As Technical Designer for the Honey Run Bridge Sculpture Project, I had the opportunity to grow into my first large-scale installation. While I had experience with metal casting and years of laser cutting, working with large sheets of steel and plasma cutting was entirely new. Translating weightless digital geometry into a real, three-dimensional steel sculpture required over 100 hours of design and iteration, working closely with Zeke Lunder, who graciously acknowledged my contributions in public previews.
This project was more than just a technical challenge—it carried deep meaning for the community of Paradise and surrounding areas, still healing from the devastation of the 2018 Camp Fire. The sculpture became a symbol of resilience, remembrance, and renewal, and I am grateful to have been part of it.
Below, you’ll find images, renders, screenshots, and progress documentation that capture both the creative process and the finished work.
Design iterations from Zeke Lunder
Concept Render
Showing inner skeleton and skin of both fish
Top view of the skeleton initial design
Picture of Honey Run Bridge before the Camp Fire that burned the city of Paradise and the Bridge in 2018
Placement of the Sculpture for the site installation
When I was 3D Printing the model
Male Pieces
Female Pieces
Female Chinook Salmon
Male Chinook Salmon
Render of Geometry with Skin
Render of Geometry without Skin
Iteration 4 sketches from Zeke
Iteration 4 sketches from Zeke
Bend References with Distances
Top Fist Spacing
Bottom Fish Backbone Side View Cut Line
Rib Cuts for Skeleton
Layout of some elements not skin elements
Skin Layouts for spine and Belly
All put together
Picture at Zeke's Metal Shop
Picture taken of Sculpture at the Fair Grounds in Chico on a Trailer on Display for first public preview
Picture taken of Sculpture at the Fair Grounds in Chico on a Trailer on Display for first public preview, with me in the picture
Picture taken of Sculpture at the Fair Grounds in Chico on a Trailer on Display for first public preview (Side View)
Picture taken of Sculpture at the Fair Grounds in Chico on a Trailer on Display for first public preview (Close Up of sculptural detail of the Bottom Head)
Picture taken of Sculpture at the Fair Grounds in Chico on a Trailer on Display for first public preview (Detail of the Sculptural detail of the Original Iron Rods from the Honey Run Bridge for the tail Fin)
Picture taken of Sculpture at the Fair Grounds in Chico on a Trailer on Display for first public preview (Other side view)
