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Arachne's Portal

Arachne's Portal is a large scale sculpture of fluorescent string to be exhibited at the Burning Man event in Black Rock City, Nevada in 2007. Associated groups with this project include: Hyperdrive XLR8R (a performance inside the structure) and Midwest Mayhem (a theme camp supporting the project).

Conceptual Image

Project Proposal

Philosophical Statement

Arachne’s Portal is a gathering point, an energetic portal. Its circular structure is symbolic of many structures where people gather: temples, mosques, ceremonial tents and lodges, and henges. As a möbius strip (having only one side), the structure reminds us that even if we see polar opposites, inside and outside, we are all one.

Historically webs have represented negative concepts like overcomplexity, conflict, and ensnarement. Arachne’s Portal instead focuses on nodes and convergences, things which connect people in harmony. In the many performances and installations that have inspired the portal, webs were interactively used to create positive and loving connections between participants and spectators. Such creations reclaim the concept that webs symbolize the interconnectivity of reality.

Burning Man's Green Man theme for 2007 elicits thoughts of how nature is inherent in all humankind’s creations. Arachne’s Portal will be a human (unnatural) expression of natural interconnectivity. Performances, dances, random participant gatherings, couples’ sharings, and even individual meditations within Arachne’s Portal will be influenced by this expression of interconnectivity with all creation, with each other, and within ourselves.

Through webs, spiders ensnare food. Through Arachne’s Portal, humans ensnare love and interaction, “food” for the soul.

Physical Description

Arachne's Portal will be a dodecagonal (emulating a circle) wall structure 104 feet in diameter. There will be no horizontal structure above the circle, just walls. The walls will be string webs measuring approximately 27 feet long by 8 feet tall, sitting 1 foot off the ground (total height of 9 feet at top of the web). One side of the structure will be a twisted arch web of 180 degree spin that will connect the inside of the structure to the outside. Therefore the structure will be a möbius strip, having only one side even though it appears to have two. The arch will peak horizontally at 5 feet off the ground, allowing clearance for participants to enter the structure. The structure will be situated such that the arch faces the mean azimuth of sunrise for the week (77º E of N), providing excellent sunrise experiences for participants.

Support

At eleven vertices of the dodecagon, not the arch, the structure will be supported by 12 foot steel fence post tubes, placed 3 feet into the ground (9 feet exposed). The arch will be supported by two 8 foot fence posts placed 3 feet into the ground (5 feet exposed). 19 fence posts at 8 feet will be purchased, and 6 of them cut into 4 foot sections to be welded to the eleven non-arch posts (making the eleven 12 foot posts). In addition, the welds will be supported by a brace band secured in place at that point.

Blacklight Web

The sides of the structure, the webs, will be constructed of nearly two miles (10000 feet, a conservative estimate based on small model portions) of continuous (tied and fused together) yellow-green ultraviolet reactive nylon string (approximately 3mm wide). The web will be tied around the rebar at the top of the posts (with rebar wire), and tied to gate post hinges (a cheap chain link accessory) at the bottom. The web will be lit with blacklight from 12 fixtures surrounding the structure on the outside, facing in at a 10 foot distance from the center of each web wall. Each fixture will consist of two 4 foot blacklight bulbs in fluorescent shoplight fixtures. The fixtures will be encased with heavy wedge-shaped plywood boxes, with clear acrylic plastic sheeting on the portion facing the structure. The wedge shape will prevent sand and dust from damaging or collecting on the fixtures. Each box will be anchored to the ground with two rebar stakes. Each fixture will be connected on a continuous line of extension cords (with multiple outlet adapters to make this possible) to a generator sitting a distance away from the structure on the opposite outside portion from the arch entrance. The extension cords will be buried in playa dust to prevent tripping.

Power Source

The power source may be a generator (this is still unsure). If there is a generator, it will have a plywood and foam box constructed to go over it so it will not be exposed to sand and dust, and to act as a sound baffle. The generator will be refueled each evening with no fuel cans being present at any time day or night. The generator box will be anchored to the ground with four rebar stakes. Biodiesel may be used, and other forms of alternative energy are being researched at this time. If you have any suggestions, please let us know!

