In 2008, I collaborated with a team comprising an artist, renowned Palm Beach sculptor R. St. Croix, his sculpting studio, and the RCC marketing team to brainstorm and develop concepts for a sculpture displayed at the entrance of the Comedy Club aboard Oasis of the Seas, the largest cruise ship in the world at the time of its construction. The club was designed to resemble a New York subway station, embracing an underground theme.
The concept was inspired by an urban legend about alligators living in the sewers and consuming discarded alcohol during Prohibition.
After extensive brainstorming sessions to capture the comedic potential of the alligator from multiple perspectives, I conceived the idea of portraying the alligator as the celebrated hero of the legend.
Leveraging my fondness for newspapers, I sketched a scene of a reptile dressed in period attire, peeking out of a manhole to steal and read a newspaper. The paper’s headline and lead photo featured the alligator itself, creating a humorous self-referential moment. The drawing was subsequently adapted by the artist into a bronze sculpture, which not only captivated visitors but also became featured on social media, shared widely by those who encountered it.
The original idea and concept art developed by me as a collaborative foundation for a sculpture, aligning the client’s general vision with placement-specific restrictions to create a tailored artistic solution.
Tools used: Hand drawing, Photoshop
Sculpture by Robert St. Croix, a screenshot from a YouTube vide by Derek Picone
A screenshot from Tripadvisor, featuring the alligator sculpture
Entrance to the comedy club, featuring the alligator sculpture, a screenshot from a YouTube vide by Derek Picone
Sculpture by Robert St. Croix, a screenshot from a YouTube vide by Derek Picone
Sculpture by Robert St. Croix, a screenshot from a YouTube vide by Derek Picone
