"Growing up in the high desert of Southern California, I always loved going to the beach every summer as a young boy before moving to Laguna Beach in my early twenties. Every morning, I’d wake up and stare out at the distant surf breaks that dozens of surfers would leave their mark on in the golden early morning light. Long road trips up Highway 1 along the coast became a yearly ritual. One spot in particular that always caught my eye was the giant rock formation that loomed over Morro Bay just north of Pismo Beach. This was normally my first stop to grab lunch or anything I needed before heading up the steep mountain switchbacks that led all the way up to Big Sur and Carmel. Over the past few years of reflecting on these trips, I knew that at some point I would create an artwork along this stretch of highway. From my time on ranches, I met some of the students who are part of the Cal Poly Rodeo Program. In between cowboying on ranches overlooking the California coast and catching waves at sunset, this was the perfect combination for an epic concept. A concept that shares my love for the ocean, a nod to the surf culture surrounding California, and the ranchers who work horseback along the coastal hillsides. Once I gathered a couple of cowboys to haul horses down to Morro Bay, I was fortunate enough to find two classic vehicles that captured the essence of the 1970s-80s era. We staged vintage surfboards around the set and had the models lounging in the late afternoon sun to create a lived-in vibe. The dunes in the background lit up in golden hues, showcasing just how beautiful the light is along the beaches of Southern California. This was the perfect composition and story to close out the last days of summer."