2009 BLACK ROCK CITY ART INSTALLATIONS
Click the name of an Art Installation in the list below to see details about it.
1000 Watt Smile
by Ted Werth
Glowing and blinking in millions of colors and patterns, the 1000 Watt Smile is an LED light installation that seeks only to transfer itself onto the faces of others. Being beautiful is simple, you just have to smile.
Contact: tejawe (at) injenius (dot) com
2:22 Amethyst Portal
by Awonsaihu and the Portal Collective
The Amethyst Portal is an indigo colored 17 foot high stellated dodecahedron constructed of plywood, wood and steel with an open interior space accessible to participants to experience the Portal and to interact in other group activities. Housed within the stellated dodecahedron is the the Quasar Wave Transducer: a subsonic non-linear dynamic analog feedback device sound sculpture that produces frequencies in the range of the Earth’s Schumann resonance and human brain waves to activate the Portal experience.
The Amethyst Portal is colored indigo to relate to the brow or third eye chakra and the geometry follows the forms incorporated in the previous Diamond, Emerald and Sapphire Portals.
Contact: h (at) harlanemil (dot) com
2009 BRC Playa Portraits
by Owen A Kelly
In 2008, the year Burning Man's Theme was the "American Dream," Polaroid announced their stop of production - the last chapter of the American made medium. Combining Polariod with the this year's theme, the installation consists of portraits identifying with the 'social tapestry' of Black Rock City on Type-55 Polaroid. The 4x5" portraits display BRC's dynamic reflection and positivity towards creative representation.
Each participant receives the original Polaroid within moments. With the last finite stock of Type-55, Playa Portraits also honors the rolling art of Mutant Vehicles with the "Evolution" of the project as it is a gigantic Polaroid Booth intended for Mutant Vehicles of both daytime and nighttime breeds.
Contact: owen (at) owenakelly (dot) com
2009 Black Rock City Street Signs
by the DPW Sign Shop
The DPW Sign Shop began this season on July 6 and the crew works straight through til the day before the event, installing all the city's signs. We had a great time making ths year's Gate Road signs a bit more visually entertaining as well. See if you can spot the sperms!
This years' alphabetic signs are embellished with graphic interpretations of the words.
Bam Bam: Adapt, Fossil
Stan: Extinct, Genome
ddd: Evolution
After 5: Hominid
Jedi: DNA, Biology
Tiny Vinyl: Jurassic, Chaos, Lineage
Abby: Inherit
Scirpus: Kinship
The Esplanade signs are all "exotic" cells and are a team effort, assisted by Hormel, Rooster and Not It. The circle road around
Center Camp, Evolution, also has an added "dimension" this year!
2Πr
by Interpretive Arson
Two concentric rings. The inner ring detects movement and translates it into fire exploding up from the ground on the outer ring.
Contact: info (at) interpretivearson (dot) com
3E-ROI aka. Exponential Evolution aka.. Horny for Progress
by Charlie Brinson
The 3E-ROI project charts the evolution from sticks and stones to alloys and polymers. Standing 50 feet long, 25 feet high and incorporating dynamic light, sound, and video elements, this sculpture embodies the path of Extrasomatic Evolution and Energy Return on Invested, mimicking the exponential curves associated with our explosive growth in population and technology.
Extrasomatic evolution is progress in technology and culture-evolution outside of our bodies. Advancements in technology yield increased energy efficiency, which in turn allows technology to advance further. The endpoint to this feedback loop is unclear.
The aim of 3E-ROI is to provoke the participant to consider how rapid growth might be contributing to overpopulation, over-consumption of energy, and domineering attitudes towards our environment. In a time of environmental crisis, its important to know of where we've been, where we are, and where we're going. 3E-ROI prompts the question: what's next in human evolution?
Contact: charliebrinson (at) gmail (dot) com
A Fluke of Evolvies
by Robin Fitzpatrick Borgers and Anders Whealdon
Evolvies are little creatures making their own evolutionary way through the universe, or perhaps a parallel universe. This fluke (group name for evolvies traveling together) is running with the wind over the flora whilst utilizing the metal-petal-flower-power to reach their destination.
Contact: evolvies (at) yahoo (dot) com
Altars to the Four Directions
by Kristen Miller, Erin Hampson, Rob Hampson and Dan Ertman
The boundaries of space where Burning Man is held is like a medicine wheel with the cardinal points of the wheel being North, South, East, West. Together these points of the Wheel represent the inner and outer cycles of life. The center, the Man, symbolizes the meeting point between the visible and invisible realms.
Altars to the Four Directions honors the four directions. East - an altar honors winged beings, a woven archway and place to sit and meditate on the rising sun. South - a structure with ancient runes and symbols pointing into the air towards the sun. West - representing water and the magical beings of the ocean. North - honoring our elders is an altar made of an eclectic blend of wood, rock and natural objects honoring Mother Earth.
Contact: kristenita (at) yahoo (dot) com
American (R)Evolution
by Nic DeMuth
Welcome to the American (R)Evolution
Contact: nic (dot) demuth (at) gmail (dot) com
Another Green World
by Richard Aplin
Another green world, hanging in space, the planet surface teeming with glowing life that evolves from dusk till dawn...
Contact: drtune (at) anothergreenworld (dot) info
APE to MAN
by Keith "Flipit" Privett
A puzzle of pictures and three-letter words traces the evolution from "APE" to "MAN" in an extended chain of one letter "mutations", with many more unnamed creatures on the path in between.
Contact: apetoman (at) keithprivett (dot) com
Armada
Armada is a modular performance-sculpture composed of multiple pink and orange inflatable sculptures mounted on three different mutant vehicles: Cuddlefish on Disorient Dex, Bracelet and Droplet on their respective eponymous vehicles. Each piece radically transforms the shape of the vehicle that it is mounted on and is self-activated by the owners of the vehicles who will take them on deep playa adventures, day and night. When the vehicles unite, Armada becomes an environment which is more than the sum of its parts.
ARTe I FACE
by Richard Bliss and Art Army
ARTe I FACE is an exploration center of facial interface - with the Playa, with each other, with the stars and the cosmos.
Contact: broadgroup30 (at) yahoo (dot) com
As We Thunk (in Earlier Times)
by Rupert "Project Boy" Hart with Brad Grossman
Imagine someone cut your head down the middle of your nose into two halves. As you look into one of the halves, you would expect to see a brain, tongue etc, wouldn't you? Wrong! Throw away everything you read in biology textbooks. They are all wrong. In reality, inside your head are mechanical creatures having fun at your expense.
In this robotic sculpture are mechanical manikins with computer-controlled motors at their joints that make them move in a sequence; part determined by software, and part influenced by spectator.
Contact: rupert (at) ruperthart (dot) com
A Tree Named Desire
by Rob Leaman
A white tree rises from the flat dusty playa. It is leafless and bare except for the lanterns hanging from its branches. A Tree Named Desire is inspired by evolution. The paper and cardboard were once trees. Evolution comes full circle as matter returns to its original shape.
Contact: robl2k (at) hotmail (dot) com
Avocamentum Galactica, Mk III
by Douglas Ruuska and Josh Krueger
In the deep playa at night there are two separate sources of light - the eternal points of light in the sky and the temporary lights of our earthbound creation. One of these temporary points of light captures the cosmos and represents it on a human scale. This piece manifests our celestial birthplace; our galaxy, the Milky Way. Welcome home.
Contact: d_Ruuska (at) hotmail (dot) com
Babel
by Brandin Roat, Timothy Leung and Sergio Ramirez
A monumental artifact designed to be an outpost and beacon for the Burning Man Festival. Made primarily from abandoned wooden shipping pallets, the structure takes commonly utilized items and reinterprets their structural nature to form a vertical habitat.
Contact: BurningBabel (at) gmail (dot) com
Balance
by James Beauchamp
Balance - Playing with the illusion of reality.
Contact: jbeauchamp2005 (at) hotmail (dot) com
Bat Country
by Gwen Fisher and Paul Brown
Bat Country is a 21 ft tall tetrahedron built with 384 aluminum baseball bats and 130 twelve-inch softballs and steel. It weighs about a ton. It is an adult sized jungle gym designed to be climbed on. Each edge of the structure measures 26 ft in distance.
Mathematically, Bat Country is an example of a third-generation Sierpinski tetrahedron. As participants explore the piece, the view changes in dramatic and unexpected ways: One remarkable feature of a Sierpinski Tetrahedron is just how different it appears from different points of view.
Contact: batcountry (at) liquid (dot) net
Beggar's Spire
by Jason Wright
Beggar's Spire evolves as an outgrowth of a mind sifting through the detritus of everyday life. Primarily constructed from recycled fragments of artwork, the spire's form results from an intuitive refitting of scrap material - the accumulated fragments of past artistic expressions acting as the DNA of this current manifestation.
Contact: jason (at) swipple (dot) com
Box of Time: From Bones to Barbie
by Deborah Colotti
Clotheslines, market umbrellas and other open structures are each covered and dripping with bones. Included are bone-like cultural objects, plant skeletons, and bones and shells of land and water animals. Baby doll and Barbie doll parts, both large and small, are mixed in with the bones. On the structures the bones and dolls sway and clatter in the breeze, on the ground a boney croquet game is available to play.
Life is constantly shifting, giving us surprising contrasts. Animal bones and plant bones are artifacts of life once lived, now decaying. Various parts of dolls - the human distortions of evolution - are the undecaying projections of lives never lived. All are bound together in the paradox of things which once held life but are now dead, and something always dead but attempting to represent life.
