A new kinetic grouping took up residency in July on Timberline Center’s lawn at the corner of West Maple way and Buffalo Way. A red horse–life size– its white mane made of Dacron sailcloth, lowers its head down to check out a blue dog eager to meet the large animal, its tail up and its red heart spinning. Both animals are made of steel metal tubing.The horse was a real horse, trained for roping. I took a picture of him one early morning on the feed line at the Muddy Creek ranch in Pavillion, Wyoming. The dog is more a “generic” dog. I call the duo  “Friends.”

I imagined a line, like a pencil drawing, encapsulating open spaces. The two animals– the horse bending its neck to get closer to the dog and the dog stretching his to sniff the horse’s nose–tell a multi layered story that anybody can understand. It can be a literal and traditional scene observed on a ranch where animals co-exist in a working environment, and at the same time it is a metaphor for reaching outside of our bubble of comfort to meet new and different “friends.” It could be about bridging a generational gap, extending a helping hand to a handicapped person, talking to a foreigner…I like to give my sculptures layers of meaning.

The wind is a key player in the story of Friendship. It has a voice. I designed the sculptures to come to life when the wind blows. I gave the dog a windmill heart that spins in the air flow, adding a feeling of excitement to the story, “Just like the heart of a nervous person beats when meeting someone very different or impressive,”  and I gave the horse a mane, like a mini sail with batons mounted on springs that oscillates in the wind.

I worked with Shane Lindsay, a precision metal artist, who used to live in Jackson and moved to California a few years ago. Shane understands my drawings and how I think. He is incredibly talented. We have worked together on several sculptures. He brings my vision into reality.

There is a more subtle meaning to the story of Friends, revealed with its surrounding landscaping. The tall grasses undulating behind the negative spaces of the horse’s and dog’s bodies give the scene a ghost like notion, as if this scene of a traditional ranching past were vanishing.

“I wanted to celebrate the ranching lifestyle that shaped this valley and the animals that made living here possible and enjoyable.”  And to make sure we remember I added a contemporary twist to the design of my animals.