Burning Man Arts – To the Future!

2014 marked the culmination of Black Rock Art’s Foundations thirteen years of hard work and growth. After much planning and preparation, BRAF joined forces with Burning Man’s Art Department in July of 2014 to create the new program, Burning Man Arts. The new program will operate under the management of Burning Man Project.

We’re sure this transition sparks a few questions. To learn more, read our F.A.Q. on our transition to Burning Man Arts. In a nutshell, here are a few good things to know:

• BRAF’s programs will continue under the same rigorous criteria and efficient management that have produced and supported its projects and events.
• All currently supported projects will receive the funding committed to them.
• All donations to BRAF, earmarked for specific projects and programs, will still fund those projects and programs.
• BRAF’s 2015 grant cycle, BRAF’s Grants to Artists program, is already underway as the Global Art Grants program of Burning Man Arts, and will be juried by the same review committee, under the same rubric, as years’ previous.
• New Civic Arts projects are being considered by the same review committee, and will be supervised by the same BRAF staff that has managed over 25 previous Civic Arts projects.

BRAF was created with the goal of carrying the Burning Man ethos into the world, and to connect like-minded artists with the incredibly resourceful and supportive extended Burning Man community. In 2001, Black Rock Arts Foundation began giving small seed grants to artists and art collectives to make art in their home-town. In 2005, a series of fortuitous circumstances led to the creation of our Civic Arts program.

Over the last thirteen years, BRAF has:

• Produced or supported over 150 projects
• Produced or co-produced over 93 events
• Created a new model of inclusive collaboration that values the input and participation of local citizens, city officials, schools and youth groups, artists collectives, community organizations, volunteers, and the larger Burning Man extended community.
• Developed a successful fiscal sponsorship program that increases the reach and resources for commendable, like-minded projects and organizations.
• Cultivated fruitful and meaningful relationships with community partner organizations, such as San Francisco Art Commission, Maker Faire, Exploratorium, Presidio Trust, Illuminate the Arts, Zero One Festival, Children’s Discovery Museum of San Jose, San Francisco Department of the Environment, San Francisco Recreation and Parks, San Francisco Port Authority, The Crucible, city officials in San Francisco and Oakland, California, Reno and Fernley, Nevada, and other cities, and many more arts and civic organizations.

By pooling the vast resources and connections of Black Rock Arts Foundation, Burning Man Project and Burning Man, Burning Man Arts will be able to support more projects and artists worldwide. Together, we can finally offer our community’s artists the exposure and variety of support they deserve. This joining of forces will allow us to:

• Offer a unified, streamlined grant application process for all projects destined for the Burning Man event or for other cities, worldwide.
• Provide more diverse services to artists.
• Allow donors to contribute to a vast range of artistic endeavors that represent Burning Man’s expressive culture.
• Produce more interactive, community-driven art projects worldwide.
• Enlist the eager and available support of the extended Burning Man community.

This is in no way an ending of BRAF’s programming. In fact, we see this transition as our greatest programming accomplishment! The staff of BRAF (now officially employees of Burning Man Project) are motivated and ready to share their expertise and lessons learned with their new team of collaborators, and are looking forward, with great optimism, to a new chapter in the history of public art.

This moment would not have been possible without the generous support of our donors, volunteers, and collaborators. Thank you to all who have stood by BRAF over the years. We encourage you to join us in this next chapter by making a donation to Burning Man Arts.

Black Rock Arts Foundation Newsletter – Time to Sign up for JRS!

As you know, promoting our community’s artists has always been BRAF’s number one priority. BRAF artists stand to benefit greatly from this new boost of exposure and increase in resources.

The Black Rock Arts Foundation newsletter, as you know it, will technically end. However, this doesn’t mean an end to the exciting updates about past BRAF grantees, or to our promotion of their growth and current activities. Burning Man’s email newsletter, Jack Rabbit Speaks (or JRS) will now feature a Burning Man Arts section, which will link to a full, monthly report of all our artists’ happenings, both on and off-playa. Our BRAF grantee projects will now reach a readership of 160,000.

The same team of writers (Josie Schimke, Peter Bejger and Denise Li) will keep you updated with all the fun and cool events produced by our community’s artists.

This means, to continue to get updates about BRAF artists, you need to sign up for the JRS!

BRAF Staff’s New Roles

All of the BRAF staff are now employees of Burning Man. Eli Peterson will continue to oversee administration the off-playa (Global Art Grants) program. Joe Meschede, BRAF’s newest employee, will continue to offer administrative support to our public art projects. Josie Schimke will continue to tell the stories of our artists via our monthly artist updates, public relations, and grant-writing.

BRAF Executive Director, Tomas McCabe, will continue as the Associate Director of Strategic Initiatives. In this new role, McCabe will have the opportunity to connect more partners, community members, and potential collaborators with the artists of our community. McCabe’s focus will be on developing special projects and partnerships. McCabe looks forward to connecting BRAF’s and Burning Man’s established supporters with new ventures.

Super-Volunteer Affinity, Program and Development Associate Josie Schimke, and Executive Director Tomas McCabe.

Finances

In 2014, BRAF maintained its diverse revenue stream, with almost 64% coming through fee-based program services. The Black Rock Arts Foundation is a financially sound, effective organization that has been managed using non-profit best practices.

Sources of Revenue

BRAF’s largest source of revenue is its contributions portfolio, which is as diverse as the communities that we serve. Most of our revenue was contributed by individuals like you.

Contributions 

53% of BRAF’s contributions come from individuals.

Functional Expenses

Over 75% of BRAFs expenses were program related in 2014. This means that most of our spending went directly to artists who are creating art in their community, worldwide.

Program Disbursements

Projects and Events

Caruso’s Dream

In February of this year, artists Brian Goggin and Dorka Keehn‘s unveiled their piece, And My Room Still Rocks Like a Boat on the Sea (Caruso’s Dream). The work is a permanent site-specific artwork commissioned by Avalon Bay (through a request for proposals organized by BRAF) for its new 17-story residential high-rise at 55 Ninth Street, San Francisco, California.

Caruso’s Dream

Says Goggin of the work, “The whole piece is inspired by this moment when the opera star Enrico Caruso was awakened by the Great Calamity of April 18, 1906, while he was staying at the Palace Hotel. He did not know if he was awake or still dreaming as he was walking to the window to see the results of the ongoing earthquake.”

