Mike Ross’ Big Rig Jig

Craft & Design
Mike Ross’ Big Rig Jig

mike ross big rig jig bm2

There are some sculptures that are so unique and visionary, they’re hard to forget. Los Angeles-based artist Mike RossBig Rig Jig is one of them. Built in 2007, “Big Rig Jig is constructed from two discarded tanker trucks. The work serves both as a sculpture and an architectural space: visitors may enter the lower truck, climb through the tankers, and emerge through a portal at the top. The rear axles of the upper tanker serve as a viewing platform, forty-two feet in the air.” We got in touch with Mike to get the story behind the mind bender.

mike ross big rig jig detail

1. What inspired you to make Big Rig Jig?
I am fascinated by power in all its forms, both raw physical force and more abstract forms of political and economic power. And even more broadly, the basic power of humanity to make its own world. The transformed tanker trucks seemed like a potent symbol that connected these ideas together, both exploring their beauty and tying them to the anxieties of our moment in history.

mike ross big rig jig detail2

2. Where have you shown it outside of Burning Man?
It was shown at Coachella following Burning Man 2007. It is currently available for purchase. Do you know anyone who wants a 50-foot-tall 25-ton sculpture? They can find me at www.mikerossart.net.

mike ross big rig jig coachella

3. Where do you store it?
A secret location in California, guarded by a 24-hour team of deranged makers and vicious canines.

mike ross big rig jig night

4. How long did it take you to build?
We did it in 3 months, with a crew of seven full-timers, plus assistance from the amazing NorCal community. I was blessed to work with such tireless and talented people. To me the process and emotions of building a sculpture become imbued into my perception of the final work. I wish I could share that aspect with the viewers. But unless you were part of the crew, you cannot experience it. Maybe some of it still comes across — I cannot tell for sure.

mike ross big rig jig hd

5. Any favorite related stories?
When we were ready to start building, we drove across the country from NYC to California. The plan was to find some abandoned trucks along the highway, somehow get them to the West Coast, set up a shop, and build the sculpture in three months. We were literally driving across the country, with a trailer full of tools, looking out the window for trucks in fields. We found some amazing things, but nothing suitable for the sculpture. It sounds so crazy to me now — I guess we were blindly optimistic. But we had very little money, so we could not just buy typical used tankers and trucks. When we got to California, we continued searching, and eventually by hook and crook, managed to meet some people who helped us find the tankers and get them back to our shop. I have no idea if it would work out so well if I ever tried to approach a project like that again. Right now, my team and I are putting the finishing touches on a new sculpture, made from two decommissioned U.S. Navy Skyhawk jets, and the whole thing is much more planned out.

mike ross big rig jig by steph goralnickPhoto by Steph Goralnick

14 thoughts on “Mike Ross’ Big Rig Jig

  1. noo2555 says:

    Reblogged this on Noo2555's Blog and commented:
    There are some sculptures that are so unique and visionary, they’re hard to forget. Bay Area artist Mike Ross‘ Big Rig Jig is one of them. Built in 2007, “Big Rig Jig is constructed from two discarded tanker trucks. The work serves both as a sculpture and an architectural space: visitors may enter the lower truck, climb through the tankers, and emerge through a portal at the top. The rear axles of the upper tanker serve as a viewing platform, forty-two feet in the air.” We got in touch with Mike to get the story behind the mind bender.

  2. Semper Cogitatus says:

    Unique? Yes. Visionary? Nope.

    Spending a ton of time and money to make a big pile of metal look interesting is not visionary.

    1. d.e. says:

      I bet you’re the life of every party.

  3. wilhelm says:

    WOW, that is amazing sculpture and interesting architec. nice picture

  4. Muffin Man says:

    Loved it on the playa. Check this out, if you put this coordinate 40°43’33.38″N, 111°32’41.96″W in google maps, go to street view and spin around until you are looking at thing on the ground between the moose and the flag, isn’t this some sort of Big Rig Jig? Saw this on a ski trip this winter and still scratching my head about it.

    1. Goli Mohammadi says:

      It totally looks like a baby half version! Rad :))

  5. dflorack says:

    Reblogged this on Heron There & Everywhere and commented:
    My boss forwarded this article to me to share with my hubby.

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I'm a word nerd who loves to geek out on how emerging technology affects the lexicon. I was an editor on the first 40 volumes of MAKE, and I love shining light on the incredible makers in our community. In particular, covering art is my passion — after all, art is the first thing most of us ever made. When not fawning over perfect word choices, I can be found on the nearest mountain, looking for untouched powder fields and ideal alpine lakes.

Contact me at snowgoli@gmail.com or via @snowgoli.

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