To Staab, the canyon-like area next to the elevators in the Museum’s parking garage looked like the perfect place to stage an unexpected prehistoric scene. For this installation, Staab created a long-necked Camarasaurus (approximately 60 feet long and 34 feet tall) rearing up on its hind legs in a defensive position after being startled by a smaller predatory Ceratosaurus (approximately 17 feet long) on a ledge nearby.  Camarasaurus’ head will pop over the top of the parking garage structure, visible to people walking in City Park and entering the Museum. 

 

 

 Each dinosaur sculpture is a full-scale model of what each creature might have looked like in life, drawn from Staab’s extensive knowledge of paleontology and his consultations with working scientists. Also, both fossils were first discovered in Colorado—Camarasaurus in 1877 near Cañon City, and Ceratosaurus in 1883 near Delta—giving them each a special connection to the state. Both dinosaurs lived in the Late Jurassic Period, between 155 and 145 million years ago.    

 

 

The basic shape of each sculpture is created using high density foam, reinforced by steel armature where the feet, heads, and tails connect. Then, the foam is coated with a quarter-inch layer of fiberglass resin, which creates a sturdy “exoskeleton” for the sculpture. Next, Staab applies a layer of sculpting epoxy and the fine detail of the dinosaur’s skin. This texture is based upon actual skin imprint fossils from dinosaurs of the same family to ensure the sculpture is as scientifically accurate as possible. Finally, Staab adds paint and washes to give the dinosaur a life-like look. Start to finish, the sculptures took about six months to complete.