Opening Reception – February 23, 2014

The Unveiling Happening Event for And My Room Still Rocks Like a Boat on the Sea (Caruso’s Dream) was a spectacle to behold. Artists Brian Goggin and Dorka Keehn introduced the work to a crowd of at least 1000. The angelic voices of opera singers soared throughout the city block as aerialists descended from the 18 story high-rise, landing on the sculpture and unveiled it for all to see.

Aerialists at the Unveiling Happening for Caruso’s Dream. Photo by Nick Winterhalter.

Bay Lights Anniversary – March 6, 2014

The Bay Lights turned one-year-old this March. On its anniversary, the piece went dark for ten minutes. Artist Leo Villareal will led a countdown to the re-lighting at Market Bar in the San Francisco Ferry Building. This event was free and open to the public. In addition, KFOG-FM 104.5 broadcasted the event and with a special 20-minute Bay Lights soundtrack.

The Bay Lights, by BRAF Advisory Board Member Leo Villareal. Photo courtesy of John Curley.

Illuminated Bike Ride – March 7, 2014

BRAF, the SF Bicycle Coalition and SF Bike Party lit up the streets with this illuminated bike ride. The ride began on the Embarcadero, in front of the “Cupid’s Span” bow-and-arrow sculpture by Claes Oldenburg and Coosje van Bruggen. The group then met up with Ben Davis, the visionary behind the Bay Lights concept, who spoke of Leo Villareal’s monumental contribution to public art. Volunteers from SF Bike Party then led the group on a fun and safe ride through the city with stops to dance and socialize along the way. Participants decorated their bikes with all kinds of L.E.D. and other colored lights, while showing off their illuminated costumes.

Big Art for Small Towns 

This two-year, National Endowment for the Arts (N.E.A.) funded project debuted in 2014 with the installation of all three public artworks and two receptions. In 2012, BRAF and the City of Fernley, Nevada, launched this new initiative. A collaboration with the Burning Man Project, the project was awarded BRAF’s second N.E.A. grant, an Our Town grant, in the amount of $75,000.

Through the Big Art for Small Towns project, BRAF and the Fernley community curated and produced three works of public art: Rockspinner 6, by Zachary Coffin, The Bottlecap Gazebo, by Max Poynton and Andrew Grinberg, and the new, collaboratively created work, Desert Tortoise, by Pan Pantoja and the children of Fernley. The works were installed in July, 2014.

Big Art for Small Towns – Public Preview – March 13, 2014

The City of Fernley and the Black Rock Arts Foundation hosted an informal informational presentation and reception for Big Art for Small Towns. Attendees enjoyed a brief talk by Desert Tortoise artist, Pan Pantoja and a presentation by BRAF representatives on the entire Big Art for Small Towns project. The event coincided with an exhibit of visuals in Fernley’s City Hall.

The Desert Tortoise and Bottlecap Gazebo. Photo by Aric Shapiro.

Big Art for Small Towns Opening Reception – August 7, 2014

The installation and debut of these three public works was cause for celebration, indeed. BRAF hosted a lively Opening Reception for a crowd of 300 community members, featuring art-making activities for kids and adults, aerialist performances, live music, remarks by Burning Man and BRAF Board Member Crimson Rose and by Fernley Mayor LeRoy Goodman.

The Bottlecap Gazebo in Fernley, Nevada. Photo courtesy of Jerry Mansker.

2014 Grantees – April 1, 2014

In April, BRAF announced 2014’s BRAF Grants to Artist grantees. This year, the Black Rock Arts Foundation Grants Committee awarded more money than ever, $70,000, to more projects than ever before (15 in total.) Awardees included such diverse and ingenious projects such as:

• Interactive L.E.D. murals in Bombay and Dharamasala, India
• Mini art museums made of shipping containers in Oxford, Mississippi
• A performance/installation illustrating the waveforms of its visitors’ pulses in Barcelona, Spain
• A spirited and entertaining free fire art festival in Reno, Nevada
• A thriving, free, and accessible art studio for low-income and homeless artists in San Francisco, California
• A roaming cabinet of curiosities in Wales, United Kingdom
• An impressive program of visual, installation, and performance art in Caracas, Venezuela
• A garden of oversized, glowing flowers, each made from intricately folded plastic, which respond to visitors with motion and sound in San Francisco, California
• … and more. Read on for complete descriptions of all 15 projects. 

Artists’ rendering of 2014 Grantee project, Blumen Lumen

BRAF is proud to foster the evolution and growth of these projects, and will continue to report on their progress through Burning Man’s Jack Rabbit Speaks.

2014 Grantee project, Urban Anointments

Fiscal Sponsorship

BRAF was founded out of the sincere wish to support, in every way possible, artists who are breaking the traditional mold of public art, who are prioritizing community involvement, and sharing their art with their community in the spirit of generosity and service. With this intent, BRAF launched a fiscal sponsorship program that has supported various public art projects since 2007.

Fiscal Sponsorship of Burning Man Projects – May 9, 2014

When Burning Man transitioned to non-profit status, BRAF was finally able to offer fiscal sponsorship to artists creating work for Black Rock City. BRAF announced this new pilot program and introduced an impressive selection of sponsored projects on May 9, 2014.

Highlights of fiscally sponsored projects included works by Michael Christian, Charlie Smith, and David Best’s Temple.

Artist’s rendering of the Temple of Grace

BRAF has been funding off-playa projects since 2001. As the original offspring non-profit organization of the Burning Man event, BRAF recognizes that the art projects shared at the Burning Man event meet and actualize BRAF’s mission to a high degree.

Going forward, supporters are now able to offer tax deductible donations to projects bound for the playa though BRAF. We hope that this creates new fundraising opportunities for worthy and inspired projects such as these.

Sunset Piano Opus 3 – May – September, 2014

Made possible by a grant from the San Francisco Office of Economic and Workforce Development, The Black Rock Arts Foundation collaborated with artist Mauro ffortissimo to bring his ongoing Sunset Piano project to San Francisco. In this iteration, Sunset Piano Opus 3 placed temporarily places pianos in public places in the Market Street district of San Francisco, California, inviting both local musicians and the general public to play a tune. The results were a harmonious array of dramatic, playful, moving and lively melodies!

The project hosted a total of fourteen events, and will most likely continue the projects next year.

