"Virginia" Peregrine Falcon sculpture

This bronze sculpture is located near the entrance to the Bartels Theater, below the Fuertes painting of the Peregrine Falcon in pursuit of a pheasant.

The sculpture Virginia, by artist Ross Matteson, was commissioned in honor of Tom Cade to commend his vision and determination to save the Peregrine Falcon from extinction. It was gifted by Phyllis R. Dague, Willard R. Heck, and James D. Weaver.

Virginia is named after a Peregrine Falcon that was part of a mated pair, which were the first falcons to nest in downtown Seattle, Washington. The pair made their aerie on the Washington Mutual Savings Tower. In 1994, to the great regret of the people of Seattle, Virginia was killed when she flew into a glass window. She had been hunting pigeons while her mate was caring for their chicks.

Ross Matteson is a professional sculptor and community activist living in Olympia, Washington. He is a graduate of The Evergreen State College (WA) and he has worked in both the music recording industry and visual art. Ross' sculptures have appeared in over 200 exhibitions worldwide. His avian sculptures intrepret the bird as both a biological subject and as a metaphor.