| "This
is the maquette for the second of three life-sized running cheetahs
designed to be darting along a grassy stretch in the city of Dowagiac,
Michigan. The first in the series is "Running
Cheetah" Lifesize. The third, "Turning
Point" Lifesize, the lead one of the group, depicts this
most graceful of big cats in one of those amazing sharp controlled
turns that only a cheetah can execute. The cheetah is legendary
for its incredible speed, capable of reaching 70 miles per hour
in the heat of the chase, and these three sculptures together depict
the three main characteristics of that famed running style. The
cheetah’s non-retractable claws grip the ground as its legs
gather beneath the arched back and then, with amazing speed and
strength, the spine stretches out to full length, propelling the
cat forward to then gather its legs again and repeat the rhythmic
stride, so swift that it can only be fully appreciated with slow
motion photography. With its head held perfectly level as if connected
to its prey with an invisible thread, this amazing cat can execute
lightning fast sharp turns, using its long tail for balance. The
cheetah is built for speed, not for fighting, and often, when the
the huge effort of the high-speed chase is successful, the graceful
cat is forced to relinquish its meal to a stronger, more aggressive
lion or hyena." - Rosetta |
