Statues are used to memorialize people and things that have made an impact on society.
(prHWY.com) May 30, 2012 - Seattle, WA -- Statues are used to memorialize people and things that have made an impact on society. Nothing has made a bigger impact on society than man's best friend - the dog, which is why people in a suburb of Tulsa, Arizona plan on creating a unique and potentially crowd drawing statue of man's best friend.
"We have statues of bears, tigers, wolves, and people", said statue creator, Billy Thorn. "But we don't have a statue of man's best friend, the dog. I want to build one, and not just any silly statue, one that will leave an impression on anyone who visits it."
Billy Thorn has been drawing up plans to create several life sized replicas of dogs. However, instead of using the traditional metal or copper that most statues are made of, Thorn plans on using a unique building material - petrified raw dog food.
"Dogs love dog food", explained Thorn. "So why not make the statue that is memorializing them out of their favorite food."
The process to create seven of the life sized dog statues will require over 600 pounds of
raw, moist dog food. The food will have to be left out over night to absorb some of the moisture, and then packed onto a metal frame that is designed in the shape of the dog.
"The process involved is very similar to that of wet sand", explained architect Ryan Miller. "You just slop the wet dog food on, and then hope it sticks. Once it dries it kind of petrifies where you slapped it on. There isn't much to explain, and it's fairly straight forward, anyone can do it really."
Billy Thorn plans on creating an entire tourist attraction dedicated exclusively to a variety of dogs. Visitors will be able to stop by and see these life sized versions of the dog, take pictures with them, and even allow their own pets to come see a statue version of themselves.
"I am trying to make this as interactive as possible", explains Thorn. "I want people to walk away saying 'Man, I ain't seen nothing like that ever'. I think I really have what it takes to make them say that."
The life-sized dog statue park is scheduled to open in late fall of 2012. Billy Thorn has already taken out several ads in national pet supply magazines, and even received several offers for sponsorship.
"Response for this park has been good", explained Thorn. "I gots a good feeling about this, I really do."
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