With every swing of the hammer self-taught artist Larry Meeks feels like he's taking one step closer to immortality. "It will be in the next generation and generations to come so it makes me feel like I am doing something for tomorrow," Meeks said. During his 25 years in state government Meeks sometimes found meaning hard to come by. Even as he rose through the ranks he found his passion competing with his profession for attention. That passion was art-the creation of steel sculptures both for the home and especially for the yard.

In 1992 fate came calling. A new governor was in and Meeks was out. The coast was clear for art all the time. These days he delights in the time spend pounding red-hot steel into all kinds of shapes. "You've got the forges going. You've got a lot of noise. I'm beating, hammering and sweating and at the end of the day I really feel like I've worked," Meeks said.

Meeks' works are located in some pretty public places like the state Capitol Rose Garden and McKinley Park in Sacramento. He's also building up quite a list of private clients who are pleased Meeks' designs adorn their yards. "He enjoys doing something that beautiful and takes great care in everything he does," said client Larry Carter.