Your Heart is racing, your head is spinning. These are the feelings of falling in love.

The Race of Hearts is a deeply personal project created by two artists who fell in love on Playa. The steampunk heart represents the need to protect your heart but while you spin, the surprise inside opens you up to love!

About

The Race of Hearts is a physical interpretation of falling in love and all the emotions involved—a part steampunk automaton, part 1930s Disneyland ride, and a love letter to the Playa itself. Conceived by two Burning Man artists who fell in love on Playa, this heart-themed merry-go-round is designed to capture the whirlwind of intimacy, insecurity, affirmation, anxiety, connection, and vulnerability that come with opening your heart.

Made from metal and recycled materials, The Race of Hearts is an 8-armed carousel ride seated atop a heart-shaped base. At its center stands an anatomically-steampunk-inspired armored heart sculpture. The arms bear engraved words of love and emotion, with heart-shaped bicycle seats and handles. As riders spin, the gears of the steampunk heart turn and slowly open to reveal two 1930s animation-style heart statuettes dancing together.

Solar panels in heart-shaped frames power an LED heartbeat that pulses through light veins along each arm, making the entire piece resemble the Ace of Hearts from above.

The Burning Man Honoraria Arts grant covers the cost of structural steel, essential materials, and some of the electrical lighting system, but we still need support for CNC modeling services, tools, transportation, storage, and the build team.

Love is universal! All donations are welcome, no matter how small! Liking and sharing the project on social media is also extremely helpful. Thank you for helping bring The Race of Hearts to life and sharing in this journey of love, art, and connection.