A participant of the Sunset Piano Opus 3 project. Photos of Sunset Piano by Fabrice Florin,
Licensed under Creative Commons CC-BY-SA.3.0.

KQED Burning Man Art Beyond the Playa Wins Award – June 14, 2014

The KQED team that produced a segment about the impact of Burning Man art off of the Playa won two awards for their work. On Saturday, June 14th, the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences awarded the piece a Northern California Emmy Award and on May 31st, the San Francisco Peninsula Press Club awarded a Greater Bay Area Journalism Award. BRAF congratulates Executive Producer Joanne Elgart Jennings, Producer Lori Halloran, Reporter Thuy Vu, and the rest of the crew.

Future’s Past De-install – July 14, 2014

July saw the deinstall of Kate Raudenbush’s Future’s Past after its two-year stay in Hayes Valley in San Francisco. BRAF was thrilled that it was so welcomed and loved by the local residents, and that its stay was extended for so long. What was meant to be a one-year exhibition was extended to two. Many thanks to the Hayes Valley Arts Coalition, Raudenbush’s crew of tireless workers, all the project’s donors and supporters, and, of course, to Kate Raudenbush for her inspiring work.

Hayes Valley says goodbye to Kate Raudenbush’s Future’s Past

Defenestration De-install – July 31, 2014

In July, we had to say goodbye to a beloved work of public art. Defenestration, fiscally sponsored by BRAF in 2010, by Brian Goggin, transformed a San Francisco building into a renowned art site in 1997, and for seventeen years it remained. This multi-disciplinary sculptural mural displayed seemingly animated furniture; tables, chairs, lamps, grandfather clocks, a refrigerator, and couches, their bodies bent like centipedes, fastened to the walls and window-sills, their insect-like legs seeming to grasp the surfaces. Against society’s expectations, these everyday objects flooded out of windows like escapees, out onto available ledges, up and down the walls, onto the fire escapes and off the roof.

Defenestration was created by Brian Goggin with the help of over 100 volunteers, and individual works were restored four years ago with generous community support, including artwork donated by Banksy.

Defenestration by Brian Goggin.

Soma

BRAF was proud and pleased to work again with the Flaming Lotus Girls to bring their interactive sculptural installation, Soma, to Pier 14 in San Francisco, California. Originally displayed at Burning Man in 2009, Soma depicts two communicating neurons connected by an axon bridge. A soma is the cell body of a neuron, with branching dendrites projecting away at different angles, and an axon which conducts the nerve signal electrochemically to its neighboring cell. 

Soma translates the anatomy of neurons into metal, fire and light, magnifying the microscopic world to an epic scale. In this urban installation, Soma features interactive LEDs to create a spectacular daytime and nighttime experience.

Soma on Pier 14 in San Francisco. Photo by Jason Chinn.

Soma was BRAF’s third piece installed at the Pier 14 Tidal Plaza on San Francisco’s Embarcadero waterfront. BRAF previously collaborated with the Port of San Francisco in 2007 to bring Passage by Karen Cusolito and Dan Das Mann and in 2010 to bring the Raygun Gothic Rocketship by Sean Orlando, David Shulman, Nathaniel Taylor, Alan Rorie, and the Five Ton Crane crew to the same location.

Soma Opening Reception – August 1, 2014

On August 1, the public was invited to a boisterous celebration of this fantastic large-scale work. The event included special presentation by the Flaming Lotus Girls artists, other special guest speakers, music, dancing, and lighting ceremony.

The Opening Reception Party for Soma at Pier 14. Photo by Katej Brown.

BRAF at Burning Man August 25 – September 2, 2014

Once again, BRAF returned to our source of inspiration: Black Rock City. This year, we hosted even more events at the Everywhere Pavillion, including daily panel discussions, receptions, and social event. The highlights of the panel discussions included presentations by BRAF Grantees and a talk by renowned “temple” artist, David Best.

Social gatherings celebrated the many outreach efforts by the affiliate groups: Black Rock Solar, BRAF, Burners Without Borders, and Burning Man’s Global Network. BRAF’s annual cocktail party was a delightful opportunity for BRAF supporters and collaborators to mix and mingle, as well as hear about BRAF’s future as Burning Man Arts.

2014 Grantee project River of Wings at the Everywhere Pavilion at Burning Man, 2014.

Bike Bridge

In 2012, BRAF received its first N.E.A. grant for the creation and installation of the Bike Bridge. Public art and Burning Man artist Michael Christian was selected from a pool of applicants to lead the project. Christian collaborated with twelve girls from seven different high schools in the design and creation of this large-scale work of art, using reclaimed bicycle parts as their primary medium. The results were impressive and inspiring!

The public enjoys the Bike Bridge at the Uptown Art Park Opening Event on Friday, April 5, 2013. Photo by George Post.

Bike Bridge moves to Burning Man – August 15, 2014

The Bike Bridge ended its one-and-one-half year stay in Oakland, California, but continues to live on. In August, Burning Man facilitated the exhibition of the piece in front of the events Center Camp Cafe, where it seemed right at home amidst the many bicycles parked. Burning Man participants were moved by the inclusive and educational aspects of this project’s creation.

The Bike Bridge at Center Camp Cafe at Burning Man, 2014. Photo by Extramatic.

Bike Bridge moves to Gerlach – September 11, 2014

After its stay at Burning Man, The Bike Bridge moved to its new permanent home in Gerlach, Nevada. The artists and BRAF are thrilled to share the work with the small town of Gerlach, the closest town to Black Rock City. This phenomenal example of the Burning Man spirit, as it embodies the principles of communal effort and self-expression, is one small way BRAF can thank this small community for its support of the Burning Man event.

Artumnal Gathering – November 22, 2014

This year’s Artumnal Gathering was certainly the most splendid and elegant Artumnal to date! The evening was full of dear friends, impressive performances, irresistibly danceable live music, and surprising delights for the eyes and ears at every turn. 250 dinner guests enjoyed an animated live auction and a scrumptious dinner. Later, a crowd of 1000 revelled to live music and Dj’s, and enjoyed captivating performances, original artworks, a silent auction featuring one of a kind experiences and items, an art gallery, and abundant expressions of creativity.

LouLou of Thievery Corp & Pleasuremaker of Afrolicious performing to a lively crowd at the Artumnal Gathering, 2014. Photo courtesy of Marco Sanchez.

