Our Texas-wide community art project "Whirl of Art" is destined for Burning Man 2025.
This installation attempts to represent the meaning of artistic synergy, producing a combined effect that is greater than the sum of separate effects, the creation of art as a communal journey. There are 5 art towers within our project and each tower encapsulates a distinctive vision meticulously designed and crafted by different teams, combining individually contributed components with those that were designed and implemented by groups of artists and builders.
We believe synergy will emerge when separate artworks unite, immersing us in the harmonious blend of ideas, styles, and stories that represent the rich artistic tapestry of our Texas burner community.
Our aspiration is to evoke a sense of childlike joy through interacting with the merry-go-round, to impress participants with kinetic components, to inspire awe with countless artistic elements.
We hope our project sparks meaningful conversations on how individual expression can fuel boundless possibilities when creativity becomes a collective endeavor.
What is Whirl of Art?
It's a mesmerizing journey through the heart of Texas creativity!
Our art project celebrates the spirit of five vibrant Texan cities, renowned for hosting regional burns:
- Austin (Burning Flipside and FreezerBurn),
- Houston (Unbroken Spring),
- Dallas (Myschievia),
- San Antonio (AlmaBurn),
- Corpus Christi (BeachBurn).
It is a canvas for hundreds of individual artist to express themselves though components that comprise our collective creation, the Whirl of Art.
Raising proudly and capturing immediate attention are five remarkable art pieces, standing between 8 to11 feet tall atop 9-foot towers. Each artwork serves as a visual tribute to the unique character of its corresponding city, capturing the essence of its energy.
These towering creations are not just static representations; they come to life through innovative mobile components. At the core of this spectacle lies an 11-foot diameter merry-go-round, acting as the catalyst for this captivating choreography. As the merry-go-round spins, the art pieces spring to life, their mobile components responding dynamically, creating a captivating interplay of form and motion. It is an enchanting celebration of human expression in constant motion, a mesmerizing spectacle to behold.
Yet, the enchantment doesn't stop there. Encased within the very base of each towering masterpiece resides a curated assortment of artworks crafted by the talented creatives from each city, alongside communal art pieces, reflecting the rich artistic heritage interwoven into the fabric of these cities.
This is a genuine convergence of ideas and mediums, a collaborative tribute to the diversity and creativity that defines Texan artistry.
NEWS
We have submitted the Letter of Intent for the Burning Man Honoraria Grant and now actively recruiting members to our team. We are looking for people with a wide variety of skills. Please submit the questionare below if you are ready to join us or to get more information!
Project Model
Updated 04/20/2024
Fly-though video of the model
Components of Whirl of Art
Follow the link for more
As the project is being built, you can follow the progress for each component on their own pages:
Center of the intallation is a colorful metal & wood merry-go-round we call "Whirl".
Cables connect its off-center pole to 5 sculptures, each 6 to 10 feet tall and 6 to15 feet wide, atop 9 foot high 8’x8’ pedestals. Sculptures are:
- "TerRa Luna" - the earth concealed within an opening seed as the fountain of creation reaches up to the sun-moon,
- "Alma de Familia" - a Spanish mission with ringing bells displaying unique cultural art pieces,
- "Nocturnal Reverie" - a moving bat sculpture, wood-burned to create the leathery skin effect,
- "Capital Chords"- a multicolor guitar with a hand strumming colorful strings,
- "Turtle Tower" - a giant sea turtle swimming atop an ocean wave.
Is there a burn plan? Yes, absolutely!!!
However, before we start, all pedestal walls will be carefully removed. They will become a separate art project, intended for display in contributing Texas cities. The remaining parts are being built to fit burnable art guidelines.
Our vision for that magical night involves a captivating prelude by a fire conclave of spinners from all over Texas. This performance will set the stage for the grand spectacle to follow.
The starting point of our burn is the top of the pole on the merry-go-round, which will remain untouched by fire. From there, the fire will travel down the fuses along cables to each of the five towers, igniting them simultaneously in a burst of colorful flames. This synchronization aims to create a harmonious and visually stunning presentation, captivating our audience with a dazzling showcase of fiery brilliance.
Throughout the entire sequence, safety remains our utmost priority. Rigorous measures will be implemented and monitored to ensure a controlled and secure environment for spectators.
How did this all begin?
The history of the project's development traces back to a fascination with an Eastern European children's toy that harnessed gravity and centrifugal force, utilizing a simple pull-based mechanism activated by a moving ball beneath the toy.
Initially, the concept centered around crafting a life-sized replica of this toy, envisioning a grand-scale rendition. However, upon contemplation, the idea of a giant pendulum appeared potentially hazardous, even for an event like Burning Man. A breakthrough emerged when exploring alternatives, leading to the idea of employing a merry-go-round to replicate a similar pulling effect while ensuring safety and active engagement of participants.
Discussions with friends further fueled the evolution of the idea. Remarkably, each individual presented a unique design of the art piece with a moving component. This diversity sparked a realization: instead of settling for a single interpretation, why not incorporate a few of these creative visions? Given the possibility of operating multiple art pieces using the same merry-go-round mechanism, the project expanded to involve artists and builders across five cities in Texas.
This collaboration has ignited a whirlwind of creativity, resulting in the development of several mesmerizing and diverse art installations. Each piece promises to bring a unique flavor, showcasing the collective creativity of the collaborative effort. This combined project now offers a distinctive opportunity to showcase Texas from various perspectives.
Do you want to know more about people behind the project? Click here -->
ARTful Minds Collective
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