Contact: deborah (at) dcolotti (dot) com
Braindrop
by Kate Raudenbush
Water is a substance from which all life on Earth emerged. It is our life force. Yet the course of human evolution is putting the future of water at
risk. Braindrop is a meditation space the shape of a 17-foot tall laser-cut steel swirling water drop. It is created to bring awareness to the element of
water on our planet and itas vital importance to our evolutionary balance.
URL: www.kateraudenbush.com
Contact: kate (at) kateraudenbush (dot) com
Burner Module
by Mark Phillips and Kirsten Woods
The Burner Module is a Lunar Module replica designed to take time lapse photos, up to a day at a time without the need of human help. Deep Cycle Batteries & inverters inside the module, connected to a video camera, and charged by a solar panel, allow the module to be placed at different locations for time lapse of art/event.
Contact: markphi85 (at) hotmail (dot) com
Burning Sky Skydiving Night Jump with Pyro Display
by Ken Jobsky
A kinetic pyro display 2000 ft above the playa.
Contact: info (at) burningsky (dot) org
Change Machine
by Bobnoxious
Evolution happens within
All who enter, emerge evolved.
Contact: sumatopopi (at) aol (dot) com
Christo-Ono
by Laura Brannan
From a distance it appears to be simple flags blowing in the winds of Black Rock City. But if you were able to view it from above a message would appear. Inspired by works from Yoko Ono and Christo, Christo-Ono is an interactive message for positive thoughts and actions.
Clamp Plant (a.k.a. Treevolution)
by Seth Familian
Clamp Plant (aka Treevolution) is an evolving organism--a plantlike
structure comprised of spring clamps mimicing the binary patterns of
growth found in nature. During the day its aluminum limbs shine under
sunlight. At night they glow under blacklight. And at all times they
change and grow, as people on the playa shape and nurture it with
their creativity.
Contact: familian (at) mac (dot) com
Cnidaria Psychozoa
by Griffin and Lumina
After millions of years without change, the jellyfish has finally evolved. Leaving the comfort of the open sea, Cnidaria Psychozoa has adapted to life in the desert. She stands proud and tall, welcoming in citizens of Black Rock City to frolic in her tentacles. At night, she comes alive with colorful lights.
Contact: griffin (at) psychozoa (dot) com
Collaborative Mandalas
by Andrew "Teppy" Tepper
After taking a brief personality survey, artists are directed toward one of several rotating easels, each containing an unfinished mandala - a radially symmetrical drawing. Each artist adds a bit to the mandala indicated by their survey results. Mandala canvases will be changed periodically - will all those done by "thinking" types look similar? "Feeling" types?
Contact: teppy (at) egenesis (dot) com
Convergent Evolution
by Matt Bell
Convergent Evolution discovers the underlying similarities between cultures across the world and how ideas have spread yet evolved to suit the local environment. Pairs of photos from different parts of the world are projected onto a screen, as interesting connections are found and evolved based on natural selection as provided by viewer feedback.
Contact: mattkim99 (at) yahoo (dot) com
Cosmic Continuum
by John Lockwood and Mark Maxwell
Cosmic Continuum is a 140 foot long darkened tunnel which represents the evolution of life on Earth from the Big Bang 13.6 billion years ago to the present day at Burning Man. Each ten foot section is designed by one or two camp members to artistically describe the progression of life from billions to millions to thousands to hundreds of years, until a 12 foot long ramp portrays the most recent day at Burning Man, and ends with a slide back onto the playa.
Contact: saveabat (at) adelphia (dot) net
Creator
by Rich Wells
The installation focuses on the striking image of Charles Darwin in his later years, as he struggles with his faith and beliefs. To some he is viewed as an iconic creator within ‘The Evolution Theory’, to others he a creator of intense controversy. In contrast to the way he is scrutinized from opposing viewpoints, the installation only evolves into a complete image from one perspective.
Contact: richwells (at) mac (dot) com
Crespi of the Desert
A performance will result in a large painting on a supporting material laid on the ground. A video projection will be screened during the night.
Contact: info (at) riccardocrespi (dot) com
Crow Mother
by Dan Glass
Crow Mother is a large-scale version of a Hopi Indian kachina doll, the carved figures that represent the various Hopi deities and spirits. It is a memorial to my mother, Judith Anne Collins, who loved Native American art, and died on Christmas Eve, 2006. It's made from her leftover possessions - furniture, decorative items, clothing, and other things that I couldn't sell, but didn't want to just throw away. She was great at giving people meaningful gifts, and one of the funniest women who ever lived.
Contact: recombust (at) gmail (dot) com
Crystal Station
Crystal Station is an intimate place of respite for those exploring the outer reaches of the deep playa. The pyramidal shelter provides daytime shade; at night, the glowing crystal inside illuminates a peaceful space for contemplation and meditation.
Contact: mfb2k2 (at) yahoo (dot) com
Darwin On The Pot
by David Cagan
Darwin On The Pot is a façade of portapottys that by itself existing, invites distant participants with its familiarity, but upon arrival places them in a surreal state of disbelief, and then upon closer inspection directs them to the closest actual potty. It is about coming face to face, in urgency, with what we expect, and having it be nothing of the sort, inciting positive changes in how we learn to adapt and manage the unexpected, and sometimes unwelcome uncertainties in life. These are the situations that grow us most as individuals, and as a species.
Dear You,
Dear You,
is a project where people write letters to people or even abstract ideas, confessing, reveling, or sharing something they have always wanted to say.
Participants can express feelings in a place where they can quietly and privately
write a letter that may be 100 pages or one sentence. Participants can express something that they
have always wanted to say to someone, anyone, even themselves and by writing these letters people may feel a release,
and by reading the letters of others, they will find something that resonates.
Contact: lilyboughtwood (at) gmail (dot) com
Directed Panspermia
by Francisco Teng and Owen Hayes
Directed Panspermia (di-rek-tid p?n-spűr'm?-?) n.
Delivered to Earth by an advanced extraterrestrial civilization, the playa is the birthplace of evolving organisms. A nutrient rich placenta births creatures that quickly evolve to thrive and then mingle with the participants of Burning Man.
Diver UP!
by Victor Spinelli
A giant black and white photograph of a topless woman holding a Mark IV deep sea diving helmet, the project appears to be rising from the desert floor. We evolved from the sea and the playa is an ancient sea bed.
Contact: Spinelli (at) VictorSpinelli (dot) com
Doors of Perception
A series of "doors" approximately 4 x 8 feet painted using Trompe l'oeil techniques are placed around the Airport area.
Contact: buzzcut2000 (at) speakeasy (dot) net
Dust City Diner
by Dave Cole, Michael Brown, Susy Struble, Michael Guigliotto and Jenny Desmond
Dust City Diner is a mobile diner that will appear in different deep-playa locations every
night, from dusk 'till dawn, to serve great coffee and a variety of special,
daily foods for those who will sit, read the paper, smoke and enjoy the
company of a random group of weary travelers.
Contact: dustcitydiner (at) gmail (dot) com
East Black Rock
by David Brandt
Deep playa = East Black Rock
Contact: dblonghair (at) hotmail (dot) com
Endangered Species
by Sharon Strong (Armstrong)
In the evolution of life on earth we are at a critical choosing place. We humans, supposedly the most evolved of creatures, have the capacity to make decisions that affect the survival of most life forms on earth.
"Endangered Species" is an installation of masks. Following an "S" shaped path, six black cylinders standing ten feet high, snake thirty feet across the Black Rock Desert. An endangered animal spirals around each of the columns, representing one endangered creature from each of five realms: reptile, bird, fish, arachnid, and mammal. Specifically: the Blue-tailed Mole Skink, Puerto Rican Broad-winged Hawk, Sockeye Salmon, Kauai Cave Wolf Spider and Gray Wolf.
The sixth column is an integral part of this "work in process" as Black Rock City artists make their own plaster gauze life masks and hang them on the last column, representing our boundless potential to support life and the enormity of our responsibility.
Equilibrium Evolution
An intricate structure of individual elements, balanced on one another to create the symbolic representation of community, Equilibrium Evolution is individual visions brought together by circumstance to create a cohesive structure of philosophy based in play, work, individuality, and interconnectedness.
The structure rises as an entity of individuals with the Playa as its foundation of art and community. At the same time, the Playa pushes and tests these same structures. With conscious intent, we place ourselves upon the altar that is Black Rock City. As a Creative Act, we emerge from our separateness to converge as a cohesive whole to briefly stand in unison. We thrust ourselves up from the cracked dryness of our daily environments to become an oasis of nourishment to ourselves and one another. Our gift to you and ourselves is our Equilibrium and our Evolution.
Eve's Evolving Flame
by Audie Wiley
Eve is a woman who has embraced Darwin's evolution. She is created as a slow continuous creature evolving into a complex life form. There are many theories on how Eve arrived on this earth but no matter how she blossomed, Eve embraces all that she encounters, regardless of their theories or demeanor, and Eve loves all and shows her tolerance for all by burning an exterior flame for all to love.
evolved perspective
The project is a three dimensional cube structure composed of four side panels of triple exposed photographs of the human body printed on galvanized steel. The photographs challenge one's view of the human body and hopefully lead one to an evolved perspective of the human form.
Contact: geneabarnes (at) geneabarnes (dot) com
Evolving to Bootiesattva : Zome Mani Padme Zome
by Patricia Algara, Rob Bell and Zachary Rutz
The spiral is the most ancient symbol found on every civilized continent.
