March 18, 2016 
(via cedarmueller.com)
Few would find inspiration in a junkyard’s discarded farm equipment and rusty car parts. Cedar Mueller does. This month, the Canmore-based artist’s life-sized horse installation opened at the Medicine Hat Airport in Alberta, Canada, and the results speak for themselves. Using salvaged metal pieces recovered from scrapyards in her community, Mueller’s sculptures capture the beauty of the horse using the most unconventional of materials. It’s more than recycling, it’s rebirth.
We caught up with the artist to learn more.
1. What sort of metal do you use in your sculptures and where does it come from?
“Most of the scrap metal comes from farms and ranches in the Chilcotin area of British Columbia where I grew up. I also collect metal from landfills when possible and from old car scrap yards. I especially like old cars that have been torched, since they seem to rust in incredibly beautiful patterns and colors after they have been burnt. Much of the metal on these horses is from old, torched cars.”
2. What was the inspiration behind the Medicine Hat project?
“The City of Medicine Hat put out a call for art proposals for their new airport terminal building. I believe the theme was ‘transportation’, and I thought horses fit with that [concept]. The jury must have agreed.”
3. You’ve created horse sculptures before in the past. How are these different?
“I have completed several fully 3-D, life-sized horse sculptures and one partially three-dimensional ‘wall’ horse before the Medicine Hat airport horses. I have dreams of making a herd of these wall horses running across the side of a huge building. As well as a herd of life-sized, fully three-dimensional horses, for that matter.”
4. How long have you been working on the project and what was the biggest challenge you faced completing it?
“I’ve been working on this project for several months. The biggest challenge was probably fitting the horses in my garage where I work!”
5. Why are horses an inspiring subject for you?
“I have always been crazy about horses. I think “horse” was my first word. Horses are just simply some of the most lovely animals on the planet. I’ve been riding since I was very young and I still own horses.”
6. What do you hope visitors to the airport will take away from your sculptures?
“Horses have such an amazing grounded and peaceful energy. I hope that visitors to the airport will get a sense of that energy as they pass by the horses on their way to catch a plane or go about their day.”
