Re: Conway's Nyctosaurus Restoration or Introducing the Bennett Prize!

[John Conway <john_conway@mac.com>]

On Tuesday, August 12, 2003, at 05:30  AM, Chris Bennett wrote:

> I have a few observations regarding John Conway's painting and the 
> reconstruction of Nyctosaurus with a jib.
>
> First off, I must say that I very much like the artistic aspects of 
> Conway's painting, nice composition and execution.  Howeever, I would 
> like to take issue with some of the scientific aspcets of the 
> recosntruction.

Well, my restoration is meant to illustrate a specific hypothesis, as 
Jim Cunningham has explained. Without the hypothesis, there'd be no 
restoration.

> I have been dismayed that so many have been so quick to recosntruct a 
> membrane between the two rami of the crest of Nyctosaurus.

I understand your frustration. Fortunately there is an easy solution, 
another Bennett Prize:

 THE CHRIS BENNETT  "MEMBRANE, SCHMEMBRANE" PALEOART PRIZE
Competition for the best restoration of Nyctosaurus without a membrane 
on it's crest.
The Prize: A thumbs-up from Chris Bennett.

Seriously though, I'm sure there are dozens (if not hundreds) of 
artists on this list that would be willing to produce a restoration 
under your direction.


John

"The two most abundant things in the universe are hydrogen and 
stupidity." - Harlan Ellison