has been awarded a grant by Burning Man Project. Registered Art includes all other projects that have registered for placement on the open playa in BRC. You can learn more about the BRC Art program here.2023 Archive Search for "LEDs"
Apex of Azure (AoA)
Apex of Azure invites you to walk around and inside a transparent, three-dimensional painting. The structure is made of ten triangular plexiglass sections that are hand-painted with alcohol inks and epoxy resin. The effect is that of futuristic stained glass, depicting scenes of water and sky. From afar, the structure looks like a pyramid; from above and up close, it resembles an “x” (or the man symbol!). At night, AoA is backlit along its borders with LEDs. During the day, the sun passes through the panels, casting colored shadows and cutout patterns on the ground.
Awaken Thee
Awaken is 3 wooden/steel stupas like the ancient towers of Angkor Wat. It offers the opportunity to sit, ride through, climb and discover the beauty of the playa from above. The playful LEDs that light up the night
Conversation with a Squad
Conversation with a squad consists of a small squad of squids eager to engage in conversation with humans, using light as their visual language. In front of them is a communication device; a human to squid translator. Thanks to this intriguing machine, it becomes possible to dialogue with the squids in bioluminescent signals. We will then witness a small shoal of humans who discuss through light signals to a shoal of squid. But do our little humans even realize that they themselves use light to communicate with their peers and try to attract breeding partners, with their costumes covered in LEDs and luminous accessories?
Crystal Evolution
Crystal Evolution is a fire sculpture made from recycled steel and found objects. The sculpture combines dramatic steel tentacles, glowing eyeballs, and shining steel crystals with LEDs and fire to create a unique effect. Two benches sit by the fire, making Crystal Evolution both a sculpture to be experienced visually and a space for community and connection.
This sculpture is a piece that is in constant evolution, representing the fluidity of creativity. The artists have shared it in multiple settings and have made changes each time, reflecting their observations of how people interact with the sculpture and expressing inspiration gathered from their own experiences and connections with other humans in the space they have created.
Cyclica
Cylica is a pair of 6ft diameter metal discs filled with LEDs. While slowly rotating, the geometric cutouts in the disc and patterns of light in each disc meld together creating new forms. While rotating quickly, wind wands placed on the disc vibrate and make deep sounds. The movement and lighting of the piece work together to form an abstract representation of human emotion.
Empyrean Gate
To our ancestors, the Empyrean was well known as “the highest heaven”. It was comprised of æther—or fire—and thought to be made of celestial beings of pure light—the source of all creation. The concept of Entheos—or “the creator within”—puts the power of Empyrean creation into human minds and bodies. It endows each of us with the capacity for self-authorship: in the creation (or re-creation) of self, and of community. The Empyrean Gate is a sixty-foot diameter shaded structure lofted 21-feet in the air, with a 13-foot ‘gateway’ at its center, aimed at the Empyrean. At night the structure pulses with light issuing from a radial array of 25,000 computer-addressable LEDs connected to reactive software and interacted with by participants
Heartburst
“Heartburst” is a sizeable translucent heart firmly rooted into the Playa floor with bamboo scaffolding extruding from its core. The heart pulsates via embedded LEDs, alluding to blood pumping into and from the earth through one shared BRC heart. The heart is concave, allowing participants to walk or cuddle within its core and reset within its slowly pulsating sound and light.
Infinity
‘Inifinity’ represents upward energy and growth, expressed by a central tower surrounded with five vessels that undulate as you move around them. They present a small piece of an endless column of life that can be animal or plant in nature, depending on your perspective. All act as perches, to be climbed for a higher view, with platforms at the top. They will be lit with colored LEDs and also from the top with pin spots to create shadows in the dust at night. The visual effect creates motion as you pass by either up close or at a distance, and activate all six elements simultaneously.
Invisible Light of Distant Stars
An observatory making visible part of the Universe that cannot directly be seen or experienced., showing the paths of Cosmic Rays whose journey began millions, even billions of years ago.
The porcupine-like exterior represents & points towards gravitational wells in deep space where Cosmic Rays spring from: the Sun; Supernovae; Active Galactic Nuclei. A detection triggers 1,000s of LEDs whose complex patterns are influenced by our collected measurements. The interior space will be surmounted by vintage star charts to showcase the Heavens. At the center is the main attraction, a Spark Chamber wherein Cosmic Rays that pass through it leave trails of ionized Neon that arcs leaving a visible trail. Invisible Light of Distant Stars made visible!
