Borrego Springs Sculptures in the Desert
Borrego Springs Sculptures in the Desert
I have wanted to visit Borrego Springs and see the sculptures in the desert for a while. We are in between art shows right now, with our next one in Palm Springs this weekend.
We left the Salt River area, spent about a week in Quartzsite, and decided to come here for a week or so. It’s kind of on the way, and a good chance to stop and see the area. The Anza Borrego state park is the big draw here, and at 600,000 acres there is a lot to see. We are planning a few hikes, but it’s been wet and cool. So driving around, and seeing the 130 sculptures out in the desert was perfect.
This is the giant serpent, that I have obviously edited, and at 350 feet is the biggest one here.
This is the same image before edits.
It goes under the road, and has so much detail. I quite love it.
This is one of the sloths, and it’s pretty dang big too. The “Hair” on this one is crazy. I can’t even imagine cutting all this metal.
Every sculpture is welded metal, and they were all created by Ricardo Breceda and were commissioned by Dennis Avery. Avery basically gave the sculptures as a gift to the town, and even though they are on his property, Galleta Meadows, they are all accessible to the public. You can read more about it here.
Giant scorpion and a giant cricket. Check out the wings.
They aren’t all huge though. Several of the animals are simply life size. And anatomically correct.
The detail in every single piece is amazing.
This Jeep is another favorite. Detailed right down to the gauges in the dashboard.
Avery wanted to represent animals current, prehistoric, and fantastical. He also wanted to show something of the people that lived here in the past. This Indian head is very cool, and richly detailed.
This area, like most of this part of California, has a rich mining history.
I love this burro, and the detail in everything he is carrying.
There are several horse sculptures on the other end of town, which I of course loved.
And some saber tooth cats.
I had to get these shots for my niece who absolutely loves dinosaurs.
This one was fun to edit too.
Obviously this isn’t all 130 sculptures, but it gives you some idea of what there is. A google search easily pulls up way more images.
It was a bucket list “check” for me to see them all.
Those are absolutely amazing! We’ve never heard of this place but what a huge amount of work to create such pieces. I wonder how long it took the guy to make them all. Super cool!
OMG!!! Now i know what we’re doing next time I visit!!!
Another place to add to my list! Thank you for sharing the sights! I would be interested in learning about your editing choices for the first and last photos, I really like how they turned out!
Your photos are amazing, I can only imagine how incredible these look in person!
Ditto what my friend, Jan K, said above!
I love love love those sculptures and the amazing things that you did with the photos. I agree with you that the serpent is the coolest!!!
Wow! I have heard of this place but never have been! You took us there and I am so happy you did. Loved the edits of the first and last! Wow!