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Ray

Updated: 2 days ago

Ray is a large, steel, atomic-era, glowing cat.

Concept Illustration by Molly Gregory


Standing between ten and twelve feet high, Ray looks like she came straight out of an atomic-era, sci-fi, radiation fallout B-Movie.


Her singular, Cylon-like eye shifts side to side at night, changing colors, patterns and speed, reminiscent of K.I.T.T. (Knight Industries Two Thousand) from Night Rider.


One of Ray's paws is extended, holding a disc of light pointing toward the ground to mimic cat toy lasers for visitors to chase. Claws are in full shredder mode.


At night, she glows and pulses in changing colors symbolizing radiation and danger. RAWR!


Depending on the time of day, Ray's control panels, inside or outside, drive sound effects, light changes, and move the extended paw, which transmits the laser-like lights on the ground.


She is inspired by an actual event in which scientists were asked to come up with a solution for ways to warn people about radioactive sites 10,000 years into the future.


My favorite solution, though unrealistic, are the Ray Cats.

Genetically engineer the DNA of cats so they glow in the presence of radioactivity.


By creating songs and traditions about the danger of glowing cats, the warning could last as long as civilization itself, through culture.*


Purrhaps, she’ll remind us of endless war and the horrors of nuclear weapons.


But I hope she’s more uplifting than that because we really need it now. Sheesh! Sorry about that. Purr…


Somewhere posted on Ray, an assignment asks participants to create a song or a myth about the Ray Cats. It will encourage folks to think about our future and how we can communicate with our descendants a decamillennium out.


Ray is 100% solar powered.


She faces three atomic bomb viewing shelters (Doom Town) that support solar panels and house the controllers, timers, and batteries.


Concept Sketches by Paige Tashner (me!) and Blueprint Illustration by Molly Gregory




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