Client: Area 15 Riyadh

Overview

Omah flies high overhead as visitors stare up at her technicolor feathers. Originally created for an outdoor festival, Nocturnal Wonderland, in San Bernadino, California, Omah has flown far and wide, stopping at Area 15 in Las Vegas for a few years, before landing at her permanent residence in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia at their licensed Area 15 spin off.

Goals

Originally designed as a beacon for a festival that featured UV reactive artworks, her initial paint job was with Wildfire Paints. When we were invited to feature a work in the harsh desert conditions of Las Vegas, we resurfaced her wings in steel, and gave her a finely detailed automotive grade paint job.

Process

Omah was the first large scale sculptural collaboration between Fez and Heather BeGaetz, which marked a distinct artistic style change for both artists. She was originally fabricated while Fez's father, Arnold Gaetz, was in his dying process, and her first wood finish was completed in Gaetz's yard, with his witness and contributions making it a process that holds his remembrance.

When we were invited to exhibit her in Las Vegas, we gave her a steel remake in our Portland Workshop. Here we brought in long time friend and collaborator Eric Nez to realize our vision for a dusk/dawn inspired paint detailing.