Whirl of Art Build Plan and Updates
Two year plan:
Step 1: Building the Centerpiece, Testing and Display at Myschievia 2023
- Task 1: Construct an 11 diameter merry-go-round and a test art piece to finalize the mechanism of connecting art pieces.
- Teams Involved: Teams in Houston and Austin.
- Timeline: August to September 2023.
- Outcome: The centerpiece and test art piece are completed and ready for testing.
- Task 2: Display and test the completed centerpiece (Sparkle Pony Ride) at Myschievia.
- Teams Involved: Teams in Houston and Austin.
- Timeline: October 2023.
- Outcome: Gather feedback and identify any improvements needed for the centerpiece. Showcase the mechanism to participating artists.
Step 2: First Complete Art Tower at FreezerBurn 2024
- Task 3: Build and bring the first art tower (TerRa Luna) along with the merry-go-round to FreezerBurn.
- Teams involved: Houston (with help from all team leads)
- Timeline: October 2023 to January 2024.
- Outcome: Showcase the completed tower and gather feedback from attendees.
Step 3: Completed Art Tower at Burning Flipside 2024
- Task 4: Bring finalized and decorated first art tower (TerRa Luna) to Burning Flipside 2024.
- Teams involved: Houston
- Timeline: May 2024.
- Outcome: Showcase the decorated tower with all wall art panels and inside art gallery, receive feedback from the Burning Flipside community.
Step 4: Completed Art Tower at Apogaea 2024
- Task 5: Bring finalized and decorated first art tower (TerRa Luna) to Apogaea 2024.
- Teams involved: Houston with help from other teams
- Timeline: June 2024.
- Outcome: Transport and showcase the tower to an out of state burn built on arid soil (more similar to playa than Texas soil), receive feedback from the local burner community.
Step 5: The Whirl at Burning Man 2024
- Task 6: Bring Merry-Go-Round component to Burning Man 2024.
- Teams involved: Houston
- Timeline: August 2024.
- Outcome: Transport and showcase the merry-go-round to the playa, test its' operation and stability in harsh environment, receive feedback from the burner community.
Step 6: Second Complete Art Tower at Myschievia 2024
- Task 7: Display and test new art tower at Myschievia.
- Teams Involved: San Antonio
- Timeline: October 2024.
- Outcome: Gather feedback and identify any improvements needed.
Step 6: Two More Complete Art Towers at FreezerBurn 2025
- Task 7: Build and bring the two more complete art tower along with the merry-go-round to FreezerBurn.
- Teams Involved: Teams Dallas or Austin or Corpus Christi.
- Timeline: January 2025.
- Outcome: Gather feedback and identify any improvements needed.
Step 7: Entire Project at Burning Flipside 2025
- Task 8: Bring all five art towers together to Burning Flipside 2024.
- Teams involved: Austin, Dallas, Houston, San Antonio, Corpus Christi
- Timeline: May 2025.
- Outcome: Showcase the complete project with all towers, test how all components work together.
Final Preparations
- Task 9: Evaluate art towers for necessary changes. .
- Task 10: Deliver towers not in need of alterations to Austin warehouse directly from Flipside. Complete alterations on towers that need it and deliver to Austin warehouse by the end of the month in preparations for shipment to Burning Man 2025.
- Teams involved: Austin, Dallas, Houston, San Antonio, Corpus Christi
- Timeline: June-July 2025.
- Outcome: Art towers are ready for shipment to Burning Man with necessary improvements.
This timeline is subject to adjustments based on various factors such as the complexity of construction, unexpected challenges, and the pace of progress, but the end goal is to have the project ready for shipment no later than mid-July.
Progress Reports...
Step 1. Myschevia: Rapscallion Rodeo
October 5-9, 2023
Sparkle Pony Ride
Merry-Go-Round and a test tower are heading to Myschievia as an independent art project!
Everyone knows how to manage a horse, but how do you make a Sparkle Pony go? We've positioned our Sparkle Pony high upon a regal 6-foot pedestal, its form swathed in opulent golden fabrics and cascading, glimmering ribbons, adorned in a kaleidoscope of hues, overlooking us, the hardworking burners. Then, we invite everyone to spin and ride a merry-go-round installation beneath it. This is like a blast from the past, but in adult size. And as if by magic, but mostly by the laws of physics, our Sparkle Pony starts rocking in the air. Its colorful form catches the light, sending glittering reflections that dance across the surroundings, captivating all who behold it, activated purely by burner power.