Over 200 volunteers, artists, performers, and crew contributed their talents and energy to the event. The Artumnal Gathering is truly a communal effort and celebration of our artists and culture.

Performer from M.O.C. – Modern On Command dance company at the Artumnal Gathering, 2014. Photo courtesy of Marco Sanchez.

Together with the event’s guests, we graciously acknowledged BRAF Grantees and Civic Arts artists as well as the artists of Burning Man. This year’s Artumnal Gathering raised funds for future Burning Man Arts projects.

Interactive art by Christopher Schardt at the Artumnal Gathering, 2014. Photo courtesy of Marco Sanchez.

Illuminate the Arts Walk – December 6, 2014

Once again, BRAF and San Francisco Travel’s Illuminate the Arts hosted this celebration of illuminated public artwork. The walk visited 15 luminous public artworks by internationally renowned light artists including Jim Campbell, Ned Kahn, James Turrell and Leo Villareal. This was the first event of this season’s art walks.

The IlluminArts Walk, December 5, 2013. Photo courtesy of George Post.

• The Artumnal Gathering: Thank you!
• Artist Updates
  • Flaming Lotus Girls Gallery Show and Art Party
  • River of Wings

The Artumnal Gathering

We’d like to extend our heartfelt thanks to all of you who made this year’s Artumnal Gathering the most splendid and elegant Artumnal to date! The evening was full of dear friends, impressive performances, irresistibly danceable live music, and surprising delights for the eyes and ears at every turn.

Thank you to the 200+ volunteers, artists, performers, and crew who contributed their talents and energy to the event, and thank you to all who attended. The Artumnal Gathering is truly a communal effort and celebration of our artists and culture. We can’t wait for next year!

If you attended and have any questions about auction items, lost and found, or anything else, please feel free to reach out to us at artumnal @burningman.org.

Photos of the event.
Thank you to our talented photographers who captured the event on camera!

• Event photography by Marco Sanchez: See event photos here.
• Portrait photography by George Post: See photos here.
• Event photography by Leori Gill: See event photos here.

The Artumnal Gathering, 2014. Photos courtesy of Marco Sanchez (marcosanchez.net)

Artist Updates

Flaming Lotus Girls (Soma & 2007 Grantees)

Flaming Lotus Girls is teaming up with Opulent Temple and Ambient Mafia to bring you IN THE RED, a gallery party and silent Auction at SOMArts in San Francisco.

IN THE RED features a gallery show of over 70 limited edition archival prints on metal, standard framed prints, and stocking-stuffer schwag galore.  And, special for this year, two custom FLG-built sculptures for auction.

In the Red – FLG Gallery Show & Art Party
Friday, December 12, 2014
6:00 p.m. – 2:00 a.m. 
SOMArts
934 Brannan Street, SF
$20. Buy tickets.

DJs include:

• Opulent Temple: Syd Gris, Vinkalmann, Billy Seal, Dulce Vita, MetaTek – JB Vries
• Ambient Mafia: Speakeasy Ray, Redstickman, Shane

2014 was an incredible year for the Flaming Lotus Girls! With your support and contributions, BRAF and FLG were able to fund the installation of Soma on Pier 14 in San Francisco. This public display was a dream come true for the artists! In addition, they continued to show fire art at events throughout California and Nevada.

Help FLG keep their momentum going and support this fundraising event!

Soma on Pier 14 in San Francisco. Photo by Jason Chinn.

2014 Grantee – River of Wings

The 2014 Grantee project, River of Wings, will be featured in the 110th Anniversary Celebration of the Silver Lake Reservoir this Saturday. This free, family and community event will include a walk around the Ivanhoe Reservoir, a Dedication ceremony, kid’s activities and fun family events, and two other new public art projects.

110th Anniversary Celebration of the Silver Lake Reservoir
Saturday, December 13, 2014
9:30 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Walk begins at 9:30 a.m.
Walk leaves from Reservoir Complex gates at Armstrong Ave and Tesla Ave.
River of Wings is located at West Silver Lake Ave and Tesla Ave
Activities are located at Mallard Grove and Tesla Ave
Los Angeles, Ca, 90039
Free!

2014 Grantee, River of Wings

• The Artumnal Gathering: Main Event tickets still available!
• Save the Date for the next Illumnate the Arts Art Walk: December 6.
• Attention Artists! Grant Applications are now live and due December 1!
• Artist Update
  • Matthew Passmore of Rebar
  • Reverend Billy and the Stop Shopping Choir

The Artumnal Gathering

Don’t miss this greatly anticipated annual gathering and fundraising event! Enjoy fine fare, tempting libations, special treats, sweet surprises, captivating performances, original artwork, and live and silent auctions featuring one of a kind experiences and items.

Dinner Tickets are sold out, but don’t miss the fun! Join us for the Main Event!

Visit burningmanproject.org to purchase tickets.

The Artumnal Gathering
Saturday, November 22, 2014
Dinner at 6:00 p.m., Main Event at 9:45 p.m.
Bently Reserve
400 Sansome St.
San Francisco, CA 94111

This is a very special Artumnal Gathering! This year, we’ll be celebrating the formation of Burning Man Arts, the new program that encompasses Burning Man’s on-playa art department and BRAF’s off-playa endeavors. Raise a glass with us as we toast to the future!

Photos from past Artumnal Gathering events, courtesy of Randal Alan Smith and George Post.

Save the Date! The next IllumnArts Walk is December 6

Embrace the power of light this winter and join us and San Francisco Travel’s Illuminate the Arts in celebrating 15 luminous public artworks by internationally renowned light artists including Jim Campbell, Ned Kahn, James Turrell and Leo Villareal. The first of this season’s art walks will be on the evening of December 6. Stay tuned for more details! We’ll keep you posted about these delightful, casual events!

The IlluminArts Walk, December 5, 2013. Photo courtesy of George Post.

Apply for a Grant!

Last reminder! Artists and Community Instigators, don’t miss your chance to apply for a grant for your off-playa project! Apply for a grant through the Burning Man Grants for Art (formerly the BRAF Grants to Artists program) grant program by December 1, 2014.

We fund projects that incorporate community involvement and exist for public benefit. If you’re hatching an idea for a project that brings people together, prompts interaction, and reaches beyond traditional experiences of public art, we’d love to hear about it!