The spiral of nature, art, mathematics - a constant form at all scales revolving around
itself, ever evolving upward towards syntropy, synergy, life, consciousness and enlightenment.
The duality of the spiral embodies the cyclical nature of birth and rebirth and the escape
there from.
On the Playa, enter the Zome Mani Padme Zome and begin the evolutionary journey; the cycle or
birth and rebirth thru a spiral labyrinth of luminarias ever evolving inwards, ever evolving
upwards, sometimes setback but ultimately finding the sacred lotus zome at the center - the
Bootiesattva. A sacred space where experiences happen.
Contact: patriciaalgara (at) yahoo (dot) com
Evolution of Black Rock City
This wall contains 11 high-resolution 360 degree photos of Black Rock City from 1998 to 2008, showing how the city, its camps and its art have changed through time.
Contact: btm (at) templetons (dot) com
Evolution Reaching for Balance
Evolution Reaching for Balance, as a part of "The Tangled Bank", from earth to sky demonstrates how everything is connected and reverberates energy with everything around it. The piece speaks for the new Awakening of Cooperation not competition. It addresses evolution of balance and harmony of vibration through out the Universe. By reaching for "Balance With Evolution" the project prompts a person to ponder the questions, what are we as humans, how do we fit or why do we fit? What is our impact to the environment, what are we as life here, including the spiritual and the physical; where did life come from, how does it occur? How can we as life continue to adapt and develop and how our awareness continues to evolve. Are we in control of our own evolution and the evolution of this planet called earth?
Contact: danieljames (at) gorge (dot) net
Evolution Scarf
The Evolution Scarf is an interactive and evolutionary art piece. A scarf is created for "The Man" by the participation of passers-by. Anything that can be knitted, woven, crocheted, sewn or even tied-on is added on and shows each person's unique contribution as well as represents how we are all connected. Each day the scarf will grow longer and more beautiful!
Contact: evolutionscarf (at) gmail (dot) com
Extra Body Parts
by Jango
Extra Body Parts is a chance to become part of something greater than
oneself. (R)evolve and give of yourself to this experiment.
Contact: jango (at) velocity7 (dot) com
Eyes Wide Open Iraq War Memorial: An Evolution?
by KennyBlunt
Combat boots form a large circle. At the center, a low podium houses the Book of the Fallen which honors all of the U.S. soldiers that have been killed in the Iraq War since it began in 2003.
Feedback Loop
Feedback Loop ponders the origin of the drive for evolutionary consciousness.
Three bamboo poles, four inches wide and eight feet tall, form a pyramid. Hemp rope holds them secure and also winds up each pole, forming a double helix. Inside this pyramid are planted ceramic mushrooms.
Along with Bombay Dub Orchestra and later Cheb i Sabbah, a reading of the poem "Feedback Loop" discusses how humans and certain plants co-evolve and how a Darwinian survival feedback loop causes an invevitable escalation of consciousness upward toward the infinite.
Contact: john (dot) noble (at) youngnoble (dot) com
Figura Paradigmatica
This mesmerizing light-sound sculpture is an interactive and continuously changing formation of painted threads interwoven and illuminated by blacklight. It creates an illusion of Time and Evolution as an hourglas shape, and soft music played through the lucent strings bring it to life with exquisite vibration creating stunning viual effects. Participants are complelled to come close and add their own ripples and light to the dance.
Two bases of the project interpenentrate is a nod to Cusanus; the two bases being Unitas and Alteritas. In these, all other opposites are contained: God and the Void, Light and Darkness, Possibility and Reality, Universal and Particular, Male and Female.
Contact: kali (dot) mcevoy (at) yahoo (dot) com
Fireside Chat
A welcoming fire surrounded by couches and easy chairs awaits the inspired evolutionary discussions of burners.
Fluffer
by Mister Jellyfish
Fluffer trolls the outer reaches of Black Rock City to bring a familiar comfort and interactive hypnotic trance, "doggy style". A customized audio message and hypnotic spiral in Fluffer's mouth prepare you for an experience most sublime... Hidden inside the dog's head on a strange tricycle, a clothes dryer is utilized to fluff your furry playa coat and leave you dazed, softened, and daisy fresh.
Contact: sinktrap (at) charter (dot) net
Flutter Tunnel
by Bland Hoke, Bryan Carpenter, Avery Resor, Hallie Sales and Steve Rainier
Flutter Tunnel is a 1000 foot long series of 100 steel arches that create an undulating slinky space. The project addresses the temporary nature of art installations, using borrowed, salvaged and waste materials. Additionally, Flutter Tunnel uses solar powered flashlights to illuminate it during the night. The flashlights will be donated to an organization in Uganda to assist in education and enterprise. Flutter Tunnel is a socially responsible installation which creates zero waste.
Flutter Tunnel is a contemplative space through which to journey. It encapsulates, isolates and broadens the scope of spacial ideologies.
Contact: fluttertunnel (at) gmail (dot) com
From Tyranny to Tolerance
by Lisa Genasci
Raped and impregnated by the religions of the world, Mother Earth awakens from this “tyranny over the minds of man” and gives birth to tolerance. As always, Mother Earth evolves.
Contact: lgenasci (at) gmail (dot) com
Galaxy on a Stick
by Jonathan Smith and Dominique Reboul
A garden? A weird garden. Perhaps it isn't a garden! Are they animal or vegetable? Are these pods that then become adults or are they a separate species? When the wind blows through them they speak. At night time they communicate with light. Apparently they understand each other.
Contact: galaxyonastick (at) fetchaphrase (dot) com
Ghosts
by Carla Aspenberg
Ghosts is an installation consisting of hundreds of small, white, cast plastic fish that appear to be moving together as a group. The piece evokes feelings of environmental disaster and questions the direction our society is progressing towards.
Ginga
by Jiro Hirano
Every summer in Japan the "Obon" ritual occurs, welcoming our ancestors from the other world to share food and drink. Afterward, we see them off.
This is a special event to say goodbye to the happiness and sadness of the past.
Ginga consists of balloons filled with helium and battery-operated light bulbs. The helium lasts for about five hours while the battery dies in approximately seven. This natural occurrence is intentional as it represents the Shinto driven concept "Born to die". Using traditional "Obon" methods, we welcome the dawn of the future in appreciation of the presence of this light as our guide.
Contact: vince (at) lotyscalyx (dot) com
Glotus
Glotus combines our world - symbolized by the globe - with enlightenment - symbolized by the lotus flower. But lest you believe our global evolution is bound for the path of light, consider the shadow side. Visitors can pivot and tilt the world or the lotus flower toward the sun to view both the light and the shadow.
Contact: BRCgidget (at) comcast (dot) net
Gort
by Stefan Werner and Ulrich Klumpp
Gort is two metal grids serving as antennas. Participants can play spooky spherical sounds reminiscent of 1950s early science fiction movies by moving around those antennas.
Grapestem
by Ben Zero
The Grapestem is an attempt to recreate the randomness and beauty of a nearly-consumed bunch of grapes in stainless steel, polyurethane, and light. Installed between Center Camp and the Man in 2007, and near Mutopia in 2008, the Grapestem emits a peaceful, steady green glow, creating a quiet gathering and resting place.
Contact: grapestem (at) benzero (dot) com
Great Golden Hive of the Invisible
by Derek Dyer
Consider the role bees have played throughout time in Evolution of flowers, plants and all living things by pollination and cross pollinating species, creating new species and shaping all life. Concerning the worldwide phenomena of disappearing bees and what this could mean for the future, this is the Hive of the Invisible, ceaselessly pollinating the Unseen, Creators of what is to come.
URL: www.derekdyer.com
Contact: derek (at) utaharts (dot) org
Groovik's Cube
by Barry Brummitt
Rubik's Cube was a clever mechanical puzzle you could hold in one hand. Groovik's Cube is an electronic version the size of a house. The power to solve it is split between three separate control stations and participants will have to work together if they wish to solve it.
Contact: cube (at) groovik (dot) com
Heartbeat Amplifier
by Hitch McDermid
Up to three participants at a time comfortably relax in armchairs and place their hands on a tin Electrocardiography (EKG) plate. The EKG plate amplifies the R-waves of their hearts via skin electrodes, extracts the heartbeat frequency in the range of human hearing and then further amplifies the heartbeat over bass heavy pro audio speakers into the deep playa. Multiple users can amplify the sound and a unique color of their heartbeat simultaneously, creating a musical and visual orchestra of the human heart for all to enjoy. Participants may also sit or lay down on the vibration platform to feel the heartbeat pulses of their fellow burners.
Contact: HeartBeatAmplifier (at) gmail (dot) com
H.M.S. Beagle
by Jean Schulz, Paul Chausee and Renee Donmon
The H.M.S Beagle is a whimsical version of Darwin's vessel meeting Charles Schulz's imaginary character's Snoopy (the world famous beagle) with his faithful sidekick Woodstock. Their adventure/voyage they will take participants through the Black Rock desert.
Human Cost of Deception
by Ellen Beckmann and Aaron Lander
From WorldCom, to Enron, to the Wall Street bailout, and the all-out fight against health care reform; human beings are increasingly sacrificed to insatiable thirst for capital. This piece displays the empty suits of the unemployed as a metaphor for the human cost.
Contact: net (dot) registrations (at) prodigy (dot) net
Hypothetical Organisms Reconstructed in Gypsum
Several fossils have been unearthed at various locations scattered about the Black Rock region. These paleontological digs reveal organisms from our distant past that have all convergently evolved similar structures in their body designs, heralding the prevalence of Occlupanids in our present industrial world.
