A mako shark sculpture nicknamed “Gold Rush” is being raffled off in the name of shark conservation.
One lucky person is set to win a stunning, life-sized mako shark sculpture worth more than £7,000 (~€7,925/~US$8,521) for just £5 thanks to a lottery initiative developed by the internationally acclaimed marine wildlife sculptor Scott Gleed to support Bite-Back Shark & Marine Conservation.
Tickets to win “Gold Rush,” an electric blue, 7ft/2.13m-long mako shark sculpture with a 24-carat gold leaf dorsal fin went on sale at bite-back.com when the sculpture debuted at the Go Diving Show last weekend.
The artwork has been created to raise awareness of the global and unsustainable marine “gold rush” to hunt sharks for their valuable fins alone and to help fund Bite-Back’s campaigns to end the UK’s trade in shark products.
Individual lottery tickets to win the sculpture are being sold exclusively through the Bite-Back website for £5 each plus money-saving ticket deals in groups of 5, 10, 15 and 25 units.
Crafted from fiberglass, the one-off sculpture has been sealed in a weatherproof clear coat, providing the winner with the option of displaying “Gold Rush” indoors and out.
Artist Scott Gleed said:
“I can’t think of a better way to announce yourself as a shark fan than a 7-ft shark in your garden, house or workplace. Sharks have been in my blood for decades and this is an opportunity for me to express my love of sharks and my anger at their exploitation in one piece of art. On top of that it’s a huge pleasure to support the hardest working shark charity in the UK. I hope this unique piece goes to a great home and raises thousands of pounds for Bite-Back’s campaigns.”
Tickets will be on sale for just 10 weeks before the winning ticket is picked by the artist himself after the May 12th, 2023 deadline.
Graham Buckingham, campaign director for Bite-Back, said:
“This is a breath-taking piece of art with an important story to tell. Fins are the most valuable part of a shark and, around the world, fishing fleets are in a race to hunt sharks and separate the fins from the body with no thought to the global catastrophe that could follow. We expect this artwork to help draw attention to the issue and contribute important funds for our campaigns to end the UK’s role in the shark fin trade. We’re full of gratitude to Scott for his vision, generosity, and contribution to our vital work.”
Go to bite-back.com to buy your tickets now and visit www.gleed3d.com to learn more about Gleed’s sculptures and the chance to commission your own marine masterpiece.