Does this sound like your artwork? Apply for a grant!

Read about our grants program at blackrockarts.org/grants or visit the grant criteria page to apply.

The LOI is due on December 1, 2014. Selected projects will be invited to submit a full proposal that will be due in February 2015.

Bring your artwork into the world!

2009 Grantee Cardboardia sends BRAF a “Thank You” card.

Grantees Updates

2007 Grantee – Matthew Passmore

Matthew Passmore, a BRAF grantee and founder of both REBAR and Morelab, recently presented a TEDx talk in Vienna, Austria. The event, called “CITYx” focused on various contemporary approaches to art making and engagement with the city. Passmore’s talk, entitled The Medium is the Metropolis, focused on exploring the city as an artistic medium. Featured prominently in his talk was “PARK(ing) Day,” an annual global art event that received a BRAF grant in 2007.

2004 Grantee – Reverend Billy

Reverend Billy and the Stop Shopping Choir

The irrepressible Reverend Billy writes in:

“It is the worst of times and not quite the worst times because we are mindful that things will definitely get worse. The man in charge of the environment in the US Senate doesn’t believe in climate change. Six trillion pounds of CO2 spew into the atmosphere each week, as the shopping season revs up. Oh! We have reason to sing, and reason to shout. We’ll do it with joy when we can.

We return to our home stage, Joe’s Pub at the Public, on November 23, Sunday, at 2:00 p.m. in New York City. Get your tickets now! We’ll be there every Sunday until Christmas.

On November 25, we begin our bus journey to the world headquarters of Monsanto for a resplendent Organic Thanksgiving Dinner. Can you join us in spirit? In body? Take the pledge and make your family meal a part of this event.

Monsanto is in Creve Coeur (Broken Heart), Missouri, which is next door to Ferguson. On Black Friday, we visit young activists there and take them whatever we raise at our Standing with Ferguson benefit here in New York City (special appearance by Joan Baez!

It is hard to imagine a worst time, children, but we will sing to the end! …to the beginning! Earthalujah!”

Oh, and welcome to our NEW WEBSITE.

• The Artumnal Gathering: Tickets on Sale now and going fast!
• Attention Artists! Grant Applications are now live and due December 1!
• BRAF Executive Director at Yerba Buena Open City/Art City
• Grantee Updates
  • Burning Baskets
  • 24 Sound Cylinders
  • Hospitality House
  • The Pool

The Artumnal Gathering

Don’t miss this greatly anticipated annual gathering and fundraising event! Enjoy fine fare, tempting libations, special treats, sweet surprises, captivating performances, original artwork, and live and silent auctions featuring one of a kind experiences and items.

Tickets are going fast! Our dinner event always sells out, so buy yours soon. Visit burningmanproject.org to purchase tickets.

The Artumnal Gathering
Saturday, November 22, 2014
Dinner at 6:00 p.m., Main Event at 9:45 p.m.
Bently Reserve
400 Sansome St.
San Francisco, CA 94111

This is a very special Artumnal Gathering! This year, we’ll be celebrating the formation of Burning Man Arts, the new program that encompasses Burning Man’s on-playa art department and BRAF’s off-playa endeavors. Please join us for this momentous occasion!

Photos from past Artumnal Gathering events, courtesy of Randal Alan Smith and George Post.

Apply for a Grant!

Burning Man Grants for Art (formerly the BRAF Grants to Artists program) 2015 grant cycle is underway!  The online form for submitting a Letter of Intent (LOI) is now live. Tell us about your fantastic idea for a community-driven, interactive art project!

We fund projects that incorporate community involvement and exist for public benefit. If you’re hatching an idea for a project that brings people together, prompts interaction, and reaches beyond traditional experiences of public art, we’d love to hear about it!

Does this sound like your artwork? Apply for a grant!

Read about our grants program at blackrockarts.org/grants or visit the grant criteria page to apply.

The LOI will be due on December 1, 2014. Selected projects will be invited to submit a full proposal that will be due in February 2015.

Bring your artwork into the world!

2009 Grantee Cardboardia sends BRAF a “Thank You” card.

BRAF Executive Director at Yerba Buena Open City/Art City

Catch BRAF Executive Director Tomas McCabe this week at Yerba Buena Center for the Arts’ Open City/Art City Art and Ideas Festival. Yerba Buena Center for the Arts (YBCA) and The Institute for the Future (IFTF) are partnering to engage the public in a creative and generative weekend of activities that look at how art and artists can transform a city.

Open City/Art City invites the Bay Area community to imagine how we can build a city that is more open, creative, and inclusive. The event explores this question through a vibrant blend of art installations, speakers, participatory activities, performances, music, food, and play.

Open City/Art City Festival
October 4, 2014
11:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m.
YBCA
701 Mission St
San Francisco, CA 94113

Tomas McCabe will be speaking at 3:30 p.m., at the Urban Artistic Interventions panel in the Screening Room. The panel will be moderated by 2007 BRAF Grantee David Evan Harris and will include SF Art Commissioners JD Beltran and Dorka Keehn.  The panel addresses the questions: How can artistic interventions reshape our urban landscapes and the communities that inhabit them? Is it enough for public art to bring beauty to our cities and lives, or do artists have a responsibility to move beyond aesthetic concerns when working in the public sphere? How will these questions and others affect the evolution of the unique canvas of public space in the coming decades?

The Open City/Art City festival provides a unique opportunity for visitors to interact and connect with some of the most progressive leaders in the Bay Area who are on the forefront of socially engaged enterprises in the fields of art, public sector, and technology.

For the complete program schedule, visit opencityartcity.tumblr.com.

Grantee Updates

2007 Grantee – Burning Baskets

Mavis has continued to make beautiful spaces for a good seed to GROW as it was basket-burning time again on Kachemak Bay in Homer, Alaska. The 11th annual community interactive, impermanent art experience took place on September 14, 2014. Each year, under Mavis’s direction, participants spend one week building a giant intricately woven “basket of remembrance & unburdening.” The recent sculpture was themed GROW and utilized natural materials gathered from the local countryside. The sculpture is given as a gift to the community and all are invited to decorate it with flowers, art, words to inspire, and personal sentiments are tucked inside. At sundown, GROW met its fiery conclusion and was transposed by smoke and transported by flames, with the messages & burdens dispersed by sparks into the night sky.