Ichthytude
by Becky Stillwell and Steve Hall
Ichthytude is an aptitude and attitude adjustor. It appears as a nine foot long fish with six legs and a woman's head. Included are three puzzles, the solution of which will adjust the participant's attitude and aptitude. Ichthytude is painted with black light paint and is illuminated at night.
Contact: stillhall (at) aol (dot) com
Incardia Vere
by Nancy Hestand, Bill Fuller and Love Potion Camp
Incardia Vere (Latin for in heart real) is a larger than life three-dimensional anatomical heart, we are opening to you. Come in and explore. Climb in through a vein, enter the different chambers, and crawl through the aorta. Incardia Vere will come alive with the beating of your own heart—the beating amplified throughout, lights pulsating.
But be gentle, while residing in the physical realm, this heart is symbolic of an emotional journey of growth and an intention of opening up and letting people in.
Contact: incardiavere (at) gmail (dot) com
In Color
by Whirlygig and Leo
In Color is a fully functional giant kaleidoscope, big enough for several people to sit in at once, enveloping them completely in a spectacular world of color and shape. The visual effect drum can be rotated from either the inside or the outside and the visual background can be either clear (showing the unadulterated outside world) or one of various multicolored filters.
Contact: incolor (at) amberbug (dot) org
Intelligent Design
by Bob Mazewski
A ramp coming out of the playa holds a fish, crocodile, dog, orangutan and human and waits for you to finish the scene.
Contact: wizzard (at) wizzard (dot) com
It's About Time
by Jim Cavera and Lisa Cavera
It's About Time is a device that tracks subjective, rather than actual, time. Physically, it is a sculptural piece with a digital display that states, in text, something as to the current time. This is not the actual time, but rather time in more human form such as "dinnertime" or "nearing six".
Contact: j_cavera (at) yahoo (dot) com
Contact: j_cavera (at) yahoo (dot) com
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Kaleidoscopic Dreams
by Colby Kauk
A giant, interactive walk in Kaleidoscope!
Contact: colby (dot) kauk (at) gmail (dot) com
KameraS
by denny smith
50 SLR cameras will be united with art objects - organic and humanoid.....each will adorn a post on the fence at 12:00 past the Man....fourth in a series of PhenceArt projects....a green project using recycled materials....discover the evolutionary relationship with each Kamera.....
L.H.O.O.Q
L.H.O.O.Q is a tribute to Marcel Duchamp that incorporates the elements of creation by the participant and of gifting.
Contact: kenatik (at) hotmail (dot) com
Labyrinth 2008
by MDMF
Labyrinth 2008 is an amazing labyrinth to twist you all up disorient you and frustrate you.
Learning To Fly
by Kurt Ritta
"Learning To Fly" chronicles the evolution of flight in animals and Man's endless desire to rise up off of the tarmac. Six large wings glide with the desert breeze: from prehistoric pteradactyl to insect to fish to bird to bat to Man's angular imitation, all circling around a lone man whose feet are trapped in the earth, but his upwardly stretched arms yearn for the air.
Contact: kritta (at) earthlink (dot) net
Luminosa - The Light Trees
by Bill Watson
The Light Trees are a luminous grove of three trees with leaves that glow with vibrant colors and patterns. It is an inviting space where people can relax and enjoy the constantly changing ambience created by light flowing from the trees that respond to a variety of stimulus, such as sound and movement near them. There are also controls that allow the participants to directly control the colors and patterns of the luminous leaves.
The Light Trees are also intended to be a gathering place that creates an energizing and inspiring environment, a perfect place for spontaneous and creative acts to occur. The Light Trees are here to remind us of the beautiful possibilities that life has to offer.
URL: www.LightTrees.com
Contact: evolution (at) lighttrees (dot) com
Lux Tonalus
by Oscillator
Do you play a musical instrument? Ever wanted to make music? An interactive musical light sculpture, now in its third iteration on the playa, Lux Tonalus has evolved -- just for you! Generate ever-evolving tonal polyrhythms from a touch playing surface. Arpeggiate with springfrogs at dusk and welcome the dawn with your own geometric voice amongst the birdsong melodies.
manolution
by Peter Longatti and Tilo Usbeck
monolution is a spatial representation of the altitudinal development over the past 24 years of the Man.
In a clockwise movement the heights of each year are arranged around a center point.
Maya
by John Hagar, Ron Hagar and Steve French
A ten foot high wood and glass mixed-media installation, the Maya Temple is illuminated in neon and hand painted throughout. It is an altar for icons: Virgin of Guadalupe, patroness of the Americas' indigenous peoples, symbol of Mexico's identity and independence; and La Santa Muerta ("Saint Death"), patroness of those who exist at the fringe, she who comprehends the inherent dangers of post-NAFTA life, who forgives our frailty of flesh, who does not discriminate when granting her dark blessings.
The installation is not intended to judge, but to provoke reflection. How may our spirituality adapt to a changing world? Do we humans possess core values, or is our spirit determined by culture or chance? If the evolving State, organized religion, faith and ethics prove irrelevant, may we begin to negotiate our day-to-day existence with Death? Participants are invited to pause and reflect, bestow offerings, and compose messages to the dead.
Contact: hagarart09 (at) gmail (dot) com
McMoney&Drugs
by Wes Fenrir, Geoff LeMond, Zinzi Lemond and Tomasi Sulu'Ape
Would you like fries with that? Enjoy a Sharkfin sandwich or a child Labor shake! McMoney&Drugs, coming to a desert near you!!!
Contact: wesfenrir (at) gmail (dot) com
Memortrees
Memortrees invites participation in evolution through memories that gives the visitor great joy. The philosophy behind this piece is the belief that we are energy beings. That we co-create the lives we are living through the vibrations of the feelings we are offering, feelings that are the result of our thoughts, words, and actions. By consciously activating positive feelings within ourselves we participate intentionally in the manifestation… in the evolution… of our own lives.
Specifically, the piece invites participants to declare a memory that has already happened OR a memory that has yet to happen, but to declare it in the past tense as if it has! Memories will be written on leaves and attached to trees which will contribute to the piece’s own evolution throughout the week.
URL: www.memortrees.com
Contact: Robert (at) TheArtofDetail (dot) com
Menage a' Trois
by Rob Buchholz
Constructed from 2,250 lineal feet of steel pipe, this 30,000lb nest reaches 24' tall, spans 65', and encourages participants to explore its powerful limbs day or night. The nest surrounds three mirror and blown glass mosaic eggs... the piece in its gargantuan state creates a soothing and subtle environment.
URL: robertjamessf.com
Contact: burninghombre (at) yahoo (dot) com
Messianic Reflections
by Graham Laird Prentice
A fragmented mirage lies on the horizon. Emerging from the landscape like a body of water, reflective panels suggest a liquid surface, refracting the infinite color mind of the Black Rock Desert sky. The sculptured panels, seamed together to evoke the balance of sky and earth, draws the participant closer until they seem to float upon the reflective surfaces. To the observer arriving from a distance, they will seem to walk on water. In witnessing this miracle, this birth of a new messiah, the new observer will in turn be drawn closer, will in turn occupy the place of the former, will in turn inhabit the space of I and I. This is the stage of evolution; the process of recognizing the other as ourselves, our bodies as the point of completion between the circle of earth and sky, the plane at which we create our own prophecy.
Contact: graham (dot) l (dot) prentice (at) gmail (dot) com
M E T A M O R P H O S I S
by Alex Andre Thevenot
Metamorphosis is an interactive shortcut to the future unity of mankind through evolution. Participants stand on opposite sides of the free standing structure, facing a see-through mirror in the center. A strobe sequence begins and each viewer then sees their face flashing, then the opposing person’s face flashing repeatedly, so that they experience in real time the morphing of each others facial attributes such as: age, color and bone structure.
Over time, Bio-evolution and Technology leads the human race to blend physically, consciously and spiritually together into one.
URL: www.atelieralexandre.com/metamorphosis.html
Contact: info (at) atelieralexandre (dot) com
Mini Wacky Putt-Putt
by Scott G.G. Haller
Three holes of putting challenges await. A variety of dimpled orbs can be nudged by oddly shaped clubs into metal cups under the peaceful gaze of the Buddha, the maniacal glare of the laughing snakes, or the restful snoring of the dozing dragon.
Contact: ScottGGH (at) aol (dot) com
Monkey
by Erica Fuenmayor
A monkey skeleton made of steel, wrapped in cotton, soaked in lighter fluid, cased in wax and burned.
Contact: elfmasterelf (at) yahoo (dot) com
Monkiraffe
The figure for this art installation is a tall steel constuction portraying a fantastic combination of an ape, giraffe and wheels. The Monkiraffe appears to be produced by an absurd, symbiotic coevolution transformed into a single figure. The primary inference of the sculpture is that the Earth's possible future evolution will produce wild diversification.
Contact: artbylacey (at) hotmail (dot) com
Monolith 2.0
by Tim Thompson
In Arthur C. Clarke's Space Odyssey, the first generation of Monoliths triggered shifts in the evolution of man by encouraging tool development and space travel. Appearing at first glance to be similar, this 11 foot high black slab is the first in a new series of Monoliths that fosters user-generated evolution through interactive and collaborative tools, both musical and visual.
