The piece I will be building for Burning Man this year is called The Flybrary.
In short:
The Flybrary is an extraordinary library within an enormous human head, partially cut open at the top allowing a flock of illuminated birds to emerge. Within the head are several levels of catwalks to climb, and nooks and crannies in which to sit and enjoy the selection of books. The eyes and mouth are portholes to the outside world. Up above, the open ceiling holds a large forged chandelier radiating soft light within. It's a dreamy, transformative space providing an intimate and surreal refuge for contemplation, written wisdom and freedom of thought.
Here are the concept sketches for the piece. They are set on the Playa, as one does for Burning Man proposals.
and below is the night view- the birds will be brightly illuminated from within by color changing LED's. The head and neck are about 7 meters (24 feet), the birds add another 4.5 meters (15 feet). It's a BIG sculpture.
I was honored to see that The Flybrary was chosen as the cover for the Burning Man honoraria announce list!
And yes, I am very excited, and nervous.... and ready to take on the extensive task ahead. I will need help in various departments! Not only with fabrication, but also with finding and collecting the library of books. I imagine hundreds and hundreds of timely and relevant books. A dear old friend of mine added her insightful and inspiring dream around the books she saw within The Flybrary. Books relating to birds; One flew over the Cuckoos Nest,To Kill A Mockingbird, The Wind-up Bird Chronicles, Oryx and Crake, H is for Hawk,The Maltese Falcon, I know Why the Caged Bird Sings...and books describing flight; Wiley Post finding the jet stream, Beryl Markham's book about flying solo across the Atlantic, astral projections, Tibetan sky burials, hot air balloon engineering... (Thanks BQ) and imagine books on free thought, cautionary tales and revolutionary ideas.
I'm also entertaining the possibility of a human library- one where you can check out a person. Before your mind goes a-wandering... in a human library the person recounts one of their significant life stories to you. They could be an artist, an activist, a hacker, a mayhem creator, a political refugee, a lost boy, a gender bender, someone with a story that provokes awe, inspiration and wisdom. I would love that!
I will need some mad skills with the LED display for the birds.
And with the 3D drafting drawings.
The list goes on, some of you know the score well. It takes a village to make these gigantic sculptures...
Do let me know if you want to contribute in any way with the build and realization of The Flybrary!
The next few weeks are dedicated to the completion of drafting drawings and the build plans for the structure. After that materials are ordered and the build begins!
I will post the drawings soon~ until then, ciao!
In short:
The Flybrary is an extraordinary library within an enormous human head, partially cut open at the top allowing a flock of illuminated birds to emerge. Within the head are several levels of catwalks to climb, and nooks and crannies in which to sit and enjoy the selection of books. The eyes and mouth are portholes to the outside world. Up above, the open ceiling holds a large forged chandelier radiating soft light within. It's a dreamy, transformative space providing an intimate and surreal refuge for contemplation, written wisdom and freedom of thought.
Here are the concept sketches for the piece. They are set on the Playa, as one does for Burning Man proposals.
I was honored to see that The Flybrary was chosen as the cover for the Burning Man honoraria announce list!
And yes, I am very excited, and nervous.... and ready to take on the extensive task ahead. I will need help in various departments! Not only with fabrication, but also with finding and collecting the library of books. I imagine hundreds and hundreds of timely and relevant books. A dear old friend of mine added her insightful and inspiring dream around the books she saw within The Flybrary. Books relating to birds; One flew over the Cuckoos Nest,To Kill A Mockingbird, The Wind-up Bird Chronicles, Oryx and Crake, H is for Hawk,The Maltese Falcon, I know Why the Caged Bird Sings...and books describing flight; Wiley Post finding the jet stream, Beryl Markham's book about flying solo across the Atlantic, astral projections, Tibetan sky burials, hot air balloon engineering... (Thanks BQ) and imagine books on free thought, cautionary tales and revolutionary ideas.
I'm also entertaining the possibility of a human library- one where you can check out a person. Before your mind goes a-wandering... in a human library the person recounts one of their significant life stories to you. They could be an artist, an activist, a hacker, a mayhem creator, a political refugee, a lost boy, a gender bender, someone with a story that provokes awe, inspiration and wisdom. I would love that!
I will need some mad skills with the LED display for the birds.
And with the 3D drafting drawings.
The list goes on, some of you know the score well. It takes a village to make these gigantic sculptures...
Do let me know if you want to contribute in any way with the build and realization of The Flybrary!
The next few weeks are dedicated to the completion of drafting drawings and the build plans for the structure. After that materials are ordered and the build begins!
I will post the drawings soon~ until then, ciao!
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