Artist Unveils 'Rebirth' Sculpture, Forgives Thieves Who Stole Piece in 2010

A message of love radiated Monday at the for the debut of world-renown artist Mimi Sammis’ sculpture “Rebirth (Woman of Peace).”

The unveiling coincides with the one-year anniversary of when Sammis’ last piece, a 300-pound bronze sculpture called “Embrace of Life,” was stolen from the arts center. arrested two men who were accused of the theft and cutting it up and selling it as scrap metal.

Instead of seeking revenge, Sammis’ bronze, 20-pound “Rebirth” depicts a woman rising up from destruction with her hands raised, holding a heart. She said the design is not a memorial to last year’s incident but is about overcoming violence through forgiveness.

“Nothing can be destroyed,” said Sammis, of Narragansett. “It can only be transformed. This sculpture is a transformation.”

During the ceremony, Sammis said one of the two young men came back to the arts center to apologize to her, admitting he had a drug problem when he chose to make the decision to steal her work. During his apology, the man reportedly told her he was now sober.

“He told me he was clean,” she said. “It was so touching for me. We talked and talked. That’s the miracle. So this whole thing may have happened merely so this young man could be sober.”

Arts center owner Jim Weir helped with the unveiling of Sammis’ "Rebirth," noting that the village district has been making a rebirth of its own since 1980 to promote and thrive in the arts.

“This story resonates with us,” he said. “Over the past 15 years we’ve had an extraordinary time bringing arts events to Tiverton Four Corners, and experienced an incredible amount of support.”

Numerous other sculptures and paintings of Sammis were on display on Monday.

Former Secretary of State Susan Farmer, United Nations NGO Representative Monica Willard and Rep. Dan Gordon were on hand.

Gov. Lincoln Chafee had planned to attend the ceremony Monday, but was called to an emergency state budget meeting in Providence.

For more information on Sammis and her work, visit her website.