The Lost City of Atlantis is a large, underwater, multi-piece sculpture by a local
artist, known simply as “Foots”. The artist had a dream... To create his version of
the Lost City of Atlantis. The scale of the project that Foots is building is huge,
and his ambitious plans involve over 300,000 lbs of sculptures, which will be
placed off the north shore of Cayman Brac in a large sandy area, at a dive site
called Radar Reef. The 51-year-old artist said his idea is not just to produce a work
of art, but to write story. He will tell the tale not in book-form, but with 75 tons of
crushed rock, sand and cement, and each new phase that he intends to add every
four to six months will be a different chapter. The materials he is using will last
forever and the City will also become an artificial reef, which will add to its interest
as a dive site, he claims.
There are no drawings or renditions of the end product. The vision for the entire
project is inside Foots’ head, which evolves as he creates it, he said. The
sculptures presently take up a great deal of space in the beach-front yard of Foots’
home on the south side of the Brac. It consists of the Archway of Atlantis, of
which the two bases alone weigh 21,000 lbs each, the Elders’ Way, a pathway
lined with 5-foot temple columns, leading to the Inner Circle of Light. This will be
marked by eleven columns, in the center of which will stand the 2,600lb Sundial
on a 5,800 lb base. Phase 2, planned for June or July this year, will be the Pyramid
of Atlantis, which Foots estimates will be in excess of 40,000 lbs and will be the
largest sculpture in the Lost City. Because of its size and the difficulty in
transporting it, this will have to be constructed at the Creek Dock, he said.
In Foots’ story, the Eleven Elders were the ruling council of Atlantis. The Elders
will stand outside the Inner Circle throughout the City, waiting patiently, with their
eyes closed and hands clasped, for the day when their City will rise again above
the sea. “Only then shall they enter again the Circle of Light to once more rule the
Great City of Atlantis,” he said. The Elders will each take on the resemblance of a
living person, and the identity of the first Elder will be unveiled at the launching of
Atlantis in mid April. The identities of the other ten are up for auction, said Foots.
People may bid for themselves or someone they know to become an Elder of the
Brac Atlantis, and details of this will be announced at a later date.
Eleven glass goblets will also be auctioned, with the date and time and details of
the launch, plus Foots’ signature, etched onto them. This will be done by local
artists Mike Pietras and Mitchum Sanford, who will also be producing 100 less
expensive goblets to be sold at the launch. All proceeds from the auction of Elder
identities and goblets, plus sale of goblets, will go towards the Cayman Brac
Athletic Club. Foots will donate the glasses, and Sanford and Pietras will donate
their time.
In the center of one of the pillars is a void that will be filled with a time capsule.
Newspapers of the day will be among the things that will be sealed in the bronze
tube for 20 years, said Foots. For the practicalities of setting the pieces, Foots has
built a barge capable of handling the heaviest piece, and has invested in three lift
bags, just one of which can carry 24,000 lbs, he said. Foots said he has so far
invested $20,000 into this project but is asking for nothing in return. “How can
you put a price on making a dream come true?” he asked. The only expense to the
Government will be help in moving the pieces, but he expects his creation to
generate a lot of tourism revenue. He also speculates that his sculpture might be
used by movie-makers, who spend millions of dollars to create underwater ruined
cities.
“It’s the first of its kind,” said Foots. “One day, other people will try to duplicate,
but there will only be one original and it will be here on Cayman Brac.” So far,
Foots has created over 300,000 lbs of sculptures, including columns, archways
and the first of two 20-foot Pyramids of Atlantis, which weighs 50,000 lbs. Phase
One is already in position at a dive site called Radar Reef off the north coast of the
Brac. Phase Two is finished and ready to be sunk into position.
The reefs begin at the shoreline making it easy for underwater enthusiasts of any
age to enjoy the beautiful marine life and the recent addition of the Lost City of
Atlantis is a wonderful new scuba diving attraction. All year round the Cayman
Islands offer warm water, great visibility, warm weather, and natural beauty to
bring visitors from around the world to enjoy the scuba diving, snorkeling, nature
trails, rock climbing, swimming, shell hunting, fishing, or just relaxing.
One of the greatest mythological cities in history - The Lost City of Atlantis, is now
the one of the newest dive sites in the Cayman Islands. The dive site “Atlantis,” is
being constructed by the local artist, who is producing a replica of the famed city
below the sea for all divers to enjoy.
"I've always been fascinated with ruins, history and mythology and this project is
a vision in my mind, not from any other drawings or renditions, but simply from
my own fantasy - my own expression," he says. "I am very, very thankful to the
local government for allowing me to fulfill my dream, and I hope this will be my
legacy - my gift to the world."
"Things are already covered in moss and are getting fleshed out, " he says. "There
are cleaner shrimp everywhere and they in turn will bring other forms of life to the
site. There are also an abundance of Sting Rays and Eagle Rays that are in the
area," Foots says.
