 In 1964, Rankin tried using concrete for the first time in order to make the body of an owl which he could not do with nails.These were sold in art galleries, at Gump's in San Francisco, and at his own gallery in the Tlaquepaque complex in Sedona, Arizona.In the 1990s, Rankin developed a serious allergy to concrete, forcing him to wear latex gloves when handling the medium.