The Running Man was intended as a temporary installation in Long Island City's Socrates Sculpture Park back in 1989. Four life size neon stick figures were mounted on the second story wall of the park's then Museum/Office and were lit from late afternoon into late evening.

A high voltage rotating animator distributed power so that the figure appeared to run across the 30 ft wall. An additional circuit using light sensors and dimmer controls changed the rate of animation by slowing and speeding the rotating animator. The qua si-random pattern had a mild relationship to outdoor light conditions.

One of the things I enjoyed the most and was unexpected was that at night the absence of a visible background seemed to alter the scale of the figure. For me it was a dreamlike cartoon dance in my mind's eye.

The Running Man lived at Socrates for almost four years until the electrics (it was a temporary piece, remember?) could no longer be cajoled into performing safely.