We invite you to meet the people of Atlantis and explore The Lost City. Dive
through the Archway into the Circle of Light. Read the writings on the Scriptures
of the civilization lost. Let your imagination guide you as you discover everything
that Atlantis has to offer. ORIGINAL TEXT FOR ARTICLES CREATED AND COPYRIGHT 2007 BY CAYMAN NET NEWS AND OTHER
NEWS/TOURISM SOURCES.
artist, known simply as “Foots”. The artist had a dream... To create his version of
the Lost City of Atlantis. The scale of the project that Foots is building is huge,
and his ambitious plans involve over 300,000 lbs of sculptures, which will be
placed off the north shore of Cayman Brac in a large sandy area, at a dive site
called Radar Reef. The 51-year-old artist said his idea is not just to produce a work
of art, but to write story. He will tell the tale not in book-form, but with 75 tons of
crushed rock, sand and cement, and each new phase that he intends to add every
four to six months will be a different chapter. The materials he is using will last
forever and the City will also become an artificial reef, which will add to its interest
as a dive site, he claims.
There are no drawings or renditions of the end product. The vision for the entire
project is inside Foots’ head, which evolves as he creates it, he said. The
sculptures presently take up a great deal of space in the beach-front yard of Foots’
home on the south side of the Brac. It consists of the Archway of Atlantis, of
which the two bases alone weigh 21,000 lbs each, the Elders’ Way, a pathway
lined with 5-foot temple columns, leading to the Inner Circle of Light. This will be
marked by eleven columns, in the center of which will stand the 2,600lb Sundial
on a 5,800 lb base. Phase 2, planned for June or July this year, will be the Pyramid
of Atlantis, which Foots estimates will be in excess of 40,000 lbs and will be the
largest sculpture in the Lost City. Because of its size and the difficulty in
transporting it, this will have to be constructed at the Creek Dock, he said.
In Foots’ story, the Eleven Elders were the ruling council of Atlantis. The Elders
will stand outside the Inner Circle throughout the City, waiting patiently, with their
eyes closed and hands clasped, for the day when their City will rise again above
the sea. “Only then shall they enter again the Circle of Light to once more rule the
Great City of Atlantis,” he said. The Elders will each take on the resemblance of a
living person, and the identity of the first Elder will be unveiled at the launching of
Atlantis in mid April. The identities of the other ten are up for auction, said Foots.
People may bid for themselves or someone they know to become an Elder of the
Brac Atlantis, and details of this will be announced at a later date.
Eleven glass goblets will also be auctioned, with the date and time and details of
the launch, plus Foots’ signature, etched onto them. This will be done by local
artists Mike Pietras and Mitchum Sanford, who will also be producing 100 less
expensive goblets to be sold at the launch. All proceeds from the auction of Elder
identities and goblets, plus sale of goblets, will go towards the Cayman Brac
Athletic Club. Foots will donate the glasses, and Sanford and Pietras will donate
their time.
In the center of one of the pillars is a void that will be filled with a time capsule.
Newspapers of the day will be among the things that will be sealed in the bronze
tube for 20 years, said Foots. For the practicalities of setting the pieces, Foots has
built a barge capable of handling the heaviest piece, and has invested in three lift
bags, just one of which can carry 24,000 lbs, he said. Foots said he has so far
invested $20,000 into this project but is asking for nothing in return. “How can
you put a price on making a dream come true?” he asked. The only expense to the
Government will be help in moving the pieces, but he expects his creation to
generate a lot of tourism revenue. He also speculates that his sculpture might be
used by movie-makers, who spend millions of dollars to create underwater ruined
cities.
“It’s the first of its kind,” said Foots. “One day, other people will try to duplicate,
but there will only be one original and it will be here on Cayman Brac.” So far,
Foots has created over 300,000 lbs of sculptures, including columns, archways
and the first of two 20-foot Pyramids of Atlantis, which weighs 50,000 lbs. Phase
One is already in position at a dive site called Radar Reef off the north coast of the
Brac. Phase Two is finished and ready to be sunk into position.
The reefs begin at the shoreline making it easy for underwater enthusiasts of any
age to enjoy the beautiful marine life and the recent addition of the Lost City of
Atlantis is a wonderful new scuba diving attraction. All year round the Cayman
Islands offer warm water, great visibility, warm weather, and natural beauty to
bring visitors from around the world to enjoy the scuba diving, snorkeling, nature
trails, rock climbing, swimming, shell hunting, fishing, or just relaxing.
One of the greatest mythological cities in history - The Lost City of Atlantis, is now
the one of the newest dive sites in the Cayman Islands. The dive site “Atlantis,” is
being constructed by the local artist, who is producing a replica of the famed city
below the sea for all divers to enjoy.
"I've always been fascinated with ruins, history and mythology and this project is
a vision in my mind, not from any other drawings or renditions, but simply from
my own fantasy - my own expression," he says. "I am very, very thankful to the
local government for allowing me to fulfill my dream, and I hope this will be my
legacy - my gift to the world."
"Things are already covered in moss and are getting fleshed out, " he says. "There
are cleaner shrimp everywhere and they in turn will bring other forms of life to the
site. There are also an abundance of Sting Rays and Eagle Rays that are in the
area," Foots says.
We invite you to meet the people of Atlantis and explore The Lost City. Dive
through the Archway into the Circle of Light. Read the writings on the Scriptures
of the civilization lost. Let your imagination guide you as you discover everything
that Atlantis has to offer. ORIGINAL TEXT FOR ARTICLES CREATED AND COPYRIGHT 2007 BY CAYMAN NET NEWS AND OTHER
NEWS/TOURISM SOURCES.
| ATLANTIS CAYMAN BRAC TRADEMARK 2008, CAYMAN BRAC, CAYMAN ISLANDS, BRITISH WEST INDIES ALL PHOTOGRAPHY COPYRIGHT 2007, J. FOOTS UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED |
