This terracotta mural responds to the environment of Los Alamos. In this part of the state there are two realities: one is the incredibly pristine valley (Valle Grande) encircled by the enormous volcanic caldera of the Jemez Mountains from which the river flows; the second is the high technology research and development industry. The contrast set my intent down in the most pastoral of all possible worlds: the delicately balanced valley within the crater, full of babbling springs, rolling hills and dramatic canyons. The choice of a landscape format stretching across the large room visually dissolves the static wall. The approach may be subtle, but when seen as a “backdrop” opening the space behind the speaker’s podium in the council chambers where broad ranging issues are discussed, the image symbolizes our stewardship of the wilderness behind the walls.