Coyote

Driving through picturesque California wine country, you might be surprised to find a massive, rusted metal coyote baring its teeth in a howl.

Weighing seven tons, the “Coyote” sculpture was forged from steel and designed in such a way that the head can spin a full 360 degrees in a mild breeze. It’s also fully climbable, in keeping with the Burners’ spirit of adventure.

“Coyote” was created by sculptor Bryan Tedrick, and first exhibited in Nevada’s Black Rock Desert for Burning Man 2013. The artist is best known for his gigantic works, usually in the shape of animals, assembled out of many pieces of of metal. Tedrick was inspired by the wanderers and outsiders who attend Burning Man. As he says, they are “… people who enjoy open spaces and the freedom to live freely, not unlike coyotes themselves.”

After Burning Man, the sculpture was displayed along Highway 101 near Geyserville, California for 6 months as part of the Sonoma County Sculpture Trail. Recently the owner of the Wilson Wineries Group purchased this sculpture as a present for his wife. “Coyote” was moved to its new home at Wilson Winery in Healdsburg in 2014. Given the rambling nature of the coyote though, this may not be its permanent home.