Contact: tjt (at) nosuch (dot) com
Mormon Cricket Crusade
by Kathy D'Onofrio
Avenging their near annihilation over a century ago, the Mormon Cricket Crusade employ evolution to reassert domination over their world. No longer mere one inch shield-backed katydids as they had once been, they hatch out of 12 inch, lime green, cocoon-like egg pods into one foot, two foot and three foot long demons. The three foot variety are immense, blood-red locust-like mutants with a powerful set of working wings.
The egg nest stews upon quartz crystals where these devil-spawn accrue their potential. Although it is believed that crickets band together in search of salt and protein, in reality, these ultra-modern crickets seek vengeance. Unfortunately the California Gulls aren't enough to placate their needs, so they stalk the unsuspecting, innocent humanity of Black Rock City.
Contact: kathygirl (at) ltol (dot) com
Mu
by Thomas Park and Eri Takase
Mu (zen, nothingness) is an installation of tall, starkly meditative
calligraphic banners in the feudal Japanese style. The writings
describe a fleeting moment, philosophers' musings, poetry.
Music.ouch
The music.ouch is just that, a music couch. Facing west to take in the sunset music.ouch emits fitting tunes to prepare you for the night. The only controls provided (on/off, next track, volume) keep you immersed in the music leaving you only to set the mood you want.
Contact: bizdid (dot) stuff (at) gmail (dot) com
MUSTart
by Ed Whyman
Books are free for participants to take and read/write/draw upon, then they are encouraged to Gift the book as an art piece to a stranger. MUSTart is a collaborative artwork that is about the process rather than the product and is devised to empower everyone to create art and selflessly give it away, and in so doing so, to change their behaviour and the way they life, for the better. It is subversive art and has existed in an undercover way for a while now.
We put on interactive events that include everyone. www.Mustart.org is created by www.UGCunion.org.
Contact: bizdid (dot) stuff (at) gmail (dot) com
Naked Edges
by UCLA AUD 2010
Naked Edges creates a duality between two material systems: one of physical lightness apparently caught in an instant of movement, raindrops frozen, a motionless swarm. The other is a system of apparent mass and weightiness, one constantly evolving, moving, changing its orientation to the other. In reality neither condition is so one-sided. What is apparently still is constantly moving, tangling, drifting being pushed and disrupted by air currents and exploring visitors. The other, while much more massive than its floating counterpart, is materially related to the minimal system above as if to reinforce the idea of temporal suspension of two stages of one organism that are able coexist in a moment.
Contact: uclaburningman (at) googlegroups (dot) com
Nasci
by Wendell Hensell/Don Streeter
Three panels, laid out in an upright hexagonal shape, read VENI, the second FLAMMI, and the third NASCI. In smaller print above, below, or on the side in different languages (English, Celtic, Arabic, an Asian language) the translation reads "I Came", "I Burned", "I Was Reborn" respectively. Eight 12ft tall banners encircle the piece and 8 feet out from the NASCI panel is suspended a gong which will invite burners to ring to declare their 'rebirth'. The banners, gong, and each panel are lit at night only and the backside of each panel has artwork representative of the 2009 theme 'Evolution' relative to rebirth. Thoughts that come to mind are the rising of the Phoenix, cleansing by fire, the never ending circle of life. The back of one panel may be made available for individual expression by visitors to the piece.
Contact: lildudeor (at) msn (dot) com
Nest
by Joel and Julie Baron and Desert Pearl Crew
Inspired by the feathered and furry creatures that make their homes in the trees, Nest offers comforting respite among its interlocking branches which perch high above the playa floor atop a rustic tree house.
Contact: jujobaron (at) comcast (dot) net
Neverwas Haul
by Shannon O'Hare
Neverwas Haul is a self-propelled three-story Victorian House made from 75% recycled equipment and materials, based on a Jules Verne-inspired imaginary world where steam technology is considered cutting edge. Participants interact with the intrepid explorers of the Academy of Unnatural Sciences by viewing the specimens and trophies of their travels.
Contact: shannon_o_hare (at) yahoo (dot) com
New Age
by Anne Henderson and John Walmsley
A circle is attached to an inverted cross, reminiscent of Native American place markers. Upon closer inspection the sparkle and the dangles come from what might be found in a post apocalyptic society. Plastic containers, cd's and bottle caps combine to form art in this "New Age".
Obscure
by livorletdie
Teb man-size letters are outlined with light ropes; spelling REVOLUTION. The R is connected to a timer switch, inviting bypassing participants to interact.
PUSH THE BUTTON! Revolution demands progressive action - otherwise it's just evolution...
Contact: liv (at) defekt (dot) nl
One of Nine/ Giant Mushroom Rocket
by Zenon Krause
One of Nine is a metaphoric recreation of the 400 million year old mushroom called prototaxites. 400 million years ago the tallest plants were only a few feet tall, prototaxites were 30 to 40 feet tall. This sculpture expresses experience of the mushroom kingdom and draws attention to the work of Paul Stamets on bioremediation and cleaning up our toxic waste on this planet.
Life is the holy grail and it is something worthwhile for all people to consider participating in the cleaning up of the mess we humans have created. The health of life on this planet is founded on the health of the fungal kingdom. Happy fungus happy plants, happy animals etc..
Warm and fuzzy, bright and beautiful, funny and profound, full of possibility.
Contact: chicagostargazer (at) hotmail (dot) com
Pacifico
by Jan DeLano and Wendell DeLano
A Plywood VW Van with the windows cut out for photo opportunities is painted with creatures from the sea, representing evolution.
Contact: jan (at) delanoconsulting (dot) com
Pe-nutty Psychiatric Help
In need of psychiatric help on the playa, Peanuts style? Stop by to receive or give some helpful (or not) jewels of (pe)nutty wisdom. Rates vary.
Contact: rev (dot) sugarpux (at) gmail (dot) com
PlayAngles
by C Mack, M Abilgaard and J Gelff
A horse is a horse of course of course unless it's a cow...or maybe if it's a dinosaur.....but when you come close you'll see it's only the skeletal remains of some such aforementioned creature and that the belly of the beast is now a place to play triangles, to whack them really hard, beat out a rhythm, and declare....."Come and get IT!!!"
Contact: gelffmack (at) gmail (dot) com
Playa Phone
by Brent Chapman and Brad Templeton
The Playa Phone is a no-pay phone that, through the magic of Playa Dust, allows you to place real live *FREE* phone calls to anywhere in the world. Every year, thousands of Burners use it to call their mom, their boss, their kids, their parole officers, their ...
Contact: playaphone (at) greatcircle (dot) com
Plesiosaur
by Adam Baer
The skeleton of an aquatic dinosaur made of recycled found objects.
Contact: spacebaer (at) gmail (dot) com
Prayer Dragon
by Ryan Mathern
In Tibetan Buddhism the Dragon represents the "sound of compassion that awakens us from delusion". Prayer wheels offer liberation from suffering through the mechanical recitation of the prayers and mantras inscribed upon the cylinders. Fire Prayer Wheels in particular bring purification of negative karma, which can facilitate realization of the path to enlightenment.
A wood burning fire cauldron in the shape of a Tibetan dragon has a tubular steel spine and legs with a sheet metal formed body. Emerging from the spine of the dragon are six stainless steel prayer wheel cylinders that spin as a result of the convection heat rising from the fire cauldrons.
Prayer Dragon is a representation of the Evolution of Consciousness. Four principal wheels portray the four stages of enlightenment. Participants write their prayers, wishes and goals for their own evolution upon small pieces of wood which will then burn in the dragon. The heat from the wood will turn the wheels thus sending the prayers and wishes out over all it touches through light and warmth and power of wind. We wish to evolve consciousness to a higher state of compassion for all sentient beings...starting with oneself.
Contact: r_mathern (at) mindspring (dot) com
Punctuated Equilibrium
by Andres Amador
The art piece consists of lines raked onto the surface of the playa in various designs that are an exploration of the ways our world is experienced, from the perfection of geometry to the chaos of organic form. Each design tells us something about our own nature, dealing with our own life experience. The viewer is invited to reflect upon the relationship of the designs to their personal experience and spare rakes will be provided to encourage participation.
Contact: info (at) analogia (dot) org
Pyroplexity II
Blurring the lines between perceived and real danger, Pyroplexity II is an enormous vapor-based fire cannon with a twist.
Contact: bohdi (at) pspyk (dot) com
Rainbow Ramps
by Serial Carpens (aka Publisher Emeritus MG Nos)
Playa mirage meets suburban skate punk treasure. A handful of mellow two foot tall quarter pipes, launch ramps, slant ramps, 'hump' ramps, and a stripper pole hand painted by artist Serial Carpens in the key of 'Psychedelic'. 'As a teenager growing up in the deserts of El Paso, TX the artist and friends would roam the deserts on bmx bikes and skateboards discovering ditches and ramps such as these. This a throwback to those times with a playa 'twist'.
Contact: configuration1 (at) gmail (dot) com
Rebirth of the Forest Spirit
by Jacob Appelbaum
An altar to the harmony between the earth and its beings, represented by a five foot square platform with a seven foot spire adorned with mirrors, wind chimes, dream catchers and totems of the Forest Spirit. At night the spire is lit with gentle blue and green LEDs that promote harmony and peace.
