Artist Robert Wilson and the City of Gallup, New Mexico, announced the installation of “‘RUN,” a large steel sculpture commissioned to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Route 66.
Inspired by the design language of 1950s American cars and the speed of the native jackrabbit, Wilson used a plasma torch to deconstruct the body of a 1953 Chevy Bel Air. He reassembled the steel into a car-sized jackrabbit captured at top speed.
The sculpture stands a little more than 10 feet tall and weighs 1,280 pounds.
Located at the west end of Babe Ruth Park, the sculpture serves as a link between the Mother Road’s automotive legacy and the wildlife of the American West.
“‘RUN’ is meant to express the unexpected beauty found in re-used industrial materials,” Wilson said. “It links us to a shared American past. The surfaces preserve 72 years of original auto paint, rust, and wear — a snapshot of a life spent in America, perhaps even on the Mother Road itself.”
The sculpture features several historic details, most notably a left eye crafted from the original Bel Air speedometer, permanently set to 66 mph.
The installation’s location was strategically chosen for the centennial. Situated alongside the westbound lanes of Interstate 40 at Exit 22, ‘RUN’ sits directly across from El Rancho Hotel, a historic cornerstone of Gallup’s Route 66 identity.
(Image of the “RUN” sculpture in Gallup, New Mexico, courtesy of Robert Wilson)