Surfaced

Tahoe Blue Events Center, South Lake Tahoe, CA 2023

Assorted lake litter collected by Clean up the Lake

Custom commission— permanent outdoor

Collaboration with Joel Dean Stockdill / Represented by Building 180/ Engineered by RBHU Engineering

Description

The sculpture was created with a portion of the 25,000 pounds of litter found below the surface of Lake Tahoe during Clean Up The Lake’s 72-mile scuba clean up.

The bald eagle, the Lahontan cutthroat trout and the ponderosa pine- three important species native to Lake Tahoe- represent the variety of life that depends on a clean watershed, which supports a healthy food web throughout the ecosystem. The final animal selection was determined by a community voting process.

We hope this piece brings awareness to folks visiting Lake Tahoe to be responsible with their trash and educate themselves about the local ecology and the indigenous people who have been tending to the land & all the beings that live there for many generations.

Partners:

Tahoe Fund, Tahoe Blue Vodka, Tahoe Blue Events Center, Clean Up The Lake, Tahoe Douglas Visitors Authority, Building 180, RBHU Engineering

process

Each component was made using a unique process based on the material available.

The Lahnontan cutthroat trout was made up of sunglass frames, plexiglass parts from boats, fish lures and other plastic bits found in the lake. All the pieces were cut into small random shapes that I arranged and mosaiced onto a rebar frame. Each material was a different thickness so I had to account for that when sculpting the piece.

The ponderosa pine trunk is made from chain and sheet metal welded together.

The Eagle has a reclaimed steel frame that is clad in sheet metal. On top of the metal the feathers are made from kayak paddles, rubber mats and rubber bumpers from boats. The beak has made from the top of a flag pole.