Gator in the Bay, possible DPC GTG photo op.

Canon EF 85mm f/1.2L II USM

11/19/2012 11:42:31 AM · #1

Hi S Florida DPC friends,

There is a little project that I have been involved with recently that is near completion. It's going to be traveling up the west coast of Fl to Venice this weekend, and next week, then back to the Miami area for a couple of events.

The first Miami area event is coming up around Dec 5th when the head will be in it's complete 30' X 78' size on a barge in Biscayne Bay. Later in Dec. it will be on display in the annual Christmas Boat Parade on the intercoastal waterway.

In March, the complete project will be on display in Biscayne Bay, Miami, for a few days as part of the Basel Art event, commemorating the 30th anniversary of the
"Surrounded Islands Project" by Christo.

There is a lot about it on line. google; Gator in the Bay, Miami.

Google links, Gator in the Bay

Here's a local news link from Ch 10 Tv, Miami.

Ch 10, Miami, Gator in the Bay

Cory

Canon EOS-1D Mark IV

11/19/2012 02:32:18 PM · #2

Cool Waddy, I assume some of those photos are yours?

Canon EF 85mm f/1.2L II USM

11/19/2012 06:38:18 PM · #3

It's a one man show Cory. Lloyd Goradesky, the lead artist is making up the photo mosaic from photos of the Everglades and it's creatures that he has shot over the last 25 years. There will be 102 of the 4X8 ft floating photo tiles, with each having a ton of individual images on it.

Cory

Canon EOS-1D Mark IV

11/19/2012 07:07:24 PM · #4

Originally posted by MelonMusketeer:

Sooo... ?? Does it fire pumpkins at the onlookers?

CNovack

Canon EOS-600D/T3i Rebel

Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS

11/19/2012 07:59:45 PM · #5

Originally posted by Cory:

Originally posted by MelonMusketeer:
It's a one man show Cory. Lloyd Goradesky, the lead artist is making up the photo mosaic from photos of the Everglades and it's creatures that he has shot over the last 25 years. There will be 102 of the 4X8 ft floating photo tiles, with each having a ton of individual images on it.

Sooo... ?? Does it fire pumpkins at the onlookers?

Nope, but according to one news report Waddy helped engineer the gator to open and close the jaw:-)

Fabulous project to be involved in Waddy:-) Would love to see it but don't know if I will get an opportunity to get down that way. Keeping an eye on this...you should take pictures to show off the project here:-)

mbrutus2009

Nikon D850

Nikon AF-S Nikkor 16-35 f/4 ED VR

11/19/2012 09:07:28 PM · #6

Something I will for sure keep my eye out for a GTG... I want to see that bad boy in person! It looks awesome now, I can only imagine how good it looks in person!

Cory

Canon EOS-1D Mark IV

Canon EF 85mm f/1.2L II USM

11/19/2012 11:03:56 PM · #7

Originally posted by CNovack:

Originally posted by Cory:

Originally posted by MelonMusketeer:
It's a one man show Cory. Lloyd Goradesky, the lead artist is making up the photo mosaic from photos of the Everglades and it's creatures that he has shot over the last 25 years. There will be 102 of the 4X8 ft floating photo tiles, with each having a ton of individual images on it.

Sooo... ?? Does it fire pumpkins at the onlookers?

Nope, but according to one news report Waddy helped engineer the gator to open and close the jaw:-)

Fabulous project to be involved in Waddy:-) Would love to see it but don't know if I will get an opportunity to get down that way. Keeping an eye on this...you should take pictures to show off the project here:-)

Well hell, if it's not assaulting pedistrians with melons, then what's the use? ;)

Hope I can make it out, I'm pretty sure I will be in town - so Waddy, where the heck are you gonna be while it floats around in Biscayne Bay? Should I grab the kayak and go poke it in the eye?

Art Roflmao

Canon EOS-6D Mark II

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

11/20/2012 03:27:38 AM · #8

Way cool, project, Waddy! AND I have an awesome idea for a finale...

11/20/2012 07:23:42 AM · #9

Thanks Cory, Marko, C Novack and Ken. Woo Hoo, it rates an Artzilla Gif!

My part in the project was not as big as the early press make it out to be. I was involved somewhat with the concept, choice of materials, and with a general outline for getting the head set up on the barge. Cesar, one of the two project creators has been my friend for many years, and they called me first about doing the build. Early plans were to build it here, mid state and ship it to the east coast after showing it at a couple of places near here.

As it evolved, a major bridge building company V&M Erectors got involved, along with the engineering firm that they use, so it became much stronger and heavier than I would have designed it. The reason was, that the head is eventually going to be an advertising prop, and it got a huge influx of cash toward the build.

The materials for the hide, teeth, and eyes are stuff that people that I work for donated to the project. My physical work on it was to make the teeth, and to help with the skin. I guess I got in by "the skin of the teeth". It's the first time I have ever "un-skinned" a gator LOL. The skin on the part of it in the video and and photos is greenhouse shade cloth, 12,000 sq ft of it, doubled, and saturated with epoxy paint to make it shiny and stiff. Another 6,000 sq ft will be used in the lower jaw.

1/3 of the head, which is a max size load for a "stretch" 70 ft long trailer is on the road now to several locations along the west coast. It will be in Naples Fl. Nov 25th, this Sunday. It will make it up to Venice in the following week, then back to the east coast to be put on the barge for the first floating outing, in connection with the Art Basel events.

Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS

11/20/2012 10:59:46 AM · #10

Here's an update with the travel schedule for the Fl west coast part of the gator's travels. I just received this from Lloyd G.

"Friday 23rd - arrive in venice

Saturday, 24th of Nov, Gator on the Go
Venice, FL, Hourglass Estates, 114 Hourglass Drive. 9:00am to 10:30 am.
11am visit to Clyde Butcher�s Gallery, Venice, FL, 237 Winfield Drive.
1pm possible stop to sarasota
3pm, Punta Gorda Arts Center, Punta Gorda, FL
7pm park gator and possible party in downtown fort myers

Sunday, 25th of Nov
State of the Gator, Sendoff
7:30am we roll out
9:oo am, Florida Panther National Refuge Headquarters / Comfort Inn Parking Lot. 3860 Tollgate Boulevard, Naples, FL. Next to off ramp of Alligator Alley. 11am. Gator Slowly Traverses Alligator Alley, in route to East Coast as �the largest Alligator to ever be seen on Alligator Alley�. South on State Rd 27 to the Miccosukee Tribe Casino, 8th street and Krome Ave. Roll down Tamiami Trail possible visit to FIU, then continue on to Key Biscayne, settles into Carnival at Virginia Key by 3pm. Public party with the gator 9 to 11pm. Private function 11pm � 3am Welcome the Gator to Miami. "

Between Sunday and the 5th Dec, the lower jaw will be finished and the entire head assembled on the barge for the first water adventure on Biscayne Bay, Miami.

scooter97

Canon EOS-6D

11/20/2012 07:49:57 PM · #11

Sounds like a fun weekend! Send lots of postcards ;-)

11/23/2012 08:55:41 PM · #12

The Gator is on the move. It stopped in my home town this evening for a photo op, some press coverage, and a "Tail Gator Party".
It's going to be moving all weekend, down the west coast of Florida, from Venice to Ft Myers Sat, then a party. Sunday is will start in Naples, cross Alligator Alley to Virginia Key, Miami, where the party will go till around 3:00 AM Monday morning.

Gator in the Bay, Miami, Google

Message edited by author 2012-11-23 21:01:11.