COURTESY OF SARAH HEWITT The strange contraption pictured here is the "Trickster Project," a creation of Ohio University professor of art, Duane McDiarmid. Among other things, Trickster carries a solar-powered ice cream freezer, night-vision surveillance and a computer. It can be seen and experienced July 4-7 in the vicinity of the Goldwell Open Air Museum. Advertisement

RHYOLITE --No, seriously, it's an ice cream freezer. It's also a place to check your e-mail, blog about your personal encounter with "it" and get a free, frozen treat.

The Goldwell Open Air Museum, or thereabouts, is where to find this mobile piece of sculpture, the Trickster Project, July 4 through 7.

The museum promises an encounter with the sculpture is an experienced not to be missed. Trickster is a semi-autonomous, solar-powered ice cream freezer mounted on a sort of litter.

It is adorned with flowing fabrics and equipped with computer archiving abilities, thermo-graphic or "night vision" surveillance and a Global Positioning System (GPS) so it can be found.

According to Suzanne Hackett-Morgan, director of the Goldwell Open Air Museum, Trickster has quite a following. The artist, Duane McDiarmid, has a reputation for producing this interactive type of art, or in his terms, "projects," that explore the changing states of our physical and cultural environment. His projects are considered "New Form" and supported by the National Endowment for the Arts in conjunction with the Rockefeller Foundation.

McDiarmid is currently associate professor of Art at Ohio University, a post he has held for 15 years.

Trickster employs the interactive technology of the Internet and those looking for the traveling sculpture can find updates at tricksterproject.wordpres.com.The project is not only a visual and textural piece of performing art; it also evokes discussion and expansion of philosophies for those who gather around it to read what others have posted to the blog. McDiarmid states the work of art is "meant to bring people together randomly, in an unexpected physical space and let them interact with the piece - and perhaps directly with each other."

The crew is always close by to keep an eye on Trickster as well. They will be more than willing to interact with visitors while guarding against any mishaps.

Trickster was almost destroyed by high winds in Utah. Hackett-Morgan said, "Once they get it set up ... it stays put and the artist and his crew stay with it. Interacting with the folks who find it is part of the art experience."

Trickster will get more publicity than usual as it is scheduled to be a part of the Independence Day parade in Beatty before it is taken to the Goldwell Open Air Museum.

The event is free, as is the ice cream, and open to the public.

The Museum is located four miles west of Beatty off Highway 374, the road leading to Death Valley.

For more information go to goldwellmuseum.org or call Hackett-Morgan at 702-870-9946.