Orit Haj, the title of this artwork, are words from the indigenous Tataviam language which translate to ‘river’ and ‘mountain.’ Much the way the Tataviam culture and its language have dissolved into time leaving behind inspiring artifacts and legends in people’s memories, so too this artwork will transform and dissolve with time. Community members helped build the soil layers of this slow release time capsule, embedding personal artifacts within it as they labored. These artifacts will reveal themselves over time as the rammed earth slowly erodes. Hidden deeply within the form is a bronze sculpture designed by the artists for a generation to discover far in the future. Evoking the dramatic formations of Vasquez Rocks, the sculpture invites the human hand to touch it and visitors to climb on it, gradually transforming the earthen surface. As people return to the Vasquez Rocks at various points in their lives, the sculpture, like the rocks, will be changing, contours and the artifacts they contain gradually being altered in response to both human and natural forces. Artist team Didier Hess (Jenna Didier and Oliver Hess) was selected through a competition from 43 artists to create a unique, custom artwork for Vasquez Rocks Natural Area Park. This is Didier Hess’ first commission with the County of Los Angeles.