New Ground Lighting Brightens White Rock’s Iconic Strange Trio Sculpture

The oversized steel sculpture known as Strange Trio was lit from below on the night of Jan. 2, 2026, casting dramatic shadows at the corner of Meadow Lane and Overlook Road and announcing the park entrance to evening passersby. The new illumination makes the 20-foot, two-ton work more visible after dark and may encourage greater use of Overlook Park beyond daylight hours.

Strange Trio has been part of the local landscape for decades. The idea for the sculpture originated in 1977 with Tommy Hicks of Shidoni Foundry and Galleries, who commissioned his son Scott to build progressively larger versions that culminated in the 20-foot steel piece now on site. The county purchased the sculpture in 1993 for $43,500 as part of Los Alamos National Laboratory’s 50th anniversary celebration, and it was installed in Ashley Pond Park that year. Strong winds toppled one leg in 2008, and the sculpture remained in storage until the Public Works Department relocated it to Overlook Park in October 2015. A re-dedication and ribbon-cutting took place on Dec. 2, 2015.

At that event, Art in Public Places Board Chair Steve Foltyn said, "The sculpture is the largest in the County’s collection and needs a lot of elbow room. The park itself, which is a popular spot for residents and visitors alike, benefits from a powerful landmark at its entrance."

Beyond aesthetics, the new lighting carries practical public health implications. Well-lit public spaces reduce fall risks, improve pedestrian safety for people who work late or travel after dark, and can make parks accessible to older adults and families with children. Public art and safe gathering places also support mental well-being by offering residents a place to meet, reflect and feel connected to their community.

The lighting project highlights broader questions about how Los Alamos County funds and maintains public art and park infrastructure. Residents benefit when investments reach popular sites like Overlook Park, but advocates and officials must weigh ongoing maintenance costs and equity across neighborhoods to ensure all communities receive comparable access to safe, welcoming public spaces.

For now, the illuminated Strange Trio stands as a renewed landmark at Overlook Park, inviting evening visitors to experience a familiar sculpture in a new light and reminding the county that art, safety and health intersect in public spaces.