2007 Grantee Burning Basket’s 29th project “Grow.”

This is the 29th enactment in the Burning Basket series. Wow! Others have appeared in California, Oregon, Hawaii (Maui, Big Island, Molokai), the New Mex/Mexico border, the Gulf of Mexico in Louisiana, and Spain. Mavis was a lead artist for the CORE burn with the Source Maui team at Burning Man in 2013. She is a recipient of a 2014 Artist Fellowship Award of $18,000 from the esteemed Rasmuson Foundation of Alaska. Mavis is a 2007 grantee of BRAF for her Burning Baskets Project.

2007 Grantee Burning Basket’s 29th project “Grow.”

Follow Mavis at www.mavismullerart.com and www.facebook.com/BurningBasketProject

2014 Grantee – 24 Sound Cylinders

The sound installation 24 Sound Cylinders, by Maja Kalogera, was exhibited at Land Without Borders 2014 in Osijek, Croatia from 25 to 30 August 2014.

In Drvengrad Park, the exhibition was launched with a ceremonious opening of an imaginary door to the Land Without Borders with a sound of a gong. This unique event hosted over a thousand children, and invited Osijek community members of all ages to re-live their childhood dreams. Sound cylinders played their musical tones for the over three thousand participants who visited the festival.

2014 Grantee 24 Sound Cylinders.

More in pictures can be seen here, beginning at the bottom of page, as the project started: mfused.tumblr.com.

2014 Grantee – Hospitality House Community Arts Program

Hospitality House invites you to join them for their annual celebration of urban and community art at Art for the House presented by Yammer! Their unique silent auction features affordable urban/outsider and contemporary works created by local artists, including artists working at Hospitality House’s Community Arts Program.

Art for the House is free and open to the public! Proceeds benefit Hospitality House, the Coalition on Homelessness, and individual artists contributing work. For more information visit https://www.facebook.com/events/1503098339936593/ or call 415.749.2184.

Art for the House presented by Yammer!
Thursday, October 16, 2014
6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. (silent auction closes at 8:00 p.m.)
Arc Gallery
1246 Folsom Street
San Francisco, CA 94103

2012 Grantee — The Pool

The indefatigable Jen Lewin continues her global travels. Only a few days after the wildly successful showing of The Super Pool at Burning man this September, The Pool shipped immediately to Lisbon, Portugal where it will be installed at the Columbo Mall.

The Super Pool
September 12, 2014 – November 12, 2014
Columbo Mall
Avenida Lusíada
1500-392 Lisbon
21 711 3600
Portugal

More details at portugalconfidential.com/2014/09/the-pool-light-centro-colombo-lisbon-through-9-november

The Pool will also be installed at the Signal Festival in Prague in mid-October. Wow!

The Super Pool at Burning Man 2014. Photo by Duncan Rawlinson, CC BY-NC 2.0.

• The Artumnal Gathering: Tickets go on sale September 15!
• Last chance to donate to Burning Man art projects
• Thanks for visiting us at Burning Man!
• Sunset Piano Opus 3 Upcoming Events
• Artist Update
  • Michael Christian’s Bike Bridge in Gerlach, Nevada
• Attention Artists! Grant Applications available October 1, 2014
• Grantee Updates
  • Symphony in D Minor artists’ new project

The Artumnal Gathering

Tickets for everyone’s favorite “playa formal” event go on sale Monday, September 15, 2014 at 12:00 p.m.

This year is not to be missed! We’ll be honoring our broad community of artists and community instigators, and celebrating the formation of Burning Man Arts, the new program that encompasses Burning Man’s on-playa art department and BRAF’s off-playa endeavors. Please join us for this momentous occasion!

Visit burningmanproject.org on September 15 and buy your Dinner or Main Event tickets. Our dinner event always sells out. Mark your calendar and buy early!

Photos of the Artumnal Gathering, 2014. Photos by Marco Sanchez (www.marcosanchez.net)

Last chance to donate to Burning Man art projects: Tuesday 9/23!

If you were at Burning Man this year, you probably had a chance to interact with several of the amazing art works that BRAF fiscally sponsored. Unfortunately, many of these projects are still in the red! You can help our community’s artists end the year on a high note by making a donation today. We’re only accepting donations for these projects through Tuesday, September 23rd only, so now is the time!

David Best and the Temple of Grace crew, for example, still have over $6,000 to raise through BRAF to meet their budget. See the donation page for the opportunity to give to all of the projects that still haven’t met their fundraising goals.

The Temple of Grace. Photo by Chris Weger on Flickr, CC BY-SA

Thank you for visiting us at Burning Man!

Thanks for all who stopped by to talk about art, both on and off the playa! This year, we hosted several successful panel discussions, including one with David Best, renowned artist of many Burning Man and off-playa Temples. Some of our grantees also stopped by to share their stories of their projects’ journeys before and after funding. We heard inspiring stories from Marcelle Gravel and David Hoffman of River of Wings and Shilo Shiv Suleman and Rohan Dixit of Urban Anointments. And last, thanks to all who joined us for our cocktail-hour parties and gatherings! See you next year!

See video of An example of the River of Wings project shared at Burning Man.

2014 Grantee project River of Wings at the Everywhere Pavilion at Burning Man, 2014.

Upcoming Sunset Piano Opus 3 Event

The next Sunset Piano Opus 3 event is this Friday! Join the crew and other music and art lovers in lovely courtyard in front of the UC Hastings College of Law for a pre-show reception and site specific aerial dance performance by Flyaway Productions, who will be performing their piece, Multiple Mary and Invisible Jane. 

Friday, September 12, 2014
5:00 p.m.: Pianos and reception
8:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m.: Aerial performances
200 McAllister St.
San Francisco, California, 94102

Aerial performance will be located at 333 Golden Gate Ave, just around the corner, on the back of the Larkin Street Parking Garage.

For more information about the reception, and aerial performers, visit www.flyawayproductions.com

R.S.V.P. to the event’s Facebook event page, here!

A participant of the Sunset Piano Opus 3 project. Photos of Sunset Piano by Fabrice Florin. Licensed under Creative Commons CC-BY-SA.3.0.

Artist Update

Michael Christian

The Bike Bridge‘s stay in Oakland, California, has sadly come to an end. However, Michael and his crew brought it to Burning Man! And now it’s on its way to its new, permanent home in the small nearby town of Gerlach, Nevada. The Bike Bridge lives on! Who knew that artwork of 12 high school girls from Oakland would have such a far reach?