Robot Uprising
by Adam Ebel, Arwen King and Sebastian Lange
Robot Uprising uses negative space as a way of implicitly telling a story about a large robot... which is to say that it has woken up from a deep slumber beneath the desert and is disoriented, curious, and excited. The robot is formed in such a way as to be engaging and accessible, with multiple compartments that people may travel into and find interactive components including a touchscreen mounted inside its chest and a space inside the robot's head where people may climb into and control the robot's eyes and voice. The touchscreen allows participants to program the robot with experience in a number of ways including leaving a story, playing a game with the robot, or sharing something of deeper value. This is also an opportunity for people to see what others have left, and to share experiences in real-time while simultaneously helping the robot learn and evolve.
Contact: spacefreq (at) gmail (dot) com
Rock'Em Sock'Em Robots
by David Ljung Madison
You're walking along the Playa thinking about your childhood and how simple it was to be amused. Suddenly, as a mirage, two robots loom before you. It is Rock'Em Sock'Em Robots, from your youth, but this time they're big enough to knock *your* block off. You climb into the boxing ring and climb into the Blue Bomber, and suddenly you've become an eight foot tall robot fighting machine. Your trusty companion grabs hold of the steering controls outside the ring, while your two combatants gear up in the Red Rocker. The hot arena lights pound down on you while the crowd cheers you on. You hear the bell ring, and the fight is on!
Sacred Space: Black Rock Zen
by Michael Tscheu
Celebrate the sacredness of our home and the space that holds us:
bring your presence, open hands and empty heart.
Contact: mtscheu (at) sbcglobal (dot) net
School of Blue Bottle Noses
by David Boyer
"School of Blue Bottle Noses" is a playful wind-driven kinetic sculpture. Sitting atop a sturdy steel structure are six independently pivoting fish-like elements. At the front of each "fish" is a cobalt blue bottle. At the tails are stainless steel fins. These fins are unique in that they pivot when acted upon by the wind. This pivoting action causes the "fish" to swing back and forth, similar to the swimming motion of a real fish.
Contact: windart (at) sbcglobal (dot) net
Shaddy Sunrise Sunglass Stand
by Michael Beaudoin and Eyrn Snograss
Out on the playa one tends to lose track of time and can get caught far away from camp. On a glorious morning, all you may need is coffee and sunglasses. Coffee is easy to find, sunglasses not so easy. The Shaddy Sunrise Sunglass stand is a little sun glass stand, offering a little shade, coffee, mellow morning beats, sunscreen, and most importantly sunglasses and goggles of all types and styles. If you are caught in a sunny sunrise with no eye protection, look for the Shaddy Sunrise.
Contact: hswindowcleaning (at) hotmail (dot) com
Signal?
by Stacey Stemach
A long time ago someone abandoned a pile of broken concrete in the desert. Baked by the sun, massaged by the weather, and permeated with the radio waves and latent energy leaking from our cities, something began to grow.
Contact: signal (dot) 2009 (at) yahoo (dot) com
SKYLINE
by Robert Bose
SKYLINE is a string of tethered helium balloons that rises up into the sky.
Contact: lostinnny (at) aol (dot) com
Smilodon Fatalias Aerialis (Winged Killer Smile)
by Kimmy Dudek
A rider-ready, skeletal sculpture of a winged (Aerialis) and sabre-toothed tiger (Smilodon Fatalias) hand carved from composite wood commercially made from recycled materials and sub-structured with steel. It asks the question “Would this sabre-toothed cat have survived the La Brea tar pits if it had evolved to have flight at its disposal?”, and answers the question “Would you have ridden it?“
Contact: wingedkillersmile (at) gmail (dot) com
Solar System
Very few people have ever seen a true scale model of our Solar System. This project embodies the emptiness of interplanetary space and the wonder of the specks we call planets.
Contact: steve (at) upstill (dot) net
Song of the Sun
The Song of the Sun is a daytime only pyramid shaped sound installation that takes the Sun's rays and turns its light into music. The music is altered by using shadows to change the frequencies. A solar powered theremin resides inside each piece of the Song of the Sun. As participants use their hands or bodies to cast shadows over the solar panel, the frequencies change. People can even create recognizable songs through the use of shadows.
Spark
On a dark planet, four billion years ago, a single spark jumpstarted life. Spark expresses the origin, abiogenesis, in a spectacle of carbon-born light and electricity. 800 million candle power emanates from an arc between two burning carbon rods, yielding one of the brightest light sources known to man. This source would blind if not contained, so it is housed in the simplest of manmade structures, a cube. Yet the power that started life fights its containment and erupts into the night for all to enjoy. Let there be light.
Contact: trey (at) onemandown (dot) com
Stimulith
by Moonrock Collective
Jutting stark and black from the barren expanse of the playa, it is
something at once familiar and jarringly alien. Tall as two grown men,
its dimensions reflect the proportions of the first three integers,
squared: 1 by 4 by 9. On approach you notice an undulating hum; a
certain low vibration to its touch. As you examine further, the throb
grows louder and more varied. Is it trying to communicate something?
If so, what? And why? On Saturday night, it burns for you.
Contact: sean (at) snackpalace (dot) com
Sun God
by Alex Botkin
Sun God is a symbol of thanks to the Sun which encouraged our ancestor microbes to stop sucking methane and start consuming chlorophyll generated sugar. That is what made us the creatures we are today. Without it, there would have been nothing to evolve. This statue installation is also a sundial - thereby answering the eternal question on the playa - "Does anybody know what time it is?"
Contact: alexbotkin (at) hotmail (dot) com
Sundial and Chime
A large sundial with a moving dial gives the local time and rings bells every few minutes. The moving dial and bells are powered by small solar panels.
Sun Song
by Sparky Campanella and Elloa Barbour
Sun Song is a twice-daily performance piece that gives welcoming thanks to the sun at dawn and goodbye thanks at dusk. The piece begins 30 minutes prior to dawn and dusk with a procession out to the playa installation. Once there, song mistress extraordinaire Elloa Barbour will lead you in singing this healing Salish chant.
Contact: sparkster (at) yahoo (dot) com
Swashbuckler Sunrise
by Thomas Haan, Mike Dalrymple and Velvet Jones
The Swashbuckler Sunrise is an outpost for pirates, vagabonds, and ne’er-do-wells located along the outer reaches of the playa near the boundary. An ideal place to catch a sunrise, either to start your day or to end it. Come for the sunrise, stay for the revelry.
Contact: thaan (at) bojon (dot) com
Tea Temple
by Mark Holmes, Jon Oda, Jared Bryant and Chime
The Tea Temple is an oasis on the playa harkening back to the caravanserai of ancient days. The inspiration for this structure is an Athanor, or alchemical chamber where elements combine to form new substances greater than the sum of their parts. Our public preparation of tea is itself alchemy--a dance of the five elements to transform inert dried dead leaves and tasteless water into liquid gold that has the capacity to bring clarity and delight to the drinker.
Contact: teatemple (at) pranamaya (dot) com
Temportal 2.1
The Temportal 2.1 is a metal structure designed to transport your consciousness forward or backwards in the evolutionary time line.
The Arch
by Richard Akers
A Ceramic Arch depicts the passage of time.
Contact: richard (at) richardakers (dot) com
The BikeOasis
by Michael V. Yates
Bicycles make their way across the playa and enter in to a circuit where their motion provides the energy to raise water into a central fountain.
Contact: phyxx (at) comcast (dot) net
The Buddha Bunny
by Animus Arts Collective
THE BUDDHA BUNNY is a 20 foot tall meditating rabbit, sitting in full-lotus position. The project focuses on the intesection of the evolution of biology and the evolution of consciousness. How is it something can evolve from a single-celled organism to a being with moral fiber and spiritual faith? Running up the Bunny’s body are light sources corresponding to the chakras of the body. As the week evolves, the rabbit "spiritually evolves, and a new chakra lights up each night of the week. On Thursday, in tandem with the BILLION BUNNY MARCH, the final chakra will be lit, at which point The Buddha Bunny will reach "Enlightenment" and burst into light. Thursday at sundown there will be an enlightenment ceremony at The Buddha Bunny, complete with high theatrics, performance, and a dazzling light show!
URL: www.animusart.com
The Burning Itch
by Maque daVis
A sculpture with nightly fire and pyro.
Contact: maque (at) drizzle (dot) com
The Care Factor Nil Maze
by Simon Edwards
A maze, made of walls built in a similar way to the Burning Man perimeter fence that you can see through and see where you need to get to, just not how.
The Chaotick
by Larry Breed
A reliably erratic timekeeping beacon, the flaming tetherball swoops and spirals through the Black Rock night: tick... tick... keeping exact playa time, more or less.
Contact: ember (at) burningman (dot) com
The Cycle of Social Evolution
by Kate Johnson
Take a spin on the Social Evolution Game! Societies evolve in a series of cycles, beginning with Freedom, followed by Administration, which deteriorates into Bureaucracy, eventually resulting in Revolution. Take a few minutes and add your comments to the Social Evolution Journal.
Contact: gypsypitcrew (at) clearwire (dot) net
The Everything: a Modular Collaboratory
by Jordan Walker, Lachlan Grey and Mercury in America
"The Everything" is a modular collaboratory. Unfolding from a rolling trailer, the Everything seeks to foster what the artist Joseph Beuys describes as "permanent conference". Initiating a social sculpture around what it means to be truly human, the Everything functions as a "soul battery" absorbing the questions and deeds of its participants.
An onboard flowform purifies and revitalizes participant's water and functions as an example of sacred, aesthetic, technology. Believing that the future is now, its creators invite an embodied study of anthroposophy - the wisdom of the human being. Beyond discussion and dialogue, the everything grants the space to experience what it is that we are meant to become - what wants to be born out of human freedom and earnest striving.
