Rain Bird
Aluminum, fabric, foam, plastic, rooftop material
48 × 68 × 70 in.
2017
This sculpture, made in Socrates Sculpture Park, features park gardener Yousif Dawud as my model. Yusuf worked there from 2005 until his passing in 2018. In 2017 at the park, I was captivated by sculptures merging with the park, beyond decorations. The park, formerly a landfill, needs fresh soil in summer. Gardeners managed its irrigation system. Working with Yousif, I learned planting, arranging plants with varying needs, and encouraging growth around sculptures.
Inspired, I crafted sculptures from park-found items like damaged tools, river foam, barrels, and plaster. I built a furnace to melt scrap aluminum, including flagpoles and cans. Using ‘lost foam casting,’ molten aluminum was poured into facial molds made from carved foam, supported by the park’s sand pits, creating faces.
This sculpture is connected to the park’s irrigation system. Each afternoon, gardeners activate it, and water jets out, forming rainbows. This piece is a tribute to Yusuf and reflects my exploration of art with nature.