Project Goals
Our goal is to create a community of diverse people who get together at Drennon Ranch (home of the Celtic Forest) and Burning Man, bringing these artists together to create a centering space on the playa. This community will help educate participants about fire and steel sculptures.
Physical
Description of “Celtic Forest”
The installation will consist of an outer ring circumference of 375 feet (120 foot diameter) consisting of 4 steel flaming tree-ablas, 3 flaming tree swings and a control center.
With the success of last year’s installation, we request to be placed in the same location – The end of 5:00 – between the Esplanade and The Man.
Fig 1. Example of a moat and 4 tree-abalas - 2007 (and cleaning up moop).
Fig 2. Celtic Forest 2007 burning at night.
Fig 5. Celtic Forest 2008 Layout
Philosophical
Statement (Artistic Vision)
Upon
experiencing last years Celtic Forest environment, we discovered that the space
within the circumference of the trees nurtured a balance with nature, a place
where words were not necessary but all senses were heightened, a place where we
are all “present”.
In
accordance to this year’s theme “The American Dream” – The ultimate
American Dream is that humans live in balance with nature…that earth, wind,
water and fire are respected and one with humans….that we respect the mother
earth and the gifts given to us. We hope to help preserve this feeling of the American Dream by creating
the environment that represents each element while evoking the feelings of all
senses within.
Each
of the Gods/Goddesses in the 4 moats will represent an element – and all
moats will represent fire. The moats are placed on the North/South/East/West axis, grounding the
installation creating the foundation of nature’s balance.
The
moats house metal books, each with a title. Fire will glow from the book and pages, representing the
burning of the written word. We
hope to create a Celtic place where you can break free from the voice of words,
so that other voices, the voice of sight, the voices of intuition, smell and
nature – can be heard and celebrated. We believe in the current world we live in, we are too
attached to words: the words in our head and out. We guide our lives using
almost exclusively words. We believe this has created an off balance. We, as humans, should use all our
natural abilities, not just our use of words. We humans need to learn how to
use all our abilities, as in sight, smell, touch, feel and intuition. Celtic Forest 2008 represents all of
these visions.
At the center of our forest, we have chosen to place a 10-15-foot steel flaming book. A book where we can all write our hopes and dreams for the world. Our bird imagery creates a metaphor of releasing our words and our thoughts into the universe. The oversized book relative to man repositions our perspectives (makes us feel small) bringing back the ‘child’ in us - quieting our ego.
Ravens are represented throughout The Celtic Forest. The raven appears on the cover of our book, the application, in our forest on the moats, the control center and as medallions worn by many. It is our belief that birds live in balance with nature, representing freedom….THE AMERICAN DREAM! It is believed that the "Raven" originally lived in the land of spirits (literally bird land) and existed before the world of humans. One day when the Raven became so bored with bird land he flew away, carrying a stone in his beak. When the Raven became tired of carrying the stone and dropped it, the stone fell into the ocean and expanded until it formed the world in which humans now live. It’s also believed that the Raven helped to bring the Sun, Moon, Stars, Fresh Water, and Fire to the world. The
forest is created by flaming tree-abalas (returning from last years
installation) and the flaming tree swings. The tree swings are made from two trees that appear to come
out of the ground and are intertwined into words. Each tree is one of the six senses (touch, hear, scent, see,
taste and intuition). It will be
encouraged for participants to play a ‘senses game’ – sitting in each of
the swings, focusing on the particular sense.
To
enhance being in balance and being in touch with our senses, Celtic Forest
Guardians (trained and knowledgeable crew) will welcome guests and always be
present in the forest assisting visitors by whispering words, describing our
philosophies, and teaching the senses game (and also providing a safe
environment).
Collaboration and Crew
Key
members of the crew as follows:
In
addition to these key members, we will have at least a 30-person crew, each
safety trained.
At
least 10 crew will be on the playa before opening for set up and after the
closing for clean up of burning man for a total of 21 days.
Flame
Effects
All
electric and propane lines will be buried in the playa. Fuel will be stored at
the rear of the control center, which is 75 feet from the center. At this control center, there will be
(12) twelve 100-pound propane tanks strapped together. Each tank will be equipped with a
1/4-turn valves and a regulator. We will have dry chemical fire extinguishers and water extinguishers as
needed. In addition there will be fire blankets and first aid. When the site is shut down, there will
be LED night-lights so that the installation is visible.
Celtic
Forest Flame Effects
Center
Sculpture Book – there will be several open pages in the book that will
have propane flame effects
Moats
– Each moat will be filled with metal books that have a propane flame
coming through the pages and the titles.
Tree-abalas
– Each of the 4 trees have 4 branches continuously lit and a center
branch that “poofs”.
Tree
Swings – each swing set will have a 10-foot overhead flame that moves
with the motion of the swing.
Main
Event - Thursday Night
On
Thursday night Celtic Forest will present an inventive show of flame effects
and pyrotechnics.
Clean
up – “Leave no Trace”
We
will have daily moop patrols and leave the site in as close to pristine as
possible.
Timeline
January - Design/Planning/Crew Building/Grant Application – trees complete February - Building Construction – trees, moats, book sculpture, tree swings April – Purchase flame effect supplies and start construction, Moats Complete May – Fundraiser, continue constructions June – Crew Training, Tree Swings complete, July –Book complete August – Prepare for transit August 15 – Initial crew and installation arrives on playa – Installation of Celtic Forest at Black Rock City begins September 2-4 – Teardown and cleanup
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