Liquid Forest
Liquid Forest is comprised of 3 whimsical, jellyfish-inspired creatures measuring 12 feet tall by 15 feet in diameter. Each one is a freestanding, hands-on spinning sculptural experience. During the day, people dance, whirl & flow through the family of jellies as lacy, sunlit shadows wash over them as well as make use of a free project app called ‘ilumiscope’ to view the hidden zoetrope artwork. At night, the radically illuminated jellies pulse and morph to create an artful ‘bio-luminescent’ playground! Each sculpture contains over 10,000 LEDs concealed in the recycled plastic rods and the strobe light bubbles activate the mirrored zoetrope art disks when the jellies spin!
Mariposa
A 26’ x 14’ butterfly 15’ above the ground. Its wings are hinged so that they flap, propelled by the wind or by participants operating a lever. 38,000 LEDs cover its surface. As speakers play classical and classic pop music, images choreographed to each section are displayed on the LEDs.
The structure of the butterfly is bent aluminum tubing. Aluminum strips are across it, onto which are glued LED strips. Each wing has a front-to-back axle around which the wing pivots. These axles are angled so that the front edges of the wings are higher than the rear edges. This allows a gust of wind to push the outer edges of the wings upward. They come down when the gust abates. Thus the wings flap even when there are no participants move them manually.
Approximately 38,000 full-color, computer-controlled LEDs cover the bottom sides of each wing, surround the body, and run along each antenna and leg. These are controlled by several computers.
The four speakers surrounding the butterfly are disguised as giant flower pots with LED flowers growing out of them. The flower are touch-sensitive, changing their animations in response to a visitor’s attentions.
My Heart Will Go On
Imagine standing in the vast empty of the deep Playa, where a luminous, monumental heart radiates energy, rhythm, and warmth against the backdrop of a vibrant BRC night.
This is “My Heart Will Go On”, a 10ft kinetic sculpture that dances with the rhythm of life and love, lighted up by string of LEDs, powered by the sun and wind.
Drawing inspiration from the timeless song, “My Heart Will Go On,” this piece recaptures the spirit of enduring love and courage. Amid a world recovering from pandemic, a world with wars and economic downturn, it stands as a symbol of hope and resilience.
As you witness its rhythmic pulse, we hope find love: love for others, love for our shared world, and most importantly, love of yourself.
Over Ruled
A large red sign commands “NO DANCING” in big, bright letters, visible from afar. The provocation dares participants to defy with a boogie, shuffle, or strut, and perhaps even gather together into a sweaty, rhythmic rebellion.
Ground mounted spotlights cast enlarged silhouettes of dancers up onto the letters, broadcasting the disobedience across the playa. Crowds thus magnify their energy, sending out ripples of mischievous joy, and luring in reinforcements.
Approaching reveals smaller text on each letter, a true story of someone’s collision with a rule and the consequences: banishment, termination, expulsion, or incarceration. If the tincture of joy and grief give way to a desire for restorative justice, then Over Ruled’s goal is fulfilled.
Temple Anam Cara
Anam Cara is an ancient Celtic phrase referring to the concept of the “soul friend” in spirituality. Temple Anam Cara intertwines a Celtic Tree of Life upon an Aztec Step Pyramid, an homage to the ancestral heritages of our co-creators. The shared belief in this concept has inspired the creation of this sculpture. We recognize that the path of wisdom is woven by countless cultures and civilizations, each offering unique insights into the nature of existence – to celebrate the shared connections of our Soul Friends that have guided and inspired deeper connections to the universe’s beauty. At the heart of Temple Anam Cara lies a deep belief in the unity of love, light, and consciousness—a recognition that all ancient traditions converge in their quest for higher truth. The base sanctuary is adorned by murals, mirrors and LEDs to welcome all to offered experiences. This sculpture is a creation in honor of the indigenous wisdom embraced by the creators of Temple Anam Cara, a shared expression of love of community, life and earth.
www.templeanamcara.com
The Cosmic Messenger
The Cosmic Messenger, also known as Ms. Peggy is an interactive piece that allows others to express themselves. The steel is painted with chalkboard paint so that people can interact with it and write messages to the cosmos. Peggy is a life size Pegacorn made of steel with mosaic glass representing her chakras. There are lights both on the inside and outside of her so that she lights up the night. The color changing LEDs create a beautiful rippling rainbow light effect that almost makes the piece seem as if she is breathing with rainbows. Peggy embodies the manifestation of finding the light through the darkness. Symbolizing true self expression, by embracing one’s identity and true self acceptance. LOVE is the answer and Peggy provides.