King Neptune(statue)
 King Neptunein 2018 | |
 | |
| 36°51′35″N75°58′38″W/ 36.85963°N 75.97730°W | |
| Location | Boardwalk near Laskin Road,Virginia Beach,Virginia |
|---|---|
| Designer | Paul DiPasquale |
| Type | Statue |
| Material | Bronze |
| Height | 24 feet (7.3 m) / 34 feet (10 m) |
| Completion date | 2005 |
King Neptuneis a largebronze statuelocated inVirginia Beach, Virginiadesigned byPaul DiPasquale.It stands at the entrance of Neptune Park on the Virginia Beach Boardwalk at 31st Street, and depicts themythological god Neptune.[1]The sculpture weighs 12 tons[2]and is listed as 24 feet (7.3 m)[2]or 32 feet (9.8 m)[3]tall. It was built and opened in 2005.[4]The design consists of a 12-foot tall rock base surrounded by various fish,dolphins,lobsters,andoctopuses.Above this base, the figure of Neptune begins, starting with his waist. Neptune holds atridentin his right hand and rests his left hand on aloggerhead turtle.
Design and creation
[edit]In 2003, the Neptune Festival requested submission designs for a statue. Cameron Kitchin, the Director of the Contemporary Arts Center of Virginia Beach (now known asVirginia Museum of Contemporary Art) asked DiPasquale to submit his design of a statue of King Neptune. DiPasquale sent the clay model to the Festival's sculpture committee.[citation needed]After approval and years of planning, the statue was cast in China by Zhang Cong, who used traditional local methods.[5]
Upon arriving in the United States, the three pieces needed interior support before being reassembled. Due to exceeding its budget, the Chinese manufacturers inserted a weak metal to support the statue.[citation needed]This material was cleared out and substituted by a stainless steel skeletal support. According to DiPasquale, replacing the interior and reorganizing the individual pieces together required a month and a half ofwelding.[4]
The statue was dedicated to the City of Virginia Beach on September 30, 2005, during the Neptune Festival Boardwalk Weekend.[1]
In 2015, the 7 footmaquettethat served as a model for the sculpture was donated for display at theCape Charlesboardwalk.[3][6]
References
[edit]- ^ab"Virginia Beach Public Art".www.vbpublicart.org.Retrieved2021-04-09.
- ^abRex Rutkoski (22 August 2015)."Road Trip! Destination: Virginia Beach".TribLive.Retrieved11 November2015.
- ^ab"Statue of Neptune".Retrieved5 September2018.
- ^abMaurer, David."after Neptune arrived in Virginia Beach, it became a matter of...Putting all the pieces together".dailyprogress.com.The Daily Progress.
- ^"King Neptune Statue in Virginia Beach - A boardwalk icon".Virginia Beach, VA.Retrieved2022-03-09.
- ^Watterson, Malissa."Have you seen the King Neptune statue in Cape Charles?".The Daily Times.Retrieved2021-04-09.
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