Jason Sandford
Jason Sandford is a reporter, writer, blogger and photographer interested in all things Asheville.
This makes me happy. FB event here.
Come down to the River Arts District this Monday to celebrate the public unveiling of the Wedge building’s latest addition- a fully functional large scale kinetic metal dinosaur skeleton permanently suspended 25 feet above the back lot. Mechanical demonstration of Asheville’s new animated prehistoric colossus to be set to the tune of live performances by The Big Nasty and Firecracker Jazz bands.
This Monday (9/9) 6-10 pm
009 Paynes Way, Rail track side of Wedge Studios, adjacent to Wedge Brewery, Ananda West and the Bull and Beggar
Event is outdoors, and open to the public.
Free ($5+ donation encouraged for musicians)
Wedge Brewery Beer for sale.
More info:
Originally built in 1997 by late Asheville sculptor John Payne, the dinosaur, modeled after the Utahraptor, was the artist’s first experiment in what would evolve into his signature style and a long line of celebrated moving metal skeletal creations. After Payne’s death in 2008, his large collection of kinetic dinosaur and bird sculptures was sold to Imagine Exhibitions of Atlanta. Now a traveling exhibit billed as ‘Dinosaurs in Motion’ the show is currently touring the United States and is scheduled to go abroad.
The Utahraptor, the sole member of his body of his work remaining in Asheville, has fittingly been purchased by the current owners of Wedge Studios, the art studios building Payne founded, and is finding its new home directly above the entrance to his old studio.
The Wedge commissioned one of John’s former assistants, Chas Llewellyn to retrofit the sculpture and devise the infrastructure for its permanent outdoor installation. Working out of Payne’s old wedge studio and utilizing much of the knowledge gained under Payne’s tutelage, Llewellyn has worked for three months designing and developing the new installation.
