Bring ONE to life at Burning Man 2027
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Hi everyone! We are Blake and Elisa, and we are so excited to share a project that is deeply personal to us.
Our journey started back in December 2021. Elisa was working as a community organizer, helping to revive the participatory arts community in NYC during the later stages of the pandemic, and Blake was a volunteer. By February, we had fallen deeply in love. From the very beginning, the ethos, creativity, and spirit of the Burning Man community served as the catalyst for our connection, and continues to be the grounding force in our lives and relationship today.
After years of supporting art and co-creating within this community, ONE is the very first installation we are leading together as a team.
The Vision Behind ONE
At its heart, ONE is a visual and experiential representation of love, partnership, and community.
Visually, two smaller, intricate wooden mandalas, merge to form a central, 10-foot tall portal. The structure symbolizes how two individuals come together to form something bigger, more layered, and infinitely more complex than either could ever be alone.
Surrounding this portal is a 35-foot circular perimeter made up of 10 illuminated, CNC-carved wooden pillars. These outer pillars represent the community, which is the essential framework that uplifts, holds, and supports the relationship at the center.
Interactive Light & Sound
On its own out on the playa, ONE rests in an ambient state, softly pulsing with warm light and continuous binaural beats. As curious people step closer to explore the intricate woodwork, and take shelter within its space, the piece begins to evolve.
Integrated sensors in each of the 10 outer pillars activate through communal effort. When participants approach the pillars simultaneously, a cascade of light and sound will activate within the central mandala structure. As more and more people approach, the lighting will become more dynamic, more beautiful, and more complete, emphasizing each layer and illuminating the structure in, what we call, the "full bloom".
Along with the light, a layered, immersive audio soundscape will build. This soundscape is made up of real voices gathered from our global community of young and old, new Burners and long-time veterans, answering one core question: "What does partnership mean to you?"
Just as a partnership only reaches its highest potential when supported by its community, ONE can only be fully experienced through communal effort.
Why We Need Your Help
Building an interactive art installation at this scale for the harsh environment of Burning Man is a huge undertaking. ONE is a complex build combining:
- Intricate, multi-layered CNC plywood mandalas and columns
- Structural framing, custom mounting, heavy-duty hardware, and playa-proof anchoring
- Radar sensors that detect movement and presence, over 150 meters of LEDs, microcontrollers, and custom code to sync the AV
- Weatherproof sound systems and audio gear
Every single dollar raised through this campaign will go directly toward materials, fabrication equipment, interactive hardware, AV components, transportation and logistics.
How You Can Support
Donate: No amount is too small! Every contribution directly funds a bolt, a sheet of wood, a sensor, or a mile of transport.
Share Your Voice: We want you embedded in the art piece! Reach out to us if you’d like to submit a short voice recording answering "What does partnership mean to you?" to be included in our playa soundscape.
Spread the Word: Share this GoFundMe campaign with your friends, family, and art-loving networks!
Get involved: True to the arts-education mission of ArtistSpark, the build doubles as an open workshop. Participants of all skill levels can learn about CNC fabrication, laser cutting, structural framing, playa-proof anchoring, soldering, LED and microcontroller programming, and more! This build is a community-based project, and the barrier for entry is simply your desire to participate. Instruction is free and open to volunteers regardless of background or experience. Multiple build days/weekends will be taking through summer 2027 as we come together to shape the future of this project. If you want to get involved, please let us know!
Tax Deductible: For supporters interested in making a larger contribution, we can also work with our fiscal sponsor to process donations that qualify for a 501(c)(3) tax-deductible receipt. Many companies also offer a 1:1 match for tax deductible organizations. Please check with your company before donating.
Thank you so much for believing in this vision, supporting our creative journey, and helping us bring ONE to Black Rock City for Burning Man 2027!
With love and gratitude,
Blake & Elisa
Follow experienceone.art on Instagram!