I don't know nothin' 'bout art but I know what I like

[NQ6U]

Actually, I was an art major during my one attempt at post-secondary education so I do know a little about art. For instance, I know enough to know that although this may not be fine art, it sure as hell is a great example of some very cool folk art:

http://i815.photobucket.com/albums/zz79/gyrogeerloose/Serpent3.jpg
http://i815.photobucket.com/albums/zz79/gyrogeerloose/Serpent1.jpg
http://i815.photobucket.com/albums/zz79/gyrogeerloose/Serpent2.jpg
http://i815.photobucket.com/albums/zz79/gyrogeerloose/SerpentHead1.jpg

Here's one to give you a sense of scale. That's my two eleven-year-old step grandkids:

http://i815.photobucket.com/albums/zz79/gyrogeerloose/SerpentForScale.jpg

More to come...

[K7SGJ]

That is really awesome. What material is it made from?

[NQ6U]

That is really awesome. What material is it made from?

Steel, probably CORTEN steel but I could be wrong.

[KG4CGC]

That is really awesome. What material is it made from?

rust

[K7SGJ]

Rust? I'd rather refer to it as patina au naturale.

[NQ6U]

http://i815.photobucket.com/albums/zz79/gyrogeerloose/Cicada.jpghttp://i815.photobucket.com/albums/zz79/gyrogeerloose/Scorpion.jpg

A Giant Ground Sloth:

http://i815.photobucket.com/albums/zz79/gyrogeerloose/GiantGroundSloth1.jpghttp://i815.photobucket.com/albums/zz79/gyrogeerloose/GiantGroundSloth2.jpg

[KG4CGC]

but very cool rust

[NQ6U]

http://i815.photobucket.com/albums/zz79/gyrogeerloose/Dino2.jpghttp://i815.photobucket.com/albums/zz79/gyrogeerloose/Dino2a.jpg

[Jeff K1NSS]

Stuff is gorgeous, so nicely finished. I've seen a lifetime's worth of abstract monoliths and scrapyard whimsy. This has grace and power and...actual habits aside, first impression is, it fits were it sits.

[kf0rt]

That place have a name, Carl?

[KC2UGV]

I'd call this fine art. If you look at nothing but the intricacies of the detailing, one would have to consider it fine art.

[NQ6U]

That place have a name, Carl?

Yep. It's Galleta Meadows (guy-etta, means cake in Spanish but is often used for what we call cookies) in Borrego Springs, California. It's on the western slope of the Imperial Valley at about 650' elevation but it still gets hotter 'n you-know-where in the summer so if you think you may like to pay a visit, you should do it within the next month or wait until next winter.

Interesting story behind it: the son of the guy who founded Avery Labels owns a huge amount of property there. He's not only opened up almost all of it to the public, he's paid for all the sculpture I've posted pix of here, plus many more.

[WØTKX]

That looks like a hell of a neat place to visit. Can you camp nearby?

[NQ6U]

That looks like a hell of a neat place to visit. Can you camp nearby?

Yeah, Anza-Borrego Desert State Park is right there. Spring is the best time to visit, followed by winter. Avoid the summer and fall—120° F is not uncommon in that area during the warm seasons.

[kf0rt]

Yeah, Anza-Borrego Desert State Park is right there. Spring is the best time to visit, followed by winter. Avoid the summer and fall—120° F is not uncommon in that area during the warm seasons.

Looks way cool to me; very interesting art and never knew it even existed.

[NQ6U]

Looks way cool to me; very interesting art and never knew it even existed.

It's a well-kept secret outside the county, that's for sure.

BTW, if anyone plans on making a trip, let me know here and I'll meet up with you. Also, the Hi Pass repeater (145.280+ PL 107.2) has a link to a repeater that I monitor whenever I'm in the shack.

[WØTKX]

It's on the list of places to visit, but I don't like the heat.

[kf0rt]

It's on the list of places to visit, but I don't like the heat.

I guess you need to go during the rust season?

[WØTKX]

Umm yea, maybe in the fall. I'm really itching for a road trip.

[NQ6U]

It's on the list of places to visit, but I don't like the heat.

Winter/spring are the only times of year the place is habitable by normal humans. A large part of the Imperial Valley is well below sea level and a miserable hell-hole for half the year but Anza-Borrego Desert State Park is a great place to visit during the cool seasons. And a warning: September/October can be the hottest months of the year in SoCal, so keep that in mind if you're thinking of an autumn trip.