as a sculptor at Fort Hayes Metropolitan Education Center in
Columbus, Ohio, and then worked full time at the Old World Stone Carving company in
Sunbury, Ohio. Several of his carvings from this time were featured on the Home and Garden
Network’s Modern Masters program. Subsequently he opened his own studio to work on
commissions in stone, marble, clay, wood and bronze.  
 
“Matthew came closest to our ideal of what we were looking for,” said university archivist
Elizabeth Slomba, chair of the selection committee. “The quality of his art, his responsiveness
and his professionalism really impressed the committee.”
 
Gregg Sanborn, executive director of the UNH Alumni Association, predicts the sculpture will
quickly become one of the “have-to” places to visit on the UNH campus for students, alumni,
parents, visitors and UNH sports fans. “The wildcat mascot is part of our heritage and our
tradition. You hear the phrase ‘Go ’Cats!’ all the time,” said Sanborn. “The sculpture will be a
handsome and striking reminder of that heritage, in a very visible place on campus.”
9/29/17, 12(23 PMArtist Selected For UNH Mascot Sculpture
Page 2 of 2http://www.unh.edu/delete/news/news_releases/2005/november/gs_051121wildcat.html
          
The date and time of the wildcat sculpture’s unveiling next fall will be posted on the UNH
Alumni Association’s web site at http://www.alumni.unh.edu/Calendar.


Artist Selected For UNH Mascot Sculpture

UNH Scholars' Repository

University of New HampshireUniversity of New Hampshire Scholars' RepositoryMedia Relations Administrative Offices11-21-2005Artist Selected For UNH Mascot SculptureGregg SanbornFollow this and additional works at: https://scholars.unh.edu/newsThis News Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Administrative Offices at University of New Hampshire Scholars' Repository. It hasbeen accepted for inclusion in Media Relations by an authorized administrator of University of New Hampshire Scholars' Repository. For moreinformation, please contact nicole.hentz@unh.edu.Recommended CitationSanborn, Gregg, "Artist Selected For UNH Mascot Sculpture" (2005). UNH Today. 1542.https://scholars.unh.edu/news/15429/29/17, 12(23 PMArtist Selected For UNH Mascot SculpturePage 1 of 2http://www.unh.edu/delete/news/news_releases/2005/november/gs_051121wildcat.htmlArtist Selected For UNH Mascot SculptureContact: Gregg SanbornUNH Alumni Association(603) 862-2040alumni@unh.eduNov. 21, 2005DURHAM, N.H. — An artist noted for his realistic bronze and stone sculptures has beenselected to create a sculpture of a wildcat, the University of New Hampshire’s mascot, the UNHAlumni Association announced recently. Matthew Gray Palmer of Friday Harbor, Wash., will cast a larger-than-life-sized bronze wildcatsculpture, to be mounted on boulders in a grassy area in front of the Whittemore Center on MainStreet in Durham. The Alumni Association hopes to unveil the new sculpture duringHomecoming Weekend 2006, Oct. 13–15.  Fifty artists submitted proposals; Palmer was selected from a group of four finalists. Acommittee of UNH staff, faculty, alumni and parents spent two and a half years developing theguidelines, inviting bidders, reviewing the applicants and making the final selection.  Palmer’s winning proposal says the sculpture will “emphasize grace, balance, strength andintelligence,” and will represent a “sleek and powerful” wildcat. Some of his previous publicworks are on display at the Arches National Park; Columbus Zoo; Hanover College in Hanover,Ind.; Toledo Zoo; Butler University in Indianapolis, Ind.; St. Charles Mercy Hospital in Oregon,Ohio; and the Longaberger Company’s memorial garden, and are viewable on his web site athttp://www.matthewgraypalmer.com/   Palmer began his training as a sculptor at Fort Hayes Metropolitan Education Center inColumbus, Ohio, and then worked full time at the Old World Stone Carving company inSunbury, Ohio. Several of his carvings from this time were featured on the Home and GardenNetwork’s Modern Masters program. Subsequently he opened his own studio to work oncommissions in stone, marble, clay, wood and bronze.   “Matthew came closest to our ideal of what we were looking for,” said university archivistElizabeth Slomba, chair of the selection committee. “The quality of his art, his responsivenessand his professionalism really impressed the committee.” Gregg Sanborn, executive director of the UNH Alumni Association, predicts the sculpture willquickly become one of the “have-to” places to visit on the UNH campus for students, alumni,parents, visitors and UNH sports fans. “The wildcat mascot is part of our heritage and ourtradition. You hear the phrase ‘Go ’Cats!’ all the time,” said Sanborn. “The sculpture will be ahandsome and striking reminder of that heritage, in a very visible place on campus.”9/29/17, 12(23 PMArtist Selected For UNH Mascot SculpturePage 2 of 2http://www.unh.edu/delete/news/news_releases/2005/november/gs_051121wildcat.html          The date and time of the wildcat sculpture’s unveiling next fall will be posted on the UNHAlumni Association’s web site at http://www.alumni.unh.edu/Calendar.

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Artist Selected For UNH Mascot Sculpture

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