In the post-Christmas haze, if we’re lucky, we’re reminded of the holidays we spent as kids. There’s joy in remembering opening those presents--at least a quarter of which met their demise under the foot of an unsuspecting parent. Matchbox cars and Hot Wheels were the tiny inexpensive favorites that managed to please without much of a price tag. They’re bright, look like real cars, and really easy to bother the family pet with. It’s no wonder, then, when David T. Waller turned them into art, that his creation caught some attention that spans generations.

 

 

His creation is called Toy Atlas Rainbow (or Car Atlas--Rainbow) and it’s a big and beautiful display made out of these ordinary little toy cars. This circular rainbow is comprised of 2,500 old toy cars, all arranged by color, seamlessly fading into one another to create a sort of mosaic. They’re carefully organized by gradient, from light to dark, to create the effect. A close up reveals cars from different eras and styles all seemingly caught in heavy traffic, on a circular street.

 

 

 

The installation, which was displayed at the Arts Depot Open, received the People’s Award. It’s proof that experimenting with different mediums can produce some stunning results. Waller, who practices sculpture, photo collage, drawing, painting, carving, and working with ceramics truly knows how to play with the toys he’s given. Everyone else, though, will have to resist the urge to jump into his piece and cause a toy car pile-up.

 

Check out the rest of Waller's creations here!