Mike Ross (artist)

Mike Ross is an American sculptor known for large scale public art projects. Ross is a graduate of Stanford University.^[1]

Works

Ross' best known work,^[2] "Big Rig Jig", consisted of two modified tanker trucks attached to each other vertically in an S shape, with a truss installed in the tanks that allowed people to climb inside.^[3] The piece was built at American Steel, an art fabrication shop in Oakland, California.^[4] It was commissioned by the Black Rock Arts Foundation for Burning Man in 2007,^[5] and was considered one of the highlights of the event. It toured to the Coachella Music Festival in 2008.^[6] Ross described the work as a commentary on America's unsustainable oil economy.^[7]

In 2008 Ross was hired by Sound Transit, Seattle, Washington's light rail agency, to design a sculpture for the Capitol Hill Station of its University Link project. Ross' design, featuring two fighter jets sliced and rearranged to appear as if they are kissing, created some controversy among members of the local community who objected to its use of military aircraft.^[2][8]

References

1. ^ Jesena, Ryan. "Tinker Tankers". Stanford Magazine. http://www.stanfordalumni.org/news/magazine/2008/janfeb/show/bigrigjig.html. Retrieved 10 July 2011. 
2. ^ ^{a b} Kery Murakami (2008-06-11). "Artist again defends proposed sculpture". Seattle Post-Intelligencer. http://www.seattlepi.com/local/366754_station12.html. 
3. ^ Elinor Mills/ (2007-09-17). "Seeing Burning Man through green-colored glasses". CNET. http://news.cnet.com/2300-11392_3-6208424.html. 
4. ^ Lane Hartwell (2007-08-31). "Doing the Big Rig Jig on the Playa". Wired Magazine. http://www.wired.com/underwire/2007/08/big-rig-jig/. 
5. ^ "Burning Man Flares Up Again In The Desert". CBS News. 2007-09-30. http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/09/23/sunday/main3288940.shtml. 
6. ^ Bruce Fessier (2008-04-27). "Coachella festival casts a wider Net". USA Today. http://www.usatoday.com/life/music/news/2008-04-27-coachella-side_N.htm. 
7. ^ By Mike Lindblom (2008-02-23). "Big Rig Jig" artist lands Sound Transit gig". Seattle Times. http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2004196798_burningman23m.html. 
8. ^ Kery Murakami (2008-05-28). "No Parking Anytime: Is Sound Transit fighter plane sculpture threatened?". Seattle Post-Intelligencer. http://www.seattlepi.com/local/365111_noparking30.html. 

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