Terrapin Scholar
In September 2005, the University of Maryland, College Park, announced the launch of a public art initiative called the Fear the Turtle Sculpture Project. I participated in this competition with a design intended to honor the College Park Scholars. My concept featured the Scholar’s sun spot logo prominently on the turtle’s plastron and the University’s globe seal on its carapace. On November 30, 2005, I received the exciting news that my design had been selected, and a sponsor had been found.
The completed turtle sculpture stands at an impressive four and a half feet tall and three and a half feet wide. Crafted from hollow cast resin, it weighs approximately 100 pounds. The painting process involved primarily common indoor/outdoor enamel spray paint, with the toes, tongue, and eyes meticulously hand-painted. To ensure its durability, the entire sculpture received several coats of spray-on enamel clear coating, a process that took about three months to complete.
I want to express my heartfelt gratitude to Waldo and Jean Burnside for their generous sponsorship of my sculpture, which has contributed to scholarships for the University and celebrated the achievements of Scholars. Additionally, a big thank you to Nina Basu, Joseph Howard, Amit Arwindekar, and Aggie Dog for their invaluable assistance in painting, sanding, and taping the giant turtle.
The Terrapin Scholar was proudly displayed at the Cambridge Community Center at the University of Maryland, College Park, during the summer of 2006.
The Terrapin Scholar was returned to College Park on March 24, 2006. Below are pictures of the finalized sculpture.
The process of completing the turtle’s body involved taping the quadrants, a task that Joe assisted with. He took on the bulk of the spray painting, ensuring that every detail was carefully applied. Interestingly, the turtle turned out to be nearly as tall as Nina!
To prepare the turtle model for painting, we began by sanding down some rough spots to create a smooth surface. We also addressed a few scratches that had occurred during transportation. In the midst of this process, Nina was busy capturing the moments with her camera.
What else could we possibly have him wear but a festive Santa hat? It perfectly complements his cheerful demeanor and adds a whimsical touch to the sculpture, making him a true holiday mascot!
Below are the original design images that illustrate the creative process behind the Terrapin Scholar sculpture. These visuals capture the initial concepts and details that inspired the final piece:
