The wrappings will come off the newest addition to the Duck family this Saturday when the UO dedicates a new statue of its iconic mascot in front of the Ford Alumni Center.

The unveiling will be at 11:30 a.m., before that afternoon’s men’s basketball game against UCLA in the adjoining Matthew Knight Arena. Members of the Pit Crew will be on hand to welcome the new icon.

Sculpted by UO graduate Alison Brown, the 1,000-pound bronze Duck stands 8 feet tall and is captured in a classic “throwing the O” pose. It wears the familiar green shirt and sailor cap with gold trim.

UO graduate Tom Clarey commissioned the statue as a gift to the university. Clarey, who earned a bachelor’s degree in political science in 1972, made previous gifts to support scholarships and the library.

Brown, who graduated from the UO in 2011, sculpted the Duck in clay before beginning the casting process. The sculpting was done in her Troutdale studio and the casting was done at Firebird Bronze in Boring.

Clarey and Brown will be on hand for the dedication along with other UO and alumni association officials. The basketball game starts at 1 p.m.

The statue will be placed in the plaza between the alumni center and the arena, a key gathering place on campus. The Ford Alumni Center draws returning Ducks from around the country and is the starting point for campus tours by prospective students and their families, while the arena is the site of spring commencement ceremonies as well as athletic events and concerts.