click for full-size

click for full-size

click for full-size

click for full-size

click for full-size

click for full-size

click for full-size

click for full-size

click for full-size

click for full-size

The EffiTree

Victoria has been asked to participate in the Circle of Regional Effigies (CORE) Project at Burning Man 2011. The Burning Man Victoria Planning Group approved the project - but everyone needs to be involved to make this happen!

WHAT IS CORE:

The theme for Burning Man 2011 is Rites of Passage. Thirteen years ago, the Burning Man regional network was born. In 2011, the Regional Network 'comes of age' with it's 'Burn Mitzvah' and regions are invited to build, transport, set up, and BURN our own regional effigies! The Circle of Regional Effigies is a 1-time collaborative art project composed of up to 28 effigies or sculptures, each produced by a different regional community. These effigies may be between 15' - 25' tall (final height still being determined) and up to 20' wide. They will be placed in a garden just outside of the blinking ring surrounding the Man.

HOW BURNINGMAN WILL HELP:

BMHQ is still figuring out the details but they hope to have a special art grant system just for this project, with funds coming out of the regional network budget, and not the main art budget. Burning Man will provide an honorarium of approximately $500, but Victoria will have to raise the rest of the money for the project. BMHQ has offered help in the form of the above grant process as well as: tickets for the setup team (5 people), decomposed granite (under the effigy), heavy equipment support, early arrival passes (5), water, onsite fuel etc.

WHAT IS VICTORIA'S ROLE:

Victoria has been invited to participate, but to do so we will be in charge of all phases of our effigy's lifespan: from grant writing, to design, to construction, to guardianship, to fire safety team, to LNT.

In Victoria:

We need to assemble a team of people to design the man, cut out all the pieces, test-assemble it, disassemble it, and prepare it for transport to the US. We need someone to research (and facilitate) transport options to get the parts from Victoria BC all the way to Black Rock City, including the ins and outs of shipping it across the border!

On Playa:

We need a team to receive the effigy shipment, and arrive well before the event starts to set up the effigy. Construction must be complete by the Sunday before the gate opens. Teams will also be needed for Effigy Guardians, Fire Safety and Leave No Trace. In order for this project to happen, a significant portion of the Victoria community will need to participate.

Fundraising:

Carnivale 2011 was used as fundraiser for the CORE project.

The Design Idea:

We wanted a design that would reflect the unique identity of the Vancouver Island Burning Man community. The design idea was inspired by the faces carved into the sides of the cedar trees at the site of Victoria's annual regional event, Otherworld. Victoria British Columbia's contribution to the Circle of Regional Effigies project is the EffiTree: a 20-foot tall sculpture that is half human, half tree. Imagine two figures standing back-to-back with their arms raised; their bodies melded together into the trunk a tree. Their raised arms are branches, their feet are roots. These figures will represent the spirit of the rainforest: one masculine, one feminine. In the spaces between the figures will be text shapes and random carvings, such as you might see carved in the side of a tree.

GreenMan (led by RAWR!):
Inspired by the "wizard" faces carved into the trees at Sunny Daze, we will be creating a human figure on one quarter of the EffiTree that resembles a cross between an old bearded man and various plant/organic shapes.

Dryad (led by Kym):
A female figure inspired by natural images! The ladies are being a little secretive about what they are planning ;)

Text (led by Marie Fisher):
This side is meant to be inscribed with thoughts, ideas, and poems. Marie Fisher has written her poem "Built to Burn" on the side, and there is room for additional text.

Chaos (led by Fletcher):
This side is pretty much open for anyone to do anything they want. If you have small piece of artwork you want to contribute that doesn't go with another of the concepts - here it a place for you to decorate! Empty spaces are likely to be colonized by Chaos Robots of Doom!

Technical design details (all measurements approximate):

The central "trunk" will be approximately 4 feet across, rising about 15 feet, with the arms/branches rising approximately 5 feet high. The trunk will be clad with strips of cedar (approx 3 inches wide) running vertically all the way up the trunk. Each piece of cedar will have a small space between it and the next piece, implying the vertical lines in the bark of a cedar tree. Sections of the "bark" will be given to volunteers from the community to decorate.

Scale Model Photos:

A small, partially complete scale model has been created. Please see photos at:

Project Leaders:

• Edd "Shenanigans!" Macdonald () - Volunteer Coordinator
• Fletcher Hallihan (Ikea, but I think we should call him Woody!) - Design and Construction Leader
• Megan "Rawr!" Macdonald - Transportation
• Steve "Ashes" Wells - Project Communications

HOW YOU CAN HELP:

Volunteer by filling out this form!

WHAT'S NEXT:

We are awaiting final details from the Burning Man Organization to determine what the maximum height of the sculpture will be. Next, we will need to create a formal budget for the effigy, purchase materiels, and find a construction space. Once all of those are in place, volunteers who have expressed interest using the form above will be contacted, and work parties will be scheduled at the construction space!/

FINAL:

We CANNOT make this happen without participation from just about everyone in the community. In particular, we will need a large team of ON-PLAYA participants who can help build the effigy, act as Effigy Guardians 24-7 throughout the event, act as a Fire Safety Team, and act as a Leave No Trace crew to clean up and dispose of all of the remains.

Well, Victoria - are you ready to show Burning Man what we're all about?

Ashes
Regional Contact, Victoria BC