The Bike Bridge at Center Camp Cafe at Burning Man, 2014. Photo by Extramatic.

Apply for a Grant!

Just a reminder: The online form for submitting a Letter of Intent (LOI) for the 2015 grant cycle will be live on October 1, 2014. Are you an artist making highly interactive, community-driven works of art? We fund projects that incorporate community involvement and exist for public benefit. If you’re hatching an idea for a project that brings people together, prompts interaction, and reaches beyond traditional experiences of public art, we’d love to hear about your project!

Does this sound like your artwork? Apply for a grant!

Read about our grants program at blackrockarts.org/grants and visit the grant criteria page on October 1 to fill out an online LOI, which will be due December 1, 2014. Selected projects will be invited to submit a full proposal due in February 2015.

Bring your artwork into the world!

Grantee Updates

2012 Grantee – Symphony in D Minor

The artists of Symphony in D Minor have gone on to do great things! Artists Chris Klapper and Patrick Gallagher just finished a residency in Spain where they debuted the first in a new series of works called Dataatadata. Read about their project on the Creator’s Project blog, here. 

2012 Symphony in D Minor artists’ debut their new work in Spain.

Next, they’re traveling to Poland to permanently install Symphony in D Minor at the Hydropolis Museum in Wroclaw. The exhibit is scheduled to open in early 2015. This project has come a long way since its debut in Philadelphia!

2012 Grantee project, Symphony in D Minor. Photo courtesy of the artists.

• Burning Man projects still need your donations. Help make them happen!
• Celebrate BRAF at Burning Man
• Sunset Piano Opus 3 Upcoming Events
• Save the Date! The Artumnal Gathering is November 22
• Visit Soma in San Francisco
• Artist Update
  • Kate Raudenbush
• Attention Artists! Grant Applications available October 1, 2014
• Grantee Updates
  • Compression Sesquicentennial Peregrinations
  • Jen Lewin’s Super Pool

Make a Tax-Deductible Donation to these Playa Projects

The fiscally-sponsored Burning Man-bound projects have reached their fundraising goals! Congratulations to the Return of the Racken, Pulse and Bloom, and Infinite Infant and the Trail of Toys.

However, the rest of our fiscally-sponsored projects are in need of your support, including David Best’s Temple of Grace, which still needs to raise $24,000. Crossroads of Curiosity still needs $30,000, and ePOD still needs $15,000.

Pitch in whatever you can and help these wonderful projects become realities! Browse a complete list of these projects, and donate what you can!

Why is BRAF fiscally sponsoring Burning Man projects? Well, read what the Namaste Foundation has to say about it. We couldn’t have said it better ourselves!

Fiscal Sponsee project Pulse and Bloom. Artists’ rendering.

Celebrate BRAF at Burning Man

As you’ve probably heard, on July 25, 2014, the Black Rock Arts Foundation joined forces with Black Rock City’s art department, to create the Burning Man Arts program. Come celebrate BRAF’s 140+ funded international projects as well as our bright new future as part of Burning Man Arts!

Visit us at the Everywhere Pavilion! The Everywhere Pavilion houses the various Burning Man affiliated groups (Burners Without Borders, Black Rock Solar, The Regional Network and the new Burning Man Arts program comprised of Burning Man Project and The Black Rock Arts Foundation. Together, we host activities, events, panel discussions and gatherings all geared toward kindling ideas and generating momentum for off-playa, after-Burning Man efforts.

The Everywhere Pavilion is located at 6:15 and Esplanade.

Join us on playa for these events!

• Burning Man Affiliate Groups Q & A, Monday, August 25 – Friday, August 29, 2014. 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.
• Opening Reception of the Everywhere Pavilion. Monday, August 25, 2014. 4:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
• The Annual BRAF Cocktail Party. Thursday, August 28, 2014. 4:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. Come celebrate all BRAF has achieved!
• Art Grant Panel. Friday, August 29, 2014. 11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Meet some of your favorite BRAF grantees!

Super-Volunteer Affinity, Program and Development Associate Josie Schimke, and Executive Director Tomas McCabe at 2013’s Cocktail Party.

Sunset Opus 3 Upcoming Events

Don’t miss this cool experiment in public performance! BRAF is pleased to support this ongoing series of musical events. Check them out!

• First, Sunset Piano Opus 3 comes to Los Altos with a piano at Third Street Green in Los Altos, California
  Friday, August 15, 2014, 5:00 p.m.: Mauro ffortissimo and friends
  Saturday, August 23, 2014, 3:00 p.m.: Tom Jonesing
• In September, Sunset Piano Opus 3 comes to the Exploratorium in San Francisco, California.
  Thursday, September 4, 2014, 6:00 p.m.: Sunset Piano brings a grand piano, a prepared piano, and a special open piano to the Exploratorium’s After Dark evening. This event is 18 and over.  Benjamin Larsen Strong Gribble and Mauro ffortissimo on the pianos, visuals from the film in progress film Twelve Pianos by Dean Mermell. Tickets and more information about After Dark available at www.exploratorium.edu/visit/calendar/after-dark
• And finally, don’t miss Tom Jonesing back in Los Altos!
  Saturday, August 23, 2014, 3:00 – 4:00 p.m.
  Third Street between State and Plaza North in Los Altos, California

A spontaneous piano player at a Sunset Piano Opus 3 event.

Save the Date for the Artumnal Gathering!

Keep your eyes on your inboxes for announcements about this year’s Artumnal Gathering, happening on Saturday, November 22! We have so much to celebrate this year, and we have new treats and surprises in store for this year’s Artumnal guests. More details are on the way!

The Lucent Dossier Experience at the Artumnal Gathering, 2013. Photo courtesy of Marco Sanchez (marcosanchez.net)

Soma at Pier 14 in San Francisco

Thanks to all who came out to celebrate this fantastic work and its incredible crew of artists! Also many thanks to the Brass Tax DJ’s who kept the crowd dancing!

The Opening Reception Party for Soma at Pier 14. Photo by Kate J. Brown.

Soma, by the Flaming Lotus Girls, is scheduled to be on display for at least a year. Be sure to stop by on your next visit to the Ferry Building and see it! It’s interactive light display is not to be missed at night!

