The morning tornado siren sounds, and with a whoosh, the black tarp lifts. The assembled crowd inches closer to observe the spectacle—a six-foot, 100-pound feathered wonder in all his sparkling glory.
On the north side of the Pentacrest, between Macbride and Jessup halls, nests the UI Alumni Association-sponsored replica of Iowa’s undisputed favorite bird. He sports a fierce game face, fists clenched, one arm in the air. Completely covered in mirror mosaic, the Herky shimmers and shines at passersby.
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Cedar Rapids mosaic artist Kim O'Meara spent painstaking hours to ensure that this Herky would reflect the best of the university. The statues will be auctioned in December 2004 to raise funds for the Kinnick Stadium restoration project. |
The UIAA piece—bearing the title Reflections of U—is one of 75 statues featured in the public art project “Herky on Parade”. Others include American Gothawk, Herky the Ironman, Andy Warhawk, and Hayden Herky. Scattered across the Iowa City-Coralville area, the UI campus, and Cedar Rapids, the colorful creations were revealed in unison during a special ceremony last month. They will remain on display through November.
Developed by the local Convention & Visitors Bureau and the UI Athletic Department, “Herky on Parade”—inspired by the American Gothic-infused “Overalls All Over” project in Cedar Rapids and those lovable Chicago cows—commemorates the 75th anniversary of legendary Kinnick Stadium.
Delivery of the “naked,” white fiberglass statues began in late March. Artists, many working from makeshift studios inside the Iowa Children’s Museum, burned the midnight oil for weeks to meet the approaching deadline. Local schoolchildren put their creativity to the test. A Colorado professor flew in to decorate his Gogh Herky. A grad living in Italy arrived from overseas to finish her Jackson Pollhawk design. Former Iowa football letter winner Jason Soliday, 92BFA, offered up his Four Seasons of Herky, and two artists earned approval from an alumna at Marvel Comics to add Captain Ameriky and The Incredible Herk to the eclectic mix. And Kim O’Meara, 77BA, 77SE, 87MA, spent many painstaking hours cutting glass tiles and piecing together the UIAA Herky in her Cedar Rapids home studio.
Herky’s far-reaching interest is expected to
draw thousands of sightseers to campus. Parade maps are available
at the UI Athletics Hall of Fame, the UI ticket office, area Hawk
Shops, and other participating businesses. As Convention & Visitors
Bureau Executive Director Josh Schamberger professes: “I’m
confident that this will be the biggest community event ever to hit
Iowa City and Coralville. Visitors and residents are in for a ‘Wow’
experience.”
