Standing watch over Highway 580, the sculptures depict the exploration and contact of pioneer John Fremont with the Natives living in what would come to be known as the Carson Valley. Tutto Ferro designed, built and installed these sculptures as the public art component of the highway 580 project in partnership with our good friend Eliot Drake, a mechanical engineer who’s expertise in solid works brought these sculptures from a nebulous concept to a build-able reality. The installation of the sculptures was accomplished in partnership with Q&D Construction which was incredibly helpful and understanding in helping us achieve our artistic vision for the pieces.
Calling our shared history to mind while illustrating the transient and fleeting nature of time itself, the sculptures When viewed from the highway, transition from solid figures on the landscape to subtle apparitions as the viewer’s angle changes and the rings they are made of are seen edge on, disappearing into the hillside beyond. These sculptures are our largest installation to date and stand as an excellent showcase of our artistic vision and the skill in craft to bring that vision to reality.
At 1.5 times life sized, the sculptures are made out of steel rings, carefully designed to be stacked in precisely the right order at the correct spacing to bring the sculpture into being. Cut on both our plasma table and water jet, and assembled in the shop, the rings and standoffs come together to create the striking and proud figures that populate the right of way space in Carson City today.
Tutto Ferro is proud to have been involved in this project and continues to pursue artistic and sculptural projects for our region and community.
