Road Magic

One of our favorite things to do when we travel is to seek out the road magic. Road magic is what happens when you discover some place that is either unexpected to you or is unexpectedly wonderful. This might be as simple as coming across a fern enclosed waterfall on a hike or as complex as RichArts Art Yard.

Ah, yes, RichArts. We were returning from a birthday bike weekend when we drove through Centralia, Washington. We had read about RichArt and his yard and his fascination with the number 5. Imagine our delight when we arrived there at 5:05pm on 5/25! Magic was already in the air.

We pulled up and entered the yard and RichArt sprung up from the porch where he had been hiding and proceeded to talk at us. He looked like a crusty old sea captain with a tidy silver beard and a bald head that had seen some sun. I half expected him to take out a popeye pipe and start puffing. He walked rapidly from exhibit to exhibit, explaining each one and philosophizing about his art. We bonded. He challenged us to discover the ancestory of each piece and spoke at length about his fights with the community and critics. It was obvious that he took the criticism to heart and that heart was sad because of it. At the same time, he had an air of danger about him...as if he couldn't quite be trusted to stay calm or sane. It heightened the intensity of the experience and kept us kind.

While Suzy stayed entertained by him, I wandered about the yard. I enjoyed the contrast of shapes and the look of the pieces silhouetted against the sky. Several times, I sat on the ground and just looked at something (a series of reflectors or a weathered piece of styrofoam) long enough to absorb its essence. He used a lot of reflectors and styrofoam. One installation was a dinner party setting like something from the creepiest of creep shows. Hubcaps for plates and dried leaves scattered about courtesy of the tree above lent an air of a people that left suddenly for parts unknown. Car people I suppose.

We stayed for close to two hours, with our final view one courtesy of RichArt. He led us across the street and down a block so we could get "the very best view" of his creation.

You can see his very best view or a close facsimile at the corner of Harrison Ave E and M Street in Centralia, Washington. Be kind.