World's largest horse sculpture planned

[Merlion]

This is a very large functional sculpture. It is part of a boat lift mechanism for a canal.

World's largest horse sculpture planned (http://www.horsetalk.co.nz/news/2007/05/004.shtml)

May 1, 2007, A groundbreaking plan to create the world's largest horse sculpture is taking shape in the workshop of one of Scotland's leading artists.

The 35-metre high 'Kelpie' heads are based on the mythical Scots creatures of the same name and are the brainchild of British Waterways and internationally acclaimed sculptor Andy Scott.....

http://www.horsetalk.co.nz/news/2007/05/p/004.gif
The giant heads would be functional sculptures, complete with flowing manes. They would form an integral part of an ingenious boat lift mechanism at the eastern entrance to the Forth and Clyde canal, with the two heads slowly rocking back and forth to displace water from a lock chamber thereby allowing boats to move to and from Scotland's lowland canal network.....

Creation of the 3.5-metre high models involves welding thousands of small steel plates over a pre prepared steel skeleton. The skeleton itself will eventually be removed to leave a steel mosaic of the Kelpie heads.

Andy, whose father hailed from Falkirk, has a long association with equine sculpture, having created the landmark 'Heavy Horse' which sits proudly at the side of the main motorwat between Glasgow and Edinburgh, and various other world-renowned equine pieces in Australia and Spain....

The steel maquettes are hoped to be ready for public display at the end of May.

If the project gets the green light, then work to start creating the massive Kelpie heads could begin at the end of the year....

[fritchie]

You found a somewhat similar proposal for massive sculptures as part of a lock lifting and transfering mechanism something like a year ago. I don't recall details, but I think that one actually made it to construction. Is this proposal on the same waterway?

We also had a discussion on a massive, wind-turned tower in Glasgow about the same time. Seems like the Scots really are into "ornamenting" many of their public construction projects, to use a word somewhat abhorrent to artists but common with everyday folk.

[Merlion]

This is the big 'Heavy Horse' statue that the artist created alongside a motorway in Scotland.

http://www.hare-hill-shire.de/Heavy%20Horse%20Statue.jpg

And in this link page, there are a few good aerial photo shots of this statue. This page mentions that it is 14 ft tall.

The Heavy Horse (http://www.197aerial.co.uk/the_heavy_horse.htm)

[GlennT]

The Kelpie heads boat lift mechanism seems like an excellent embodiment of what Allenring was referring to as "engineered aesthetics". I think it is a great idea to transform a purely mechanical device into a work of art, in this case a very impressive one.

GlennT

[iowasculptor]

work of art or simply illustration on a large scale?
Matt

[evaldart]

While those functional horse-heads would be one hell of a visual treat, like Mount Rushmore or the statue of liberty, or the Eiffel tower etc, it ain't sculpture to me. Not enough of an individual involved. Way too many chefs and potato peelers and floor moppers and bus-boys involved. Definitely another "Modern Marvel" though.

[GlennT]

Evaldart:
Most big-name Renaissance artists had an atelier or studio/workshop with apprentices and others doing all the grunt work to produce the master's concept. I don't see how that makes it any less a work of art if the artist is guiding other hands than his or her own in order to achieve the physical realization of the concept.

[StevenW]

Interesting perspectives all, in my mind there's a reason why we don't call our lady the "Sculpture of Liberty". I suppose I might lean toward statues in the case of the horses as well.

The Sphinx may be another matter however and despite it being created by perhaps hundreds of stone workers, chefs and busboys notwithstanding. ;)
I believe because of its outcome that it was/is a monument or sculpture.

[evaldart]

When my body is so used-up that I can no longer make sculpture or even paint a picture, I will pass that extra time afforded me by modern medicine authoring a massive volume of self-righteous, superfulous, gratuitous, and highly judgemental art history titled "Pre-Beast to Post Modern: The Real Art Of The Human Race" Works like these horses will not be mentioned.

Now maybe the poor sap in the death-bed next to mine, A used-up architect or engineer perhaps, will be working on his massive volume: " Architectural Anomalies and the Aesthetics of the Collossal". That will be a great book too. But he won't be mentioning Boticelli, Goya or David Smith.

But I do get Glenn's point.

[GlennT]

I thought when you retired you were going to write,
" Beauty and the Beer, a Sculptor's Memoir "

[StevenW]

There's no escape, no retiring, no old folks home... I'll pay the check in the saddle and as long as I can hold a rasp I'll be filing down that mountain.

I aim to make it a few feet shorter by the time I'm done.

[evaldart]

Glenn, while its so true that humanity would benefit tremendously by the publication of my thinkings on the subject of beer - I could hardly dedicate such a massive body of writing to a mere avocation. Look for it though in the next life...I will be taking a more leisurley approach to that one.

[EJB]

I thought this was going to be the world's largest horse:

www.crazyhorse.org/

Over 500 feet tall when completed. FYI- The annual Volksmarch is coming first weekend in June (2nd & 3rd). It's the only time you are allowed up the mountain to see this close up. Worth the trip if you're near South Dakota.

[Merlion]

The proposal to build two very large horse sculptures at Scotland has just been granted the funding support to proceed.

Grant for huge horse sculptures (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/tayside_and_central/7094084.stm), from the BBC.

14 Nov 2007. Two 100ft-high equine sculptures which will function as a boat lift will be built next in the Falkirk area, as a result of a £25m [$50m] lottery grant.

The artwork depicting horses' heads is the main part of the Helix Project, which aims to transform more than 300 hectares [740 acres] of unused land over six years.

http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/44238000/jpg/_44238172_kelpieboatlift203.jpg
An artist's impression of the 100ft-high kelpie boat lift

The Big Lottery Fund grant will fund a new section of canal, linking the Forth and Clyde Canal into the Forth Estuary. .....

Designed by the equine sculptor Andy Scott and based on the mythical Scots legend of water-based spirits or kelpies, project backers believe they will be the largest equine sculptures in the world.

They will also have a working role as a part of the canal's new boat lift at the entrance to the Forth and Clyde canal.

The overall project costs will be in the region of £49m. ....

Steve Dunlop, Scottish director of British Waterways, said: ...

"The breathtaking Kelpie boat lift is quite simply an engineering marvel which is set to become a major tourism asset for Scotland, attracting visitors from across the globe."

[jOe~]

Iron Ant, get your bid in for this one?

[iron ant]

Iron Ant, get your bid in for this one? thanks Joe,because I was just thinking how I get fired up about my 14 foot steeds,which are by budget and scale laughable to this emense project,and you gave me a great laugh.I will be glad to have a few grazing on the bank though.I love the idea of the project,but it blows this ,work by myself artist ,mind.........................IA I wonder if the crew will be swilling guiness when they build this one....:rolleyes: