Firewalker, 1969

Colloquially referred to as “planks,” McCracken’s sculptures have long been associated with a uniquely LA aesthetic, their polished, lacquered surfaces resembling those of customized cars and surfboards. The way Firewalker leans casually against the wall contributes to the impression of detached California cool. The gesture also endows the tall, slim object with a sense of autonomy or anthropomorphism, as if a painting had decided to climb down from the wall and hang out in the three-dimensional world. McCracken aimed to create objects that look like they come from UFOs. The immaculate finish that offers no trace of the artist’s hand and betrays no sign of the construction process may suggest that Firewalker was born, as if spontaneously, rather than made.