Contact: Mercuryinfo (at) newformsproject (dot) org
The Evolutionary Demise
by David and Brenda Jasiewicz
Something didn’t go quite as Darwin expected, or did it? All good things must come to an end, and that includes us. The trinity of towering infernos is now the serpent’s home among the human remains. Forged from steel and lit with fire, these three towers will light the night of our post apocalyptic existence if we are lucky enough to survive.
Contact: david (at) trickconcepts (dot) com
The Evolution of Language
by Charles Keatts
The Evolution of Language is a collection of lighted found windows incorporating text from Darwin's Origin of Species. The text is transformed into modern/postmodern poetry/experimental text to reflect the evolution of language, how we view words, science, light, and visions of the present evolving into the future.
Contact: keatts (at) gmail (dot) com
The Gap
by Mik Phipps
The act of transformation - such as the evolution of a flower from a bud, an animal from the egg or by which any living organism has acquired the characteristics which distinguish it through a gradual unfolding of successive events - involves many steps. The Gap is a bridge that represents the link between the three most important steps in evolution: Origin, Adapation, Outcome.
Contact: mikphipps (at) hotmail (dot) com
The Garden and Grotto of Manifest Destiny
by Randy Polumbo
In this reinvention of nature, the garden occupies a space of approximately 30’ x 30'. Elements of the installation are illuminated day and night and videos are installed into the inner sanctum of the shipping container, punctured with baby bottle nipples cast out of recycled glass. The surrounding garden’s techno-organic LED illuminated flowers are composed of solar panels as petals forming a whorl around a medusa thatch of stamens made out of softly glowing and vibrating sex toys, artificially mimicking the two primary activities of flowers--photosynthesis and sex.
Darwin’s theories of evolution and natural selection are both visually and symbolically embedded within The Garden and Grotto of Manifest Destiny. Polumbo uses flowers as a means to tell a story of human desire, domestication, gender, domination, mutation, exploration and survival of the fittest. Its bright colors and glowing lights seduces and intrigues viewers by flirting, arousing, and hinting at sexual ecstasy, while reflecting on more somber issues of human propagation vs. plant propagation and the grotesquery of human behavior and the fragility of life.
Contact: randy (at) polumbo (dot) com
The Lighthouse Project 2.0
by Greg Boes, Gina Limon, Ray sykes, Loran Thomas and Jensen Hastings
A Lighthouse serves as a beacon to all Black Rock City.
The Massive Storage Container
Just as the fantastic American Dream Home hexayurt example showed last year, this year the Massive Storage Container shows how to engineer a better, greener, less difficult burn. Come see a prototype of a Massive Storage container, where you keep your burner and camp gear when not at Black Rock City, and which acts as a kitchen, shower, wardrobe and pantry when you are on playa. Free plans available online, which you can modify at will.
Contact: massive (at) massivestorage (dot) com
The Mudpire Strikes Back
by Graham McLeod and Max Poyton
THE MUDPIRE STRIKES BACK is essentially a 15 foot tall metal daddy long legs spider being over taken by a wave of human sized mudmen. There are about 15 mudmen coming out of the playa in various places and in varying levels of submersion. They are climbing atop one another in an effort to overwhelm the metal monstrosity that attempts to defend itself using it's superior size and lasers. The spider is lit using a series of LEDs along its joints and on the ground surrounding it. Some of the mudmen appear to move, but one can't be sure. Perhaps there are people in suits or, more likely, the sculpture is coming alive!
Contact: Gcloudmax (at) gmail (dot) com
The Museum of Unnatural Selection
by Jen Forbes, Lex Talionis and Goatman Dan
A museum style diorama built within the staple building block of industrial art spaces - a 20' shipping container, the Museum of Unnatural Selection is a sensual cornucopia of interactive fire, sound, light, and metal sculpture.
The museum contains sculptural elements that represent an alternative evolutionary perspective: a life-sized tree, an ethereal woman, animals, fish, flowers, pond and stream invoke many questions. What could be? What might not have been? What almost never was? From afar you merely see a box in the distance from which fire, light and sound emanate, but what lies inside? It is a place where participants control the light, sound, fire, and creatures. It is a museum unlike any any other and is created using 90% recycled materials at NIMBY by a group of artists and volunteers who know its better if you make IT together.
Contact: redteam510 (at) gmail (dot) com
The Nest of Recollection
by Matthew Schultz and Kevan Christiaens
The Nest of Recollection is a multi-part structure dedicated to the evolution of man, the evolution of the environment and the evolution of a person from child to adult. The Nest is 16 ft wide and built from childhood memories, wagons, action figures and broken hearts. The collage of sculptures covering the nest invokes all of the joys and pains of childhood. The experiences that shape an innocent child into a complex adult.
The Nest sits on the remnance of a once mighty tree. Cut for progress the tree is still imposing at 17 ft tall. The tree clings to existence telling the world it will not go quietly. Inside the tree is a small room dedicated to the Bird-Man, the creator of the nest. How did the Bird-Man evolve. Was it natural, or a perversion of science?
Contact: mrschultz (at) gmail (dot) com
The Next
by Karl Saliter and Samantha Saliter
The Next is an eight-foot long dollar bill made of stones. Housed in a large box made of steel rods, the dollar bill seems to float.
This piece embodies the idea of evolving through perception in a culture driven by money. The large and very tangible stones in the shape of a huge dollar bill appear solid, and are, on closer inspection, anything but. Much of the dollar bill is composed of negative space. The spaces between the stones belie the apparent solidity of the dollar.
Contact: karl (at) karlsaliter (dot) com
The One
by Hippie Tim
Behold the illuminating light of The One.
Contact: fuzzy.dude (at) gmail (dot) com
The Only Way Out Is In
by Monica Gonzalez, Stacey Feldman, Noaa Bujanover and Brian Rutkowski
The Only Way Out Is In. A labyrinth does not go astray like a maze, it has twist and turns, sometimes long and convoluted changing directions leading to a center and then out again, you only have to go on, a labyrinth can symbolize the evolution of life itself... Symbolically, and sometimes actually, you are taking back out into the world that which you have received.
Contact: Daisygirlmg (at) gmail (dot) com
The Point of Evolution
by Mark Svendsen
The Point of Evolution represents the moment where major change happens.
Webbing lines represent all the paths coming together leading up to the point of evolution. The stone pendant represents a major turning point for mankind.
Contact: studio30bymark (at) yahoo (dot) com
The Pool
by Jen Lewin
The Pool is an environment of giant concentric circles created from interactive, wireless circular pads. By entering The Pool, participants enter a world where play and collaborative movement can create a cascading effect of swirling light and color. By adding and subtracting light, individuals and groups of people interact with The Pool in profound ways. The interaction varies dramatically depending on the number of individuals involved. This dynamic interaction between individuals and The Pool creates environments ranging from curious and playful with few participants, to energetic and competitive with many participants.
Like a giant game of light “ping pong,” the Pool has users running and jumping, adding, bouncing, and colliding their lights. Dive In.
Contact: info (at) blueink (dot) com
The Prometheus Cube
by Michael LaHood
The Prometheus Cube creates an environment that allows participants to connect with themselves and others in an instinctually human way. From the outside, the installation looks like a simple eight foot crate with an entrance. Inside is a smaller two foot cube projecting fire imagery, along with an audio system that has a fire and nature soundtrack. Every 15 minutes or so, a random modern myth, story, or song is played over the audio system.
Contact: mike (at) lahoodproductions (dot) com
The Red Arrow Project
by Christian Cerrito and Jennifer Fisher
The Red Arrow Project is a set of 20 kites flown by a group of random participants. Each kite has a giant red arrow pointing in a different direction. When the kites are flown simultaneously they create a field of red arrows in the sky that suggest new paths of exploration and are a reminder to stop, consider your direction, and potentially head somewhere new. The kites, which are four foot x four foot nylon hexagons with graphic red arrows attached, will be launched by a group of team members but can easily be passed to other people as they walk by and participate in the project.
Contact: zonxs7 (at) gmail (dot) com
The Red Door
by Mindy Drewes
THE RED DOOR... Its meaning? Well, thats for you to decide. Maybe The Red Door is the entrance to another world, asking you to let go of all you know to be true? Maybe The Red Door is there to "Welcome you home" as many feel they are at Burning Man? Maybe the Red Door is supposed to be a reminder of the red light district in Amsterdam? Maybe a game show prize is located right behind the door? Or, just maybe, it's literally just a Red door deep in the open Playa?
No one will tell you because, afterall, isn't that exactly what art at Burning Man is supposed to do: Make you think?
THE SPINNING MUSIC WINDMILL
by Mike Gibson
THE SPINNING MUSIC WINDMILL is a low-to-no tech windmill/fence (20ft long 6ft high) created as a memorial for dead music mediums.
The project features dozens of (wind-driven) spinning records, cd's, cassettes, DAT's, reel-to-reels, wax cylinders, and 8-track tapes. There will be a central doorway made out of 42 individually spinning 8-track tapes. By day it will catch and reflect a lot of sunlight and cast constantly shifting kinetic shadows. At night it will be lit up by a series of solar powered outdoor lights.
