First, Don Kennell and Lisa Adler fell in love. Then they made an art car. Then they had a couple of babies. They both did their graduate work at Rutgers University, he in art, she in the social sciences. This was in the nineties. They have been collaborators ever since. Love is a founding principle of their partnership and of the company that they run today.

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We love what we do. We love the animals and the natural environments that inspire our artworks. We love connecting with the communities where our sculptures are located. And we love bringing something of beauty into the world that resonates with the viewer. As a company, our mission is to activate public space while bringing nature into human consciousness.

-Don Kennell

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Don and Lisa’s first art collaboration was an art car commissioned by “Art Matters” of New York City. This interactive, mobile art event travelled the country in the summer of 1995. The art car was an experiment in making a community out of strangers. As we passed through town after city after town, we met people, took their picture with the art car, developed the film (the old days!) and mailed out the pictures as post cards to our audience. 

Don and Lisa moved to Santa Fe, New Mexico in 2000. We wanted to raise our family close to wide-open spaces and to be in a city with a thriving arts community. Don maintained a career as an artist and Lisa taught at the College of Santa Fe while they both raised their daughters. In the early 2000’s Lisa led a number of community initiatives that connected students with local businesses, nonprofits and community development projects. During this time, Don and Lisa co-taught classes on the intersection of art and society.

We believe that space matters to human feelings and human endeavors. We believe that life is better when people feel connected to each other and to the places where we live. That connection makes people care about their community. When people care, life is better. 

-Lisa Adler

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In 2022, the City of Sedona Arts & Culture selection committee consisting of seven local volunteers ranked 30 submissions for public art installations to be installed in the roundabouts.  The Sedona Roadrunner by Don Kennell and Lisa Adler was among the four works of art chosen for the public Roundabout Installations.  Don creates design drawings, leads the fabrication crew and Lisa focuses on community engagement.  "Roadrunners are a force of nature and are heroic. The roadrunner acts like a zoetrope when you drive around, giving impression of continuous motion. This native bird is in a naturalistic setting with the dramatic landscape as a backdrop. The watchful eyes of the bird encourage drivers to slow down."-City of Sedona​

Their Roadrunner is located at the Morgan Rd/ Arrow Rd/ Hwy 179 roundabout in Sedona.

SIZE: 15 feet tall x 7 feet wide x 9 feet deep
MATERIALS: Steel, galvanized sheet metal + glass eyes.

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