“Graduation Bucky” kicks off a parade of statues

Bucky Badger and Chancellor Rebecca Blank reveal the "Graduation Bucky" statue on Bascom Hill Monday. Photo by: Bryce Richter

Bucky and Chancellor Blank pose with "Graduation Bucky," one of 85 life-sized statues across Dane County. Photo by: Bryce Richter

The Babcock Hall Dairy Plant created a flavor in honor of the art project. Photo by: Bryce Richter

Graduating seniors were invited to enjoy the unveiling and free ice cream. Photo by: Bryce Richter

Bucky enjoys a moment with Graduate Bucky. Photo by: Bryce Richter

Bucky’s parade has officially begun: 85 life-sized, distinctively decorated statues of the iconic mascot have been unveiled as part of a public art project across Dane County.

Fifteen versions can be spotted on campus, from the top of Bascom Hill to the tip of Picnic Point, sporting names like “Blooming Bucky,” “Bucky Alvarez,” and “Leckrone’s Stop at the Top.”

Chancellor Rebecca Blank unveiled “Graduation Bucky” in front of Bascom Hall as a send-off to graduating seniors.

“They’ll be up all summer, and into the fall,” she said. “And when they’re auctioned off, they’re going to raise much-needed funds for cancer research, treatment, and awareness.”

The statues that have been bought by local businesses will move to their new homes at the end of summer. The remaining 30 or so will be auctioned off at the The Red Party on Sept. 29, with proceeds going to men’s basketball Coach Greg Gard’s charity, Garding Against Cancer, as well as the Madison Area Sports Commission, the producer of the event.

“I hope you get to visit all of them, and tweet us your photos,” Blank added. “And members of the Class of 2018 – we especially want to see your pictures with Graduation Bucky.”

As the UW band performed pep songs, a special Babcock “Bucky on Parade” ice cream flavor was doled out to a crowd of about 100.

Sixty-four different artists were selected to design the statues.  Senior Hailey Polk designed “One Leg Up” Bucky, an homage to Bascom Hill and the pink flamingos which have blanketed its lawns every year since 1979.

Although Polk is majoring in elementary and special education, she originally entered college as an art major. Contributing to “Bucky on Parade” combined her love for both art and the university.

“Art has always been something I’ve wanted to do on the side,” she said. “So this was kind of a last opportunity as a student to do something for the university.”

Her statue, like all the other Buckys, is made of fiberglass, measures 6 feet tall and weighs 160 pounds without its concrete base. Atop “One Leg Up’s” base, however, is something unique: actual turf from Camp Randall.

Diane Heatley and “Blooming Bucky,” which she helped create. Photo by Parker Schorr

Located at Henry Mall is Paula Hare and Diane Heatley’s co-creation “Blooming Bucky,” designed after a perennial garden in Milwaukee.

“It’s a once in a lifetime kind of thing to do,” Heatley said of the project.

Hare, a professional artist, and Heatley, a surgeon at the American Family Children’s Hospital, have been doing projects together since they became friends at five years old. Painting a three-dimensional mammal, however, was a challenge and tested the two friends patience.

“She would go back to Milwaukee and I would paint the stems and the leaves and she would come back and say, ‘Wow those look really great’ – and paint over them again,” Heatley said.

Ultimately, Heatley was allowed to paint the base, the left shoulder and, unknown to Hare, two ants and a ladybug hidden somewhere on the statue which she encourages people to try to find.

Want to find the rest of the Buckys on and around campus? Check out this map with all the locations.