Tara Mechani in Four Cities

Tara Mechani has lived many lives. She began as a vision at Burning Man, but has since been installed in wildly different environments: downtown San Jose, the streets of Hayes Valley in San Francisco, and most recently, Reno’s neon-lined art corridor.

And in each place, she transforms—taking on new meaning, sparking connection, and drawing people toward her like a magnet.  What follows are stories from her time in these cities—vignettes that reveal the spirit of the sculpture, the people she touches, and the unexpected magic that happens when public art lives out in the wild. 

TARA IN SAN FRANCISCO An Iconic Meeting Spot and Performance Space 

Tara has inspired live, in-person performances everywhere she’s gone. There were cello and violin concerts, and choreographed dances. In Hayes Valley, Tara became a gathering place during the pandemic. People met up around her when indoor spaces were closed—to talk, grieve, and just be together, all masked up. “We even put a mask on Tara for a while,” Dana remembers with a smile.  “Tara reveals herself over time. She becomes more alive, the more you look.”

SAN JOSE Tara as Protest Symbol One of Dana’s most powerful memories came during Tara’s installation in San Jose. “We were still setting her up when a group of schoolkids came by. They were protesting gun violence—it was right after a major school shooting.” Dana told them about Tara’s inspiration: a goddess of peace and compassion. Fourth Draft, May 5. 2025 For Dana Albany The next day, the kids came back—with more friends and more signs. “They just wanted to sit at her feet,” Dana said. “It was incredibly moving. She became a space for their grief, their action, and their hope.” 

People Leave Her Offerings  At every stop along her journey, Tara has been treated like more than just a sculpture. “I’d come by and find flowers placed in her hands, or tucked around her feet,” Dana said. “One time, a whole bouquet of roses. Another time, someone lit dozens of candles around her. It looked like a ceremony.” That particular offering nearly caught the platform on fire. But more often than not, these acts are reverent and deeply moving. People project their longing, grief, and hope onto Tara—and she holds it all.  Made from Door Handles, Brass, and Discovery Tara is composed of nearly 80% recycled metal—copper, brass, stainless steel—and hidden treasures. “One knee looks like a glowing lotus flower,” Dana said, “but it’s actually made from old brass door handles.” The closer you get, the more you discover. That’s part of the magic: she rewards observation. Tara reveals herself over time. She becomes more alive, the more you look. 

RENO, NEVADA

The Time Someone Tried to Steal Tara’s Feet A few years ago, someone tried to steal her feet. Yes—her feet. “They were bolted on,” Dana said, “but now they’re welded.” It’s a wild story, but also a symbol of how fiercely people connect with her—and how unpredictable public space can be. “The amazing thing is, she’s made up of so many beautiful metals… thank god that was all they took.” 

A Chandelier for a Ribcage Inside Tara glows a warm light—but it’s not just any light. Dana designed a custom chandelier with her one of her best friends, Michael Donnelly, that lives inside the sculpture and becomes Tara’s ribcage. “The brass arms of the chandelier wrap around and form her inner structure,” she said. “It gives off this internal glow, soft and warm—exactly what I wanted, something that harkens back to an older time.” Dana chose to use tones of amber, pink, and gold light for Tara. The effect is haunting and sacred, especially at dusk. It's one of the many things that makes Tara sublime and so powerful.

BLACK ROCK CITY

How Do You Transport a 17-Foot Goddess? Moving Tara isn’t exactly like shipping a crate. Dana designed the 17-foot figure in interlocking parts—head, torso, outstretched arm, base—so she could be transported on a flatbed or box truck. “We didn’t pour cement,” she said, “but we made a base that could be installed safely in public.”

A Living Work of Art Over the past six years, Tara Mechani has been seen by more than 250,000 people across all four cities. She’s offered comfort, sparked protest, and created moments of stillness and wonder in neighborhood parks, art corridors, and urban streetscapes.