Bells, bells, bells

http://www.imakebells.com

I found a great local craftsman that makes bells out of recycled gas tanks! I plan to contact him and see if he can help me make our bells for Burning Man 08. Stay tuned....

bigger model 2

JRS announcement

The Burning Man news letter, Jack Rabbit Speaks, came out yesterday with a list of the funded projects for 2008, and due to the presence of a little analysis widget on my website, I'm able to see where visitors to the site are coming from. The site got over a thousand hits yesterday from all over the world! Japan - Germany - Peru - Columbia - France - Sweden - Poland - England - Australia - New Zealand - and a majority from the US. Exciting!

bigger model

I started another series of study models at a slightly larger scale. They're really starting to feel like 4 x 4's now.

So far, I've discovered some really critical things.

One, the proper and accurate alignment of these pieces is essential to making a large pattern. With out the proper alignment the pattern quickly degenerates into chaos.

Two, that lashing the connections during the assembly process will make keeping the pieces aligned much, much easier.

And three, this pattern is going to us more than one hundred twenty poles - I'll need about 40 more.

The action figures are about the right scale.

Funded!

While I was out in the Southern New Mexico desert last week, I received a call from Lady Bee telling me that harmonic geometry will be funded! I am psyched!

I'll continue developing the idea thorough physical models for the next month or so and when the weather improves, jump up to full scale schemes using 12 foot long 4 x 4's.

2008 Grant Proposal

Here are a few images from my Burning Man grant proposal for 2008. Yes, this is a completely different idea than the last one I was working on . . . It's based on an interesting structural system discovered by Leonardo Da Vinci and later by Dutch sculptor Rinus Roelofs.

it's been a while . . .

A little update on what I've been focusing on lately. After doing quite a bit of development on the large scale wood and steel tower I came to the realization that the project was going to be too ambitious for 2008. It will really require a large motivated team to pull off and I don't feel like I can devote the time that would be required. Time to scale back!

I've been developing the idea of a geometric tower made of plywood panels and steel brackets. The panels become increasingly lacy as they ascend. I'll need to start routing out some real plywood to see just how lacy it can be and still retain its structural integrity. The inside surface of the panels will be covered with a tightly stretched layer of white spandex which when lit at night will cause the whole tower to glow like a paper lantern. The top of the tower would house a reflective orb (disco ball?) that would rotate with the wind. A series of large tubular chimes will hang in the center.

I feel like I should be able to tackle a project of this scale for 2008 without it taking over my life. Time will tell!