The DinoArt Committee is on its final push for the season to complete its fundraising for its next endeavour.
The DinoArt Committee of the Chamber of Commerce was struck this year with the mandate to create a sustainable way to restore and maintain the approximately 35 dinosaur statues and 20 murals throughout the town. They also want to build on the image of the Dinosaur Capital Of The World by adding more dinosaurs.
A herculean effort this summer by volunteers has helped the committee achieve its goals. Virtually all the dinosaurs in the downtown have been repaired and painted, and so far, the committee is very happy with the effort and the results.
“It has been huge, there has been lots of time spent refurbishing them,” said committee member John Shoff.
He adds that while some have been critical of some of the more artistic renditions of the dinosaurs, Shoff said it makes sense as the dinosaur statues are not an accurate representation of dinosaurs to begin with.
“Why make them look like they are scientifically accurate?” said Shoff. “I like the idea that they are not being painted to be dinosaurs, they are painted to be art work.”
He said the next phase for the project is to purchase new sculptures for the core. They are hoping to raise enough funds to add two new dinosaurs to the core. One site they are looking at is at the corner of 3rd Avenue and Centre Street near Gus’s Corner Restaurant.
Although nothing is finalized, the committee has been in talks with Studio Y Creations to construct the sculptures. He said the company came to the valley to look at the project and have been very accommodating. Because they are in Calgary, they are available to help if there is a need for maintenance, unlike ordering a sculpture from overseas.
Shoff said the sculptures they are looking at are very durable, constructed with tubular steel right up to the fingertips. A body mould is then made over the frame and then they are finished with a very resilient epoxy resin, and then clear coated.
The DinoArt Committee has also received a donation of a Tyrannosaurus Rex bust, built by Studio Y, from the Royal Tyrrell Museum. They are looking at placing the bust in the area of the three-way stop at Centre Street and Railway Avenue.
“We want to mount it on that building (Shoppers Drug Mart/ Café Ole) so it looks like the dinosaur is crashing through the building,” said Shoff. “On the cement pedestal in front of it there would be a few dinosaurs looking back and running away.”
While they are hoping to get to work on these projects next spring, all of these efforts are dependent on its fundraising. The committee is continuing to fund -raise until the end of this year. Shoff says they are about half way to the goal they want to reach to make the projects happen, and have received generous donations from local individuals and businesses.
They have designed sponsorship packages to help the effort. The committee has also benefited from a matching program from the Drumheller and District Chamber of Commerce which will match, up to $10,000, dollar-for-dollar, until the end of 2011.
For more information on the DinoArt project or to learn more on how to get involved, contact Shoff at 403-823-2983 or email dinoarts@drumhellerchamber.com