Sculptures & Public Art
Dilophosaur
Sculptor Michael Trcic created this life-size,
bronze Dilophosaur in 2002 for the museum
through the City of Mesa’s Public Art Program. The
Society of Vertebrate Paleontology awarded this
sculpture the Lanzendorf PaleoArt Prize for
"outstanding achievement in naturalistic art in
paleontology." Dilophosaurs roamed what is now
northeastern Arizona in the Early Jurassic, 200
million years ago.
Autosaurs
Autosaurs, whimsical sculptures made of old auto
parts and other metals, represent T. rex,
Dimetrodon (with "sail" on its back), and a
sauropod dinosaur. Ivan Hoffman, curator of
exhibitions at the museum from 1983-1990,
constructed the Autosaurs between 1987 and 1992.
Artist Jim Gary, who created similar works out of
auto parts from junkyards, inspired the sculptures.
The Autosaurs roam the north campus of the museum,
on First Street.
Apache Gaan
Artist Robert Peyser of Ann Arbor, Michigan
created this sculpture of an Apache Gaan
dancer for the museum in 1987. Among the Western
Apache, Gaan are mountain-dwelling spirits
that ward off evil and cure illness. They often
appear at night, and dance as part of a girl’s
puberty ceremonies. The traditional Gaan
costume includes hoods with crowns painted in white,
black, red, blue and green, painted sticks in each
hand, body paint, eagle feathers and streamers,
kilts with broad belts and tinklers, and high
moccasins with upturned toes.
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