
DATE: Thursday, November 13, 1997           TAG: 9711110145

SECTION: NORFOLK COMPASS         PAGE: 03   EDITION: FINAL 

TYPE: CLOSE-UP 

SOURCE: Kathryn Darling 

                                            LENGTH:   72 lines

KEVIN GALLUP FABRICATION SCULPTURE DESIGNER

The new bronze statue in front of Old Dominion University's Webb Center is not just a lion. It's a beefcake lion - a monarch - said artist Kevin Gallup.

After being commissioned by the university to create the sculpture, Gallup, an ODU alumnus and adjunct instructor, researched the project and found that some species of lions grow to 10 feet from nose to end. ODU's new monarch comes close. The statue is 9 feet long. Its curving tail adds another foot. And from head to paw, he measures 6 feet, 2 inches.

Gallup began working on the lion only three months ago. He said he and each of his crew put in a few 36-hour shifts, trying to meet the Founder's Day deadline. The lion made its debut, but it wasn't completely finished. The complex process of creating the lion required at least $10,000 of materials and lots of effort, said Gallup. He had to create a large model, then a cast of the model, which was broken into 41 pieces for the final bronze casting. The pieces were welded together and then sandblasted.

The lion was sculpted in a foundry Gallup built, where he teaches ODU students the skill of bronze casting and clay sculpturing.

A master of fine arts candidate, Gallup doesn't know if he'll be graduating this December or next spring. He's finished all the requirements for the degree but said, ``I've been so busy working on the lion, I haven't had time to find out the deadline to apply.''

Gallup's background of engineering, computers and fine arts have led him to sculpting large items for display.

Name: Kevin Mark Gallup

What brought you to Norfolk? My father was in the Navy and we left the area when I was 6-months old. I lived here off and on growing up and came to Norfolk to attend Old Dominion University.

Birthplace: Portsmouth

Birthdate: Jan. 4, 1954

Occupation: Fabrication sculpture designer

Marital status: 10 years to Mary Anne

Children: No

Last book read: ``Pirotechnical''

Favorite movie: ``Das Boot''

Favorite magazine: ``Flying''

If you could trade places for just one day with anyone in the world, who would it be and why? I'd be Bob Hoover, an exceptional aerobatic pilot. Flying vintage P-51 planes would be great. An F/A-18 might be neat, too.

Biggest accomplishment: The proudest thing is refinishing and rebuilding a 63XKE Jaguar automobile in time for a Concours show at The Contemporary Art Center of Virginia show, when everyone said it couldn't be done. The car took first place in the sports car restoration category.

Most embarrassing moment: Carrying on a conversation in a restaurant with someone only to find out it was the wrong person.

If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be? Fewer broken bones.

Perfect way to spend the day: Sailing.

Favorite vacation spot: Krakow, Poland.

Pet peeve: People who work the least and complain the most.

First job: Worked at the Arctic Bear, a fast food place in Albany, Ga.

Worst job: A chrome plating shop - hot, dark and dangerous.

Hobbies: Sky diving, motorcross, and sailing.

Favorite restaurant: O'Sullivan's Wharf in Norfolk for seafood.

What do you like most about Norfolk? Not too pretentious, many connections.

What do you like least about Norfolk? Would prefer it to be more high-end art. ILLUSTRATION: Photo by GARY C. KNAPP

Kevin Gallup works on the bronze ODU monarch in the ODU Studio Arts