Roller coasters are a distinctive product of our American culture, reflecting our desire for ecstatic experiences, as well as symbolizing the energy and complexity of our lives. From a distance, roller coasters appear as automated skeletons rising up from the earth -- a hybrid of organic and mechanized forms. Their serpentine tracks and lattice supports resemble a cartoon/ pop-culture version of flying buttresses, Gothic arches, and the grand scale of cathedrals. Philosophically, my work combines the Modernist ideal of form following function, i.e. roller coasters are visually fascinating structures even though they are simply built to transport passengers; with the Post-Modernist absurdity of the controlled-fear catharsis inherent in thrill rides. On the other hand, you might as well just sit back, hold tight, and enjoy the ride while it lasts.