Saturday, March 24

The Rock Waits.

Now that Michael Heizer's rock has arrived in the backyard at LACMA, the museum can finish the preparation of the installation site. I didn't get it. I thought the site was ready for the rock, but when I saw it roll in I realized that they had to roll over the west end of the trench.
The rock waits.
So now the rock waits for the setting to be completed.  This is the view from a hole in the fence on Sixth Street. The red structure behind is a gantry that will somehow magically lift the rock and very gently settle into place over the concrete foundation.
That's engineering magic. If I was 14 years old and watching this process, I'd like to think I would pay more attention to my math and science classes and major in engineering instead of english.

Saturday, March 10

Midnight on the Street With a Big Rock

Call me crazy.  I don't care.  I walked the Rock home last night.
We connected about 10:30 at Exposition and Figueroa and then made our way to Sixth and Fairfax. It took all night.

Making the turn from Adams to Western

Passng by the historic Los Altos Apartments.
Rock Escort


Tuesday, March 6

You meet the nicest people

This evening, Nan and I left work a little early trying to meet Jerry and Kay in Cerritos in time to catch a little evening light on Michael Heizer's big rock en route to LACMA.  Clouds on the horizon made a muddy sunset but we had a good time visiting the rock anyway.
It was so fun because of the people we met. A large crowd of curious locals and dedicated rock gawkers lined South Street just east of Palo Verde Avenue. It was all very orderly and so friendly. It was obvious that many people stopped on their way home from work. Some walked from the immediate neighborhood (many brought their dogs).  Others apparently had picked up the kids and driven over. Everyone had a camera or video recorder or smart phone.
LACMA had several red-shirted volunteers there answering questions and interacting with visitors. They all seemed to be having fun, too. [At dinner, Nan, Jerry, Kay and I agreed that the volunteers should have been handing out pebbles from the quarry, like they hand out fabric swatches at Christo installations. Maybe next time.]
With street traffic reduced to one lane in each direction, you would think drivers would be annoyed or irate. But many of them crept along snapping pix over the steering wheel and leaning out to ask questions. No honking horns, no rude hand gestures.
It seems that the big rock travels with a surplus of good will.  I hope that good will lingers around the installation on Sixth Street!