Update: Long Island Bigfoot
Posted by: Craig Woolheater on October 22nd, 2006
Cameron Gainer, the artist who created this sculpture, shares with Cryptomundo details concerning this piece of art, including the construction and public response of his rendition of the Patterson-Gimlin film subject.
The sculpture has been discussed here on Cryptomundo in the following posts.
More on Long Island Bigfoot Photo
First a few details on the construction of Patty.
I welded a steel armature covered it in a metal lath and then fiber glassed the form.
Next I hand modeled the hands, feet, and face using a two part non-toxic sculpting medium and glass eyes. The final step was adhering the faux fur. I chose a fur with a longer nap than what is traditionally recognized in frame 352. This longer length sways a bit in the wind and creates a bit of movement in the form. The seams are not visible, but the wind does cause the fur to part in different areas, giving the illusion of a visible seam. The sculpture is anchored into two concrete footings below the feet.
Click on image for full size version
The scale is accurate to what the subject in the footage has been calculated to be. It has a walking height of 75.5" and would have a standing height of 81". I modeled the head and face from digital representations created by Reuben Steindorf under the direction of Doug Hajicek. These illustrations can be seen in Christopher L. Murphy’s book "Meet the Sasquatch". There is obviously a large degree of interpretation because the original footage does not have any clear detail of the face.
I chose to recreate this iconic pose because of the controversial circumstances of its creation. Specifically because the footage is viewed as either "documentary" footage of a living creature, or as complete "fiction" as a constructed hoax. There are convincing arguments to both sides of belief.
In the history of photography there are several historic and iconic images that have shared the same controversy. The most well recognized is perhaps the infamous photograph by Jo Rosenthal "Raising the Flag on Iwo Jima" and the questions about this authentic or staged event, it was eventually proven to have been authentic. The second most well known image under similar controversy is a photograph by Robert Capa titled "The Falling Soldier" also now widely regarded as authentic.
As an artist I work in sculpture, video, and photography. This project involves all three disciplines through video and photographic documentation of the sculpture and the viewers interaction with it.
The public response has been quite positive. A large part of this project involves the photographs and poses that visitors to the park have been creating with the sculpture. In this way it has taken on a life of its own as people post their photographs to flickr and other photo sharing sites.
I really appreciate all the honest criticism and feedback from the forum and will keep you updated as the project continues.
Co-founder of Cryptomundo in 2005.
I have appeared in or contributed to the following TV programs, documentaries and films:
OLN's Mysterious Encounters: "Caddo Critter", Southern Fried Bigfoot, Travel Channel's Weird Travels: "Bigfoot", History Channel's MonsterQuest: "Swamp Stalker", The Wild Man of the Navidad, Destination America's Monsters and Mysteries in America: Texas Terror - Lake Worth Monster, Animal Planet's Finding Bigfoot: Return to Boggy Creek and Beast of the Bayou.
From one sculptural artist to another, this really is an awsome piece of work! She really needs a moustache trimming though! I want this for my birthday!!
The head should be a little more pointed and the face diminished a tiny bit. Other than that, if someone took a pic of the sculpture from a distance, no one would be able to say for certain whether it was fake.
A really nice peice of work. Since the “real thing” isn’t available this is the next best thing. Thanks Mr. Gainer for taking the time and effort for constructing this one-of-a kind recreation. I live near a game preserve and having something like this on the premises would create quite a sensation.
I am sorry Mr. Gainer chose to put in a gratuitous sneer at the Iwo Jima photo. The details of that filming are well known to anyone who bothers to check it out and has been known almost from the very first. The famous shot was of the 2nd flag flown tho the first was also photgraphed by Mr. Rosenthal. The first flag was replaced by the second one because the first flag was a small one. The ‘scandal’ around the photography was orchestrated by the media and has been kept alive by the sort of people who love to put down people far more successful than they can ever hope to be. Mr. Gainer should be ashamed of himself for further perpetuating a shameful myth!
Nice Patty statue, though.
And if Mr. Gainer’s work was displayed near a game preserve, I fear it would be shot to ribbons in no time at all!
Sorry, no hunting allowed on this one.
Though it would be a reminder of the rash of Bigfoot sightings back in the mid-70s in this part of the state.