About
the Design
The large fossil collection and Dinosaur exhibit housed in
Carnegie Museum of Natural History were the inspiration for
this design, which features a crew of miniature paleontologists
in the process of excavating a large T. rex. The fossilized
bones and paleontologists were rendered in a realistic paint
style combining portraiture and trompe l'oeil painting techniques.
"I was
very excited about this competition as I have had great experiences
with Public Art Projects in the past," says artist Glennis
McClellan. "Also, my nephew loves Dinosaurs and thinks I am
the coolest aunt ever!" Ms. McClellan added, "It did require
some fiberglass sculpture
work to create the rock-like texture in some areas, but the
overall T. rex shape was maintained and it was painted
to resemble stone. I also used real rocks at the base of the
statue, so it would seem that some actual diggin' had been
going on - that was a last-minute decision that really added
to the overall design."
"Mr. Dig"
is a companion piece to "Washington Monuphant", a design that
Ms. McClellan created in 2002 for the DC Commission's project
'Party Animals'. Both sculptures feature miniature people
hard at work: "Mr. Dig" has paleontologists excavating bones,
while "Washington Monuphant" features artists sculpting and
carving a large marble monument.
About
the Sponsor
The Hillman Company is a privately owned, diversified investment
company headquartered in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
|