Salt Cube began as a simple dream to bring an interactive art car to Burning Man.
The what:
Pel and Xeli are transforming a humble 1991 kei truck into a one-of-a-kind art car for Burning Man. They removed the sides of the truck bed and constructed a six-foot steel cube, designed to resemble a Rubik's cube. Each side of the cube features nine LED tiles, built from coroplast and strips of LEDs, so they can be individually illuminated. The large LED cube is wirelessly synced to a hand-held Bluetooth-enabled puzzle cube, allowing participants to interact with Salt Cube by solving the LED puzzle on the back of the truck with the controller. To complete the transformation, they'll mutate the base vehicle using high-density EVA foam to look like a bright yellow toy truck, with three sets of decorative wheels and details inspired by large construction trucks. The truck will carry a single giant "salt crystal"—the puzzle cube—adding to the playful aesthetic.
The why:
Pel and Xeli want to bring Salt Cube to Burning Man to give the community an opportunity to play with a giant puzzle cube and experience the excitement of controlling a large LED installation with a hand-held controller. Their hope is that Salt Cube will elicit a sense of child-like awe and nostalgia, blending two beloved toys into a unique art experience.
The ask:
The costs for materials have added up, including electronics, coroplast for the LED tiles, LEDs, metal for the cube, metal for the car mutation, and the mutation of the vehicle itself. They're asking for your support to help finish the build and bring Salt Cube to life at Burning Man. Any contribution will make a difference and help share this interactive art car with the community. If you want to donate directly, message Shelly for her Venmo. Thank you in advance for helping us bring this vision to life!
Stay up to date with our progress on our IG page
Burning Man Invited Art Car Listing