By definition, indigenous means originating and/or characterizing a particular region or country. This week at the Gainesville Regional Airport, the word took on another meaning when an awesome and incredible five-ton concrete and bronze gator head work of art was unveiled. Indigenous, the humongous and impressive reptile seemingly emerges and graces the front entrance of the airport’s newly renovated main passenger terminal.
Yes, Indigenous is actually the newest work in the City of Gainesville’s collection in Art in Public Places. According to Pete Davidson, the wildly creative artist (and University of Florida Alumni), he transformed this five ton alligator (who, by the way, confirmed that “I” is a girl) from a collection of almost every imaginable (and quite frankly improbable) pile of treasured and “repurposed” scraps and recycled treasures. Upon closer inspection you realize that her beautifully symmetrical eyebrows (okay, do gators really have eyebrows?) are actually old railroad track and Cracker cow horns, a portion of her snout is antique typewriter keys and the top of her mammoth (no gator) head is an old wagon wheel! Cool, cool, cool.
Just keep looking and you’re bound to discover even more items than you could ever imagine and oddly reminiscent of the search for hidden objects in the children’s Highlight magazine or Where’s Waldo…but better.
So go to the Gainesville airport. Take a good gander at Indigenous. Although she looks like she might, she probably won’t bite -- and discover why Indigenous’ middle name could easily be ingenious!
Yes, Indigenous is actually the newest work in the City of Gainesville’s collection in Art in Public Places. According to Pete Davidson, the wildly creative artist (and University of Florida Alumni), he transformed this five ton alligator (who, by the way, confirmed that “I” is a girl) from a collection of almost every imaginable (and quite frankly improbable) pile of treasured and “repurposed” scraps and recycled treasures. Upon closer inspection you realize that her beautifully symmetrical eyebrows (okay, do gators really have eyebrows?) are actually old railroad track and Cracker cow horns, a portion of her snout is antique typewriter keys and the top of her mammoth (no gator) head is an old wagon wheel! Cool, cool, cool.
Just keep looking and you’re bound to discover even more items than you could ever imagine and oddly reminiscent of the search for hidden objects in the children’s Highlight magazine or Where’s Waldo…but better.
So go to the Gainesville airport. Take a good gander at Indigenous. Although she looks like she might, she probably won’t bite -- and discover why Indigenous’ middle name could easily be ingenious!