Funded in part by an Art Grant for Myschievia from NTXB, LLC
Sparkle Pony Ride Build
Sparkle Pony Tower - Houston team
Merry-Go-Round - Austin team
Testing mechanism - both teams
Sparkle Pony Ride at Myschievia
Step 2. FreezerBurn: The Eyes Have It
January 12-15, 2024
TerRA Luna
The Whirl (merry-go-round) and Houston art tower called TerRa Luna went to FreezerBurn as an independent art project!
TerRA Luna is the Houston contribution to “Whirl of Art”. While the Houston component is intended to function as part of the full installation, it is also an independent art piece that stands on its own.
TerRa Luna is a large, kinetic, flowering seed sculpture that sits upon a substantial wooden base. When the kinetic seed is in its closed state, the focal point is the wind powered spinning sphere positioned above the seed. The gleaming sphere represents both the sun and the moon, its radiant presence shifting depending on the viewer's perspective. As the seed elegantly opens, it reveals an enchanting transformation – the Terran globe at its core morphs into an intricate representation of Earth as the Eye of the World emerging in a magnificent fountain of creation, reaching towards the celestial sun and moon sphere above, symbolizing the creative forces that flow from our planet to the vast cosmic expanse.
Funded in part by an Art Grant for FreezerBurn
Art Tower Build
Merry-Go-Round Build
TerRa Luna at FreezerBurn 2024
Step 3. Burning Flipside: Cosmic Critter Carnival
May 23 -27, 2024
The Whirl and
TerRA Luna
Updated versions of the merry-go-round and the Houston art tower went to Burning Flipside as independent art projects!
TerRA Luna and The Whirl have undergone some major changes. If the goal of bringing them to FreezerBurn was to show off the functionality of the art project, the goal of bringing them to Flipside was also to mesmerize with the artistic contributions of various artists to the art piece.
TerRA Luna is a flowering sculpture consisting of the Terran globe contained inside a seed that emerges with a magnificent fountain of creation, reaching towards the celestial sun and moon sphere above. It was paint-stained to showcase the design. More lights were added to make it shine brightly in the dark.
The base of the sculpture became a masterpiece. Two of the outer walls were turned into murals. Carved out and painted doors were added. An oasis of art was created inside the base, showcasing artworks of multiple artists accented by special lighting at night.
The Whirl was turned into a unique art piece: the central component was painted to match the Whirl of Art logo. All other components were painted in colorful hues. Lights and a kaleidoscope of the sun and moon in different phases representing TerRA Luna were added around the perimeter. .
Funded in part by Art Grants for Burning Flipside (Ignition Philter)
The Whirl and TerRa Luna at Burning Flipside 2024
Step 4. Apogaea: Surreal Safari
June 5-9, 2024
The Taste of Whirl of Art
We took one completed tower and the merry-go-round out of state to give Colorado burners the taste of what the Whirl of Art is going to be like once completed.
After only a few minor improvements the Whirl and TerRa Luna traveled across the state lines to showcase our project in Colorado. Dusty soils and elevations, and more burner interactions were important for testing how the art piece will stand up to being on the playa next year. Transportation and installation processes were also important to test. And it went great! The art project was loved by participants of all ages.
Funded in part by Art Grants for Apogaea
The Taste of Whirl of Art at Apogaea 2024
Step 5. Burning Man 2024: Curiouser & Curiouser
August 25 - September 9, 2024
The Whirl
The merry-go-round, as an independent art installation, is a registered art pieced placed on the playa!
The Whirl is getting touched up after 2 regional burn, getting additional lights and heading to Burning Man 2024. This will be the final test of the mechanical components for the merry-go-round in real playa environment as it will be driving the Whirl of Art next year.
Whirl's page on Burning Man website
The Whirl at BRC 2024
Step 6. Myschievia 2024: All In Play
October 10 - 14, 2024
Alma de Familia
San Antonio art tower is getting built with the plan to showcase at Myschievia this year.
Alma de Familia, artistic representation of Spanish colonial mission, is in the process of being built. Artists are working on smaller pieces that would fill the structure. The Whirl will get a facelift after returning from Burning Man 2024.
Follow the build progress on Alma's page
Alma de Familia and the Whirl at Myschievia 2024
ARTful Minds Collective
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