Safety Lighting

Safety lighting will be provided in the form of LEDs with independent power sources (lithium batteries). Distribution of LEDs will be, at least, 8 LEDs per blacklight box (96), 8 LEDs per post (96), and 16 LEDs for the generator box (208 total).

Spider Crew

The ideal crew for the construction and deconstruction of this project is one dozen or more people. The only assigned positions are Project Head and Head Power Peep (in charge of power generation if alternative energy is used). We already have a Chief Assistant signed up for the setup crew, and we'll welcome anyone else who is willing to commit to being on the playa Saturday August 25th to begin setting up, anyone who will be there Sunday, and anyone willing to help with cleanup and dismantling Sunday September 2nd. Cleanup people are just as important as setup crew! Please volunteer for either team. Contact Ora (Project Head) if interested!

Pre-Event Worklist:

• Cut fence posts
• Weld fence posts
• Bend rebar stakes
• Cut plywood, foamboard, and acrylic plastic

Onsite Installation Worklist (in order):

• Orienteering for site placement (orienting to 77º E of N, sunrise Tues & Wed)
• Generator box construction
• Post installation (using generator box for height)
• Web installation
• Brace band attachment and web securing
• Light box construction
• Power setup – Head Power Peep will be appointed this task
• LED assembly and attachment
• Final securing of site (stakes, securing extension cords, covering and securing generator)

Onsite Clean Up Worklist (in order):

• Unsecuring of site (removing stakes, extension cords, etc.)
• LED roundup
• Light box deconstruction
• Unsecuring web and brace bands
• Taking down web
• Removing posts and filling holes
• Generator box deconstruction
• Double MOOP sweep (all crew and any additional volunteers)

Timeline

Most materials will be purchased beginning July 1st. Rental generator and fuel will be purchased the day we leave for Burning Man, August 23rd.

Project construction on the playa will begin starting Saturday daytime August 25th or Sunday morning August 26th (at the latest). Completion is projected by the end of the day Sunday August 26th. The project will be dismantled and the site cleaned up Sunday September 2nd.

Hyperdrive XLR8R

The XLR8R "advances modern ritual through the use of the raging dance fire." A large bonfire is created and tended in a very unique manner to the tune of psytrance music background to create a ritual gathering dance space that energetically fills the participants of the circle. This will take place inside of Arachne's Portal. Don't miss this event! Find out more about the XLR8R at their tribe.

Live Web Weaving Performance

A group of "spider goddesses" led by Ora will perform the largest live web weaving ever, covering the entire space of Arachne's Portal with a horizontal UV web canopy. This web will be manipulated, played with, and danced with by the performers and the participants! A DJ may be assembled for this performance. This will be the largest live UV web weaving to date!

Other Usage During Burning Man

Because of Arachne’s Portal’s location in the playa as a large structure with a circular space, it is likely people will congregate in that space. Participants will be encouraged to have impromptu meetings and events there if they wish. Picnics, weddings, rituals, meetings, drum circles, fire dancing, and any other group/community events are encouraged within the space as well as individual meditation and personal communion.

After Burning Man

Most of the materials leftover will be kept for the Mobius Web in 2008 and for Chicago area outdoor and indoor performances of live web weavings, spreading the message of interactive art and interconnectivity to as many people as possible. All LED batteries will be recycled, and leftover fuel will be donated.

Leave No Trace

When setting up, all items removed from the truck will be counted and added to a checklist, including LEDs on a tally list. Upon cleanup each item will be counted again on a checklist. After all possible items have been checked, the crew will do a MOOP (material out of place) sweep of the area (everyone in a line walking on a square grid of the area, dragging string). Regardless if all items are present and counted for, we will do a second MOOP sweep (perpendicular to the previous sweep). If there are still items missing, we will do a third and final MOOP sweep (diagonal to the previous two sweeps). ANY MOOP of any size will be picked up.

Itemized Budget

The following is an itemized budget of all the things needed to make this project a success. If you are able to donate funds, donate items, or even loan items, we would be extremely appreciative. Remember this project benefits not just 40,000 people, but the millions of people they touch when they return from their amazing playa experiences!

Donate via Paypal here!

Itemized Budget In Cost Order

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