Rattler 66 - Public Art

Rattler 66 is a sculpture that tells a story about travel, nature, time and place. It captures what happens when one takes a moment to pause and experience the New Mexican landscape during a road trip on historic Route 66. A story told through dynamic form and implementation of a graphic multi-layered surface.

During a road trip, the majority of time is spent in the automobile. A compressed bubble of space that traverses vast landscapes. And from the vantage point of this bubble, the surroundings become morphing bands of color. Once the automobile stops, the bubble pops and space expands endlessly. Rattler 66’s utilizes two mirrored curving panels to create a compressed space which represents this bubble. When the traveler steps out from this confined space and into the landscape, the desert starts to tell a different story.

Walking along the curved panel of the sculpture and exploring the other sides, one begins to decipher the desert forms, history and wildlife. The design of the outer panels of Rattler 66 incorporates camouflage which is an integral part of life for many creatures in the desert. Skin patterning of the sculptural rattle snake mimics its natural surroundings by integrating silhouettes of iconic vehicles from every decade over the past 100 years. Each vehicle is framed by the Route 66 shield. The slithering body overall also exposes a large “66” bordered by the contours of the Route 66 shield.

Walking around the sculpture and following the curved panels back toward the starting point of compression, a transformation occurs. The curved bands of color are adorned with a geometric pattern, a reference to the designs of tire treads. The sculpture’s scale shifts and the viewer becomes a snake as it narrowly escapes the crushing potential of giant tires on a passing automobile.

The sculpture’s color palette is inspired by its location, combining subtle hues of the land with bright gradients of the sky. And in a nod to Route 66’s evolution alongside the railroad lines, Rattler 66 continues the aesthetic of track construction by utilizing carriage bolts to fasten the sculpture together.

Rattler 66 celebrates 100 years of Route 66 through a dynamic form, movement, imagery and storytelling.

Sanctuary - Public Art

Sanctuary - Bernalillo County Animal Care and Resource Facility. Albuquerque, New Mexico

Steel structure w/ concrete base within a 24’ diameter circular landscaped site.

Conceptually, the sculpture embodies the spirit of the building it adorns. The facility is a place of safety and healing for all animals and this sculpture celebrates it as a sanctuary. In the best circumstances, the animals are just temporary guests to this facility, so similarly, the sculpture is a transformative space that is simply passed through. The four sides represent - Cats, Dogs, Livestock, and Wildlife. This interwoven animal imagery is abstracted into vibrant color shapes as one passes through the center. The design also incorporates plantings that will encourage hummingbird and butterfly activity while softening some of the steel geometries.

Landscape Design/Install

Examples from a few projects done in collaboration with my friend, designer and plant guru, Josh Johnson MLA. We create modern geometric hardscapes accented with precise steel edging and contrast it with a melody of organic forms and textures.

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Commissioned works

A selection of works commissioned by individuals and commercial clients. Contact me for unique gifts, memorials, or to create a one-of-a-kind piece that fits perfectly over the couch. 505.220.4415 or dubtdesign@gmail.com