Contact: itsgoodtobemike (at) gmail (dot) com
THE WEDGE
by Jon Morris, Ana Luiza - Constantino, Karen Fuhrman, Bill Mullholland, Gwyn Larson and Rose Mallare
THE WEDGE
An "interactive slope of evolution", "the decent of man," or "The Wedge Metaphor, attributed to Phillip E. Johnson, is that of a metal wedge splitting a log and represents using an aggressive public relations program to create an opening for the supernatural in the public’s understanding of science." The Wedge is a synthetic grass lawn that ascends to a sunrise/sunset lookout providing a shade structure lounge underneath.
THE WEDGE
The structure.
THE INTER-WEDGE
The interior area underneath the wedge, a shade zone for lounging, viewing art, and performance.
THE WEDGIE
A cozy lounge at the interior base of the slope.
AND
THE WORLD WIDE WEDGE
The area surrounding the wedge.
Contact: thewedge09 (at) gmail (dot) com
Time for Money
by Roth Hall
Parking is at a premium here. Pay the meter if you would like some time. Don't forget to take your coins back.
Contact: rothhall (at) hotmail (dot) com
[Time Love Memory]
by Stefano Corazza
Literary art at the edge of the playa, [Time Love Memory] is the place in the middle of the desert where thoughts converge from time-space into a few everlasting lines of ink. All the writings are gathered daily and published after Burning Man.
Contact: sunflowerrobots (at) gmail (dot) com
TMA-3
by Mitch Brost, Chip Jarman, Tyler Grasholm and Tobias Toleman
Scenario:
August 24, 2009.
Another monolith has mysteriously appeared in the Black Rock Desert. Its purpose is unknown. A team has been assembled to investigate an RF field that appears to be emanating from within the structure. The site has been designated, TMA-3.
August 31, 2009.
The monolithic structure, standing about 18 ft. above the desert playa, is cordoned off by a perimeter of yellow caution tape. Within the perimeter, participants and members of the TMA-3 team are working at a small work station monitoring the transmission. The RF signal has been deciphered and TMA-3 is now sending its message to the playa and beyond. The message appears to be of human voices enumerating the human DNA sequence. It is believed this message is announcing that the human race has unlocked the secrets of the human genome – another possible advancement in the evolution of the human race.
URL: www.burningmanzeroseven.com
Contact: tma3 (at) burningmanzeroseven (dot) com
Tower of Emergence
by Jordan Tenney
The Tower of Emergence is a wood architectural sculpture that reaches nearly 60' into the sky and is much like a stylized flower which has broken through a huge crack in the barren desert floor. This towering new species is a symbol of the processes of creation and formation that are occurring in and around us at all times, a never-ending process of becoming. How are we to emerge? What will we do to reorganize the scattered ashes of that which has past and fallen? What will we become as individuals, peoples, cultures, species, and as a world?
Contact: towerofemergence (at) gmail (dot) com
Transport Your Head: A Time Safari
by Logan, jD and the Projekteers Group
Send your mind through time, while leaving your body safely in The Present. Each one of these giant Portathyst Geode sculptures has a head-sized hole. Inside, participants find themselves surrounded with creatures and sounds from Earth's distant past, from surly eurypterids to hungry saurians. We guarantee all heads will make the return trip, though it may be in a changed state!
URL: projekteers.austeja.com/
Tree of Time
by Lucas Jones and Friends
This 'tree-like' figure is a representation of Dawin's graphs that represent evolution by way of natural selection. Some branches continue while others die out. Such is the nature of struggle for existence, where Earth creatures must adapt to their surroundings as necessary.
This figure exemplifies the necessary compatibility between creature and environment, the inward and outward scopes of evolution. Each branch also represents one of the five kingdoms: Monera, Protista, Fungi, Plantae and Animalia. And the five branches also represent the five digits of the hand, one of the principle functions in the evolution of humankind. Participation is strongly encouraged.
Contact: mnismud (at) yahoo (dot) com and uninfected (at) hotmail (dot) com
Tubolution
by Mark Piers
In this geostarkness the emergent convert becomes an elaborate copse. This place devoid of trees, this jungle know of wildwood puzzle, from
earth to tree and evolved tree to earth transformed, and has become an unfolding weald of transformation thicket: become part of the
tubewoods process. O.K. hundreds of cardboard tubes, forest maze chill.
Contact: markpiers (dot) artist (at) gmail (dot) com
unsung, undone, resung, reborn
by Seven Rexx
Life is everywhere. It's growing out of the playa, forming into a tree. The tree twists as life often does, and begins to take shape as a pregnant woman. In her womb she bears a green glowing heart. Evolution embodies change, destruction, and growth. Hence, she will burn at the end of the week depicting finality, surprise, and the endless phoenix experience.
Contact: sevenofbrc (at) gmail (dot) com
Vishnu's Dream
by Joe Arnold and Deedee Hampton
Evolution had to have a begining. In the Hindu tradition, the god Vishnu reclines on a bed formed by a thousand headed cobra, and dreams the Universe into being, a lotus blossoming from his navel. In the art installation "Vishnu's Dream," a ring of cobras frame scenes from evolution and supports a lotus flower above. Inside the sculpture, swirling images of Burning Man (the event) are melded with images of participants, symbolically representing the evolution of Burning Man and the Burners themselves.
URL: www.vishnusdream.info
Contact: mail (at) vishnusdream (dot) info
wdydwyd?
by Tony Deifell
"wdydwyd?" is a worldwide community art project to answer "why do you do what you do?" by incorporating text in an image. The project started at Burning Man in 2004 and spread to other groups across the world. It is a simple question, but not always so simple to answer.
Contact: contact (at) wdydwyd (dot) com
Weeds
by Quentin Davis
"Spores", from 2008, has evolved and is blooming with 13ft. flowers of light constructed from recycled plastic water jugs. Pods made entirely of playa clay and waste water spring directly from the playa surface. These strange life forms provide a tranquil oasis for playa travelers both day and night.
Contact: weeds (at) quentini (dot) com
We Evolve
by Clare Thwaites
We Evolve gives many shapshots into 'society', how we know it and a lot that the general population does not know. We Evolve illustrates and explains the evolution of military occupation, healthcare, culture, climate and many other topics.
Contact: clare (at) intelligentaudio (dot) net
What Where When
by Frank Cincoine and Rainer Rupanner
Social, geographic, visual and audio interactive information tree/waystation.
Whine of the winds
by Thomas E Trower
A collection of sounding weathervanes.
Contact: ttrower (at) sunflower (dot) com
Witness Pavilion
by Weyaka Cassero
A beautiful 10x10 15 ft tall booth with a golden Russian mushroom dome that is brightly lit with the words VALIDATION across it beckons you to "come one and all you magnificent and magical beings! Come and have your light mirrored and reflected back to you through spoken word! Come and be validated by bright joyous beings at our validation booth!"
The booth is painted in silver, gold, orange and magenta with sweet swirly abstract designs around the diameters of the structure and blue gems signifying communication through spoken word. Words spoken to you with great reverence, honor and joy of the perfect being you are right now! Participants are greeted by smiling, happy excited people who validate and ticket and send you on your way feeling witnessed and loved, with a beautiful ticket around your lovely neck to share with anyone, or no one, the choice is yours!
Contact: Weyaka (at) todaystara (dot) com
y=1/4sin(Pi x/3.08) / Homeostatic Self Portrait
by Michael Emery
The footprint of this sculpture graphs three periods of a sine wave onto the playa surface. Viewed from the side, one encounters the rise of this curve as an eighteen foot long, seven foot tall undulating mirrored wall. Moving along the length of this wall, the viewer's reflection fractalizes and ripples in 30,000 small cut mirrors creating a kaleidoscopic self-portrait. Though apparently haphazard, this shifting self-reference is, in fact, driven by the directional selection of the viewers movement and constrained always within the homeostasis of the sine curve. Assuming the premise that all one ever encounters is the projection of mind, the viewer might question the shape of reality, and the nature of "I" in his or her own evolving consciousness.
Contact: miko111 (at) comcast (dot) net
YOU ARE NOW
by Douglas Kaufman
YOU ARE NOW is a 24' diameter, 8' tall sculpture made from steel tubing and plexiglass mirror with three 12' arms radiating out from the center at 120 degrees to each other. Since the past is viewed with altered memories and the future is projected with desires, the NOW is the defining moment of our personal evolution and for the majority of us, it is the only evolution that we truly participate in and are able to comprehend!
Participants walking up to the six sided mirror see themselves as they are at this moment. They can see where they have been... Black Rock City, the playa, the art... the 24 foot footprint allows no hiding from reality and all is reflected back to the viewer. The moment of individual perception will always be existent!
Contact: dl112nm (at) earthlink (dot) net
Zen Biscuit
by Alex McLean, (a.k.a. pixiemeat)
Inspired by David Best's 2007 Temple of Forgiveness, the artist hopes to conjure an image of symmetry imbued with references to a Buddhist "mon" or temple gate. Designed as a tower of linear themes, the base -- composed of an unadulterated tree trunk -- might safely represent primal Earth. The doughnut of technology, in the middle, with its lights and computer motherboard skin, is us, here, mankind in present day. The rusted swooping "mon" atop it all might be our elegant future. Except for the tree, 100% recycled.
Contact: dirthippie (at) gmail (dot) com
Zoetrope "Evolution of Man"
by Steve Roper
"Zoetrope Evolution" is an replication of the early Phenakistoscope Cinema, invented in 1834. The Origins of 'Persistence of Vision' or 'Retention of Image' - the phenomena which, it is often noted can be used to explain how motion pictures work and can be traced back to experiments by Newton. This is art also traces the evolution of Cinema. Come give it a spin!
Contact: sgr_1 (at) hotmail (dot) com
