I build art to create experiences that are designed to reach a primal part of ourselves. I make my pieces appear alien, while including elements that are intuitively relatable. My pieces move, and many are interactive. They have been on display at multiple public venues, from a gallery in Lakewood all the way to Burning Man.
The prototype of my latest piece, Arcturus, debuted this June at Apogaea. It was well received!
What makes it special? It breathes. There are multiple independent silicone lungs embedded into the sculpture. Air is pumped in and out of the lungs.
LEDs are mounted behind the lungs to make them glow and change color. And for additional magic, fiber optics slide through transparent tubes, providing a look of glowing nutrients
When people trigger proximity sensors, the piece gets excited. The breathing gets faster and the lighting changes.
Arcturus is the latest piece in a series and it is the next step towards a future exhibit, Garden of Arcturus. The garden should debut later this year and at several events next year.
Arcturus has placement for Burning Man this year, but it needs upgrades before it is playa-ready.
This fundraiser is to help make Arcturus a hit at Burning Man. It's debut at Apogaea was only the prototype. Any funds beyond the immediate needs go directly to Garden of Arcturus.
Immediate needs:
- Arcturus needs to be bigger. People want to get underneath it
- Batteries. The experience is best without the sound of a generator
- Transportation costs
- Changes to the pumping mechanisms to enable faster breathing. This makes the interactivity more convincing
- The base enclosure needs to be redesigned to protect the machinery from dust, and still provide ventilation
After Burning Man, you will be able to catch Arcturus at several events in the Denver area.
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Massive thanks to:
- Laura McGowan who's painting transformed Arcturus into something truly special! https://www.instagram.com/lauramcgowanart
- Summer Fields who helped with the fiber optics, crimping wires, and general construction
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