Giraffe - 14' Cow
Artist: Antonia Chastain
Installation location: Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, Colorado Springs, CO
Installation location: Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, Colorado Springs, CO
Several years ago Bronze Services was asked to cast Penny, a giraffe calf who inspired millions during her short life at CMZoo.
From there Chastain designed six life-sized giraffe sculptures in clay that will welcome guests to Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, as part of the new admissions
and giraffe habitat updates happening in the coming years – and their creation is a tall order. The sculptures started as six-inch clay thumbnail sketches.
Once the team was happy with the general design, Chastain sculpted detailed four-foot clay maquettes. To create the most lifelike sculptures,
she relied on the expertise of the giraffe team to portray giraffe attitudes and postures correctly.
Chastain spent weeks with the CMZoo giraffe team, leaning on the giraffe herd’s voluntary hoof care behaviors to measure the giraffe. They measure
from hoof to knee, around the diameters of their calves, the lengths of their tails, legs, necks and more, to get the proportions right in the maquettes
phase. Known for her attention to detail, Chastain also meticulously studied and sculpted eyelid wrinkles, hair, hoof texture, spots and skin folds.
To create the next size up, the piece is scanned from the four-foot clay models into a 3-D printer that produces foam pieces five times their size –
one piece at a time. The foam pieces are reconstructed into a life-sized full giraffe, then Chastain reapplies a layer of clay to the huge replicas. Once
every detail is carved back into the clay, a mold is made and sent to the foundry to go through the lost wax casting process. Casting takes approx. 6-7
months to complete.
As of now, the plan is to create three visual stories of mother giraffe and their calves. The statue of Penny will move from its current location by the giraffe
barn to become part of this larger display. The three mother giraffe and two additional giraffe calf statues are not representations of any individual
giraffe. However, especially attentive giraffe fans might notice spot patterns, poses or ossicone shapes inspired by other giraffe from CMZoo.
This 14' life-size female giraffe is part of the collection of bronze giraffe sculptures. Stay tuned for the 19' bull to arrive next year!
From there Chastain designed six life-sized giraffe sculptures in clay that will welcome guests to Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, as part of the new admissions
and giraffe habitat updates happening in the coming years – and their creation is a tall order. The sculptures started as six-inch clay thumbnail sketches.
Once the team was happy with the general design, Chastain sculpted detailed four-foot clay maquettes. To create the most lifelike sculptures,
she relied on the expertise of the giraffe team to portray giraffe attitudes and postures correctly.
Chastain spent weeks with the CMZoo giraffe team, leaning on the giraffe herd’s voluntary hoof care behaviors to measure the giraffe. They measure
from hoof to knee, around the diameters of their calves, the lengths of their tails, legs, necks and more, to get the proportions right in the maquettes
phase. Known for her attention to detail, Chastain also meticulously studied and sculpted eyelid wrinkles, hair, hoof texture, spots and skin folds.
To create the next size up, the piece is scanned from the four-foot clay models into a 3-D printer that produces foam pieces five times their size –
one piece at a time. The foam pieces are reconstructed into a life-sized full giraffe, then Chastain reapplies a layer of clay to the huge replicas. Once
every detail is carved back into the clay, a mold is made and sent to the foundry to go through the lost wax casting process. Casting takes approx. 6-7
months to complete.
As of now, the plan is to create three visual stories of mother giraffe and their calves. The statue of Penny will move from its current location by the giraffe
barn to become part of this larger display. The three mother giraffe and two additional giraffe calf statues are not representations of any individual
giraffe. However, especially attentive giraffe fans might notice spot patterns, poses or ossicone shapes inspired by other giraffe from CMZoo.
This 14' life-size female giraffe is part of the collection of bronze giraffe sculptures. Stay tuned for the 19' bull to arrive next year!
Bronze Services of Loveland, Inc.
Hours: Mon. - Thur. 7:30 - 4:30 | Fri. 7:30 - 12:00
140 2nd. Street SE, Loveland, CO 80537
970.667.2723
Hours: Mon. - Thur. 7:30 - 4:30 | Fri. 7:30 - 12:00
140 2nd. Street SE, Loveland, CO 80537
970.667.2723
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