Recycled Roadrunner

Two weeks ago I was driving for many hours from Benson, AZ to Fort Stockton, TX and only had time after adventures in dining to post one cryptic selfie of me standing in front of a humongous roadrunner statue.

It’s actually an amazing piece to see. As you’re going eastbound on I-10 through New Mexico, you come across a couple hundred miles of a plateau before suddenly diving down a long, scenic grade into Las Cruces. About halfway down there’s a scenic overlook and rest stop – take the time. Stop. Walk around. Stretch your legs. Visit the restrooms for the long drive ahead.

And definately go for a walk over to the gigantic running chicken. (I know, it’s a roadrunner, the state bird of New Mexico, but “gigantic running chicken” sounds much more funny!)

Down below you’ll have fantastic views of the Las Cruces region, the Organ Mountains off in the distance, I-10 stretching down into the city before turning right (southeast) into El Paso and Texas.

Up above you is this amazing piece of artwork. Get close and take a look at what it’s made of. (Don’t be a dick and climb up on the big rock and vandalize it.)

It’s junk. Trash. Garbage. All of it comes from recycled, discarded trash from the landfill. But there’s also so much whimsy, so much that’s fascinating.

The eyes are VW headlights. There are toys, and the crown is made up of BBQ tongs, forks, serving spoons, spatulas, and who knows what else.

The body has electronic componets, TV remote controls, toys, merry-go-round horses, film spools, refrigerator radiators, computer keyboards, a gun holster, and more.

A SEGA Genesis (remember to blow into the cartridge!), parts from a GE Dryer, gears, parts of a microwave oven control panel, toy dinosaurs, gears, a crutch…

The tail feathers are containers of wire mesh, filled with a cell phone, wire screens, scrap metal, grills, chicken wire, a tennis racket, a belt, metal tubing…

The legs are salvaged steel rods, covered in tire treads. The “feathers” of the underbelly and neck are made from hundreds of pairs of sneakers.

This was fun and amazing to see close up. If you’re in the Las Cruces area or passing through, take the time to stop if you can.

The time I spent there (a half hour or so) in the end probably contributed to the adventures in dining about seven hours later, but that’s the way it goes. Take the stop, see the sights. You’ll figure out something for dinner. Sure, you could bomb on through at 85 mph and eat at Olive Garden or Chili’s, but it’s better to relax, enrich your soul, and see the random, unexpected art, even if it means you’re cleaning out a 7-11 for junk food later. (Which is not what actually happened, but that story might require more thought about what I can say about whom and how many corporate lawyers I want to piss off.)