Noah's Ark

Sebastopol, California

Sebastopol is decorated with many colorful scrap metal sculptures by Patrick Amiot. Aside from the yard concentration near the artist's home on Florence Avenue, you can drive around town and spot other works -- always humorous, with novel uses of society's castoffs.

Noah's Ark is a detailed piece visible along a busy highway, in front of the Sebastopol Community Church's youth lounge. It's a non-Biblical Ark length and proportion, stubby like a bathtub. Of course, that's perfectly appropriate for this wacky rendition. There's a topside shack with a shingled can lid roof. On the ark's deck, pairs of animals -- giraffes, elephants, camels, ostriches, hippos -- are made from old mail boxes, discarded cans, and other metal scraps.

A little Noah stands between two cows, patiently watching the highway for a drop in traffic flow.

According to the signature and date on the Ark's stern, Amiot created Noah's Ark in 2004.