Face Forward is an interactive kinetic sculpture of an androgynous human face. The audience is invited to control different elements of the face, and work together to create meaningful expressions.

The human face is the ultimate device for communication among people. Entire conversations can be had without the utterance of a single word. Face Forward is a large metal representation of the front of an androgynous human face, in which each of the major fascia muscles which is responsible for conveying some fragment of the totality of a facial expression is individually controlled by one of a series of levers which are arrayed in an arc, mounted on the ground, approximately 30 feet in front of the face. Individual members of the festival-going public may operate individual levers (or two at a time, if participant/operator density allows) and play their part in the orchestration of an ongoing "river" of facial expressions.

Face Forward is also an exercise in group dynamics. It offers the possibility of collective striving to achieve something which, when seen, will be immediately recognizable to the entire group, and therefore immediately satisfying. At the same time, it offers infinite and un-ending possibilities for chance and fleeting gestures and expressions which may be recognizable and even rewarding to a select few participants. In this way it offers the possibility for individuals within the group to have their own private moments of recognition and "value", apart from the group.

Garraplata is a giant stainless steel flame throwing lobster. Featured at the 2012 Coachella Festival in Southern Colorado, Garraplata is making its debut appearance in Taos at PASEO 2022.

Garraplata welcomes visitors to the festival, located at the head of Civic Plaza Drive, and provides a surreal environment for the Silent Disco scattered about the base.

About the artist: Christian Ristow has been building mechanical art since he was a child. After opting out early from a career in architecture, he became involved in his 20's with the underground robot performance-art scene in the San Francisco Bay Area, and the amazing world of Burning Man. A decade working in film special effects in Southern California rounded out his formative influences.

Upon moving to New Mexico in 2005, Ristow shifted his focus to large-scale interactive sculpture. These works have been showcased at arts and cultural events around the world.

While large kinetic sculpture remains Ristow’s lifelong focus, the scope of his artistic output has recently enlarged to include smaller-scale sculpture, traditional figurative clay sculpture, and oil painting.

Ristow lives with his family in Taos, New Mexico & Lund, Sweden