General Information

Serial #

N/A

Part Number

1

Total Parts

1

AKA

N/A

Patents

N/A

General Description

Metal, brass and aluminum; oak; synthetic

Dimensions

Note: These reflect the general size for storage and are not necessarily representative of the object's true dimensions.

Length

62.0 cm

Width

36.0 cm

Height

67.0 cm

Thickness

N/A

Weight

N/A

Diameter

N/A

Volume

N/A

Lexicon

Group

Agriculture

Category

Commemorative

Sub-Category

N/A

Manufacturer

AKA

Kutac

Country

Canada

State/Province

Alberta

City

Calgary

Context

Country

Canada

State/Province

Alberta

Period

Unknown

Canada

Taken from worksheet; Reference #1: Because of its importance and symbolism, the rooster has often been represented in works of art in Canada and elsewhere in the world. This sculpture was made by Zdenek Kutac from Calgary. Mr. Kutak was born in 1945 in Czechoslovakia. He moved to Canada in 1968 and studied History and Political Science at Western University in London, Ontario and worked first as a stage carpenter at Theatre London until 1981 when he began doing prototype parts for the automotive industry. He was trained as a tool and die maker. He considers himself more as a craftsman rather than as an artist. He has done other sculptures that were exhibited- a globe, an orbit and a 19th century Victorian theatre. The rooster was never exhibited. Mr. Kutac makes those sculptures because he believes that technological skills should be promoted in our society. He also believes that the connection to the past should be maintained by showing the ingenuity and creativity of previous centuries craftsmanship. The rooster, a familiar presence on farms in Canada and elsewhere, is present in several cultures and religions, a lot of them represented in multiple ethnic groups in Canada. Depending on the culture, the rooster is attributed positive or negative attributes. He can be a good luck charm for some, a symbol of courage and intelligence for others, or be associated to the solar energy and resurrection. He is the national symbol of France. In some religions, he is offered as a sacrifice. In the Christian religion, he is part of the last moments of Jesus-Christ, and figures on the top of the church bell towers by a Pope obligation. The call it “Le coq de Saint Pierre”. We find these roosters on older Canadian church bell towers in Québec province notably. The rooster is also widely represented in popular art in Canada, on weather vanes for example.

Function

Artistic representation of a rooster.

Technical

Taken from worksheet; Reference #1: This rooster sculpture has movable parts-the wings, tail, head and mouth, possible with the action of levers contained in the legs. It is based on a sketch of the rooster that was made for the 1354 Strasbourg cathedral astronomical clock which was widely imitated in succeeding centuries. This mechanical sculpture of a rooster combines the importance of this familiar farm poultry member in Canadian agricultural history and still today and its symbolism in multiple ethnic groups that are part of Canada into a work of art that takes its inspiration from technology. The rooster importance and cultural meanings is embedded into a technological piece of art. It took over 250 hours to make it. It is a recent fashion in the artistic world to offer sculptures that are made of pieces of recycled parts. This one though was not made with recycled metal parts.

Area Notes

Unknown

Details

Markings

none apparent

Missing

none apparent

Finish

The sculpture is primarily made of metal. It is a combination of red lacquered metal, aluminium and brass. There are also a few pieces of unfinished oak aiding with its structure. The base and the two levers are red lacquered metal. Each lever has a black synthetic handle. There are a few specks of red lacquer missing on the rooster's comb. The rooster only has one eye, it was drwan with a black marker. The rooster is held together with screws and welded parts.

Decoration

N/A