Georgia Gerber’s “Twin Foxes” sculpture was installed and unveiled outside City Hall on Saturday, celebrating Mercer Island’s 15-year-relationship, or ‘jumelage,’ with its sister city of Thonon-les-Bains, France.

In the spirit of “jumelage,” which means “twinning,” there is another “Twin Foxes” sculpture on display at Thonon’s Hotel de Ville, or City Hall. The Mercer Island Sister City Association bought that sculpture, and Mercer Island’s matching sculpture was purchased with money from the city’s 1 Percent for the Arts fund.

During last year’s Summer Celebration, a delegation of 12 Thonon citizens, including Mayor Jean Denais, visited Mercer Island and presented a gift: a priceless etching, several hundred years old, of their Chateau de Ripaille. It is displayed in the lobby of Mercer Island City Hall.

There are four other Gerber sculptures in Mercer Island: a dog near the off-leash area in Luther Burbank Park, the well-loved bunnies outside the library, a snail at the high school and an alligator at the middle school.

Sister City Association President Linda Todd spoke about why the foxes were selected for City Hall at the art unveiling on March 5, which was organized by the Arts Council.

“In Celtic and Native American traditions, the fox represents guiding with wisdom, and a wise and noble messenger,” she said.

The fox spirit is often portrayed as a creative problem solver, with other qualities including patience and diplomacy, she said.

“Ms. Gerber’s ‘Twin Foxes’ sculpture is to be a lasting symbol in both our cities of the creating and endurance of our deep ties of friendship and city-to-city diplomacy and goodwill,” Todd said.

For more on the Sister City Association, visit its website.