Artist Update – Kate Raudenbush

Contribute to Kate Raudenbush’s latest project! Kate gives us this exciting update on her new piece, Wishing Tree.

“This year, I had the pleasure of creating an interactive sculpture to tour with the international Dutch-created arts and music festival called MysteryLand. Wishing Tree is a 30-foot tall interactive sculpture of cascading leaves and light, designed to provide visitors with an artistic point of connection for linking themselves to people in other cultures, exploring the common wishes we all share, and fostering empathy for one another and our earth. Wishing Tree draws from ancient cultural traditions when humans turned to nature to honor it, and ask for guidance.

 

I would LOVE IT if BRAF members could share their positive energy with the Wishing Tree as it travels the world with the Mysteryland festival from the United States to Holland, and then to Santiago, Chile. It would be my honor to include your wish that will be part of the artwork, and inspire others across the globe.

 

The deadline to get your wish on the Wishing Tree is coming up very soon: Wednesday, August 20^th! The wish creating process is 100% FREE, takes only five minutes, and will last for the life of the sculpture. Plus, you will get a photo of the artwork e-mailed to you as thanks for sharing the love.”

Learn more about the sculpture and add your wish!

Kate Raudenbush’s Wishing Tree. Photo by the artist.

Attention Artists! Apply for a Grant!

Our grants program funds highly interactive, community-driven works of art that prioritize community involvement in their development, execution and display. We fund art that is accessible to the public, civic in scope, and prompts the viewer to act. We like art that can be experienced in more ways than visually – art that is touched, heard or experienced as well as viewed. We prioritize funding art that involves the audience in its conception, creation and presentation.

Does this sound like your artwork? Apply for a grant!

Read about our grants program at blackrockarts.org/grants and visit this page on October 1 to fill out an online Letter of Interest (LOI.) LOI’s are due December 1, 2014.

Bring your artwork into the world!

2014 Grantee Update – Compression Sesquicentennial Peregrinations

Erika Wesnousky, who helped set Nevada ablaze, summarizes the project’s pyrotechnics:

“Controlled Burn set the goal of sharing the culture of Burning Man with Nevada communities. We produce our very popular Compression Art & Fire festival each July, and this year we took the event on the road to offer the successful event template to small towns in hopes they would create their own community-driven arts festivals.

 

We have fulfilled the project’s goal, funded in large part by Black Rock Arts Foundation, and achieved our mission of helping sweeten the vibe surrounding Burning Man. Our phenomenal Burn Night videographer, Jeremy Dunn, captures the intent, spirit, and accomplishment with this video documentary, set to air September 4th on KNPB, our local Public Television Station.  We hope you enjoy our Compression Sesquicentennial Peregrinations.”

 

Controlled Burn dancers and flame effects at Fernley Rodeo Grounds (photo by Bill Kositzky) for Compression Art & Fire 2014 Fernley Multi-Cultural Festival.

2012 Grantee Update – The Pool by Jen Lewin

The Super Pool by Jen Lewin Studio was part of the Aha! Light Festival and the Gay Games in Cleveland. The piece, on exhibit August 7^th to August 10^th, was a spectacular addition to Cleveland and was a huge hit! Read more..

And, if you’re going to the playa this year, don’t miss The Super Pool at Burning Man!

Jen Lewin (2012 Grantee) and her updated grantee project, The Super Pool.

I write you with possibly our biggest news to date! Today, the Black Rock Arts Foundation is proud to announce that, after years of planning and preparation, BRAF will join forces with the Black Rock City Art Department creating the new Burning Man Arts program of the Burning Man Project. From this day on, BRAF will continue it’s programming as a subsidiary of the Burning Man Project!

This is fantastic news for our artists, donors and entire community. This joining of forces will allow us to provide more streamlined services to artists and to produce more interactive, community-driven art projects worldwide.

Read the full press release, here. 

We’ve worked hard to ensure that this transition will be seamless to our artists and donors. Our current funded artists will still receive the same support, funding and services we’ve committed to providing, and any donations made to BRAF projects will still fund those projects.

We’re sure you have more questions! To learn more read our F.A.Q., here.

Although we are always grateful for your support, now is a particularly meaningful moment for us to extend our thanks to you. Thank you for accompanying BRAF on our journey thus far. We promise that the next leg of the journey, as Burning Man Arts, will be even more exciting, fruitful and revolutionary!

Our sincerest thanks,

Tomas McCabe
Executive Director
Black Rock Arts Foundation

“Burning Man Arts” brings together Black Rock Arts Foundation and Black Rock City’s art department to streamline grant processes & better support the placement and enjoyment of art worldwide

San Francisco, July 26, 2014 — Burning Man today announced a reorganization of its arts programs to place more art in communities around the world, make more art available for the annual event in the Black Rock Desert, and create more opportunities for artists and donors.

Black Rock Arts Foundation, which is now a subsidiary of the non-profit Burning Man Project, is joining forces with Black Rock City’s art department to create one program called Burning Man Arts. The mission of Burning Man Arts is to change the paradigm of art from a commodified object to an interactive, participatory, shared experience of creative expression.

“This change breaks down the barriers. Art for the playa and art for the world will be one and the same,” said Burning Man’s founder Larry Harvey. “It makes it easier for artists to apply for grants and support, and it enables donors to contribute to the entire spectrum of expressive culture that is pouring out of Burning Man.”

So far in 2014, the Black Rock City art program has provided more than $1 million in grants and support to artists preparing works for the annual event in the Black Rock Desert during the last week of August.

Since its creation in 2001, Black Rock Arts Foundation has funded 149 projects worldwide, providing more than $2,500,000 in grants and support to artists. BRAF has awarded more than $430,000 through its Grants to Artists program and installed or otherwise supported 38 projects (with direct grants of $770,000) through its Civic Arts program. BRAF has also produced 82 memorable events and provided collaborative public art consulting services.

“Together, these two organizations will have an even bigger impact on donors, artists, and the communities that benefit from an active, engaged and supported arts community,” said Tomas McCabe, Executive Director of BRAF. “In addition to supporting artists on and off the playa, the new program is exploring an expanded range of offerings, including increased collaborations and partnerships with like-minded organizations and additional support services for artists.”

For donors, this development means that financial gifts to art projects for the Burning Man event in the Black Rock Desert can be tax deductible and opens up a wide range of new opportunities for supporters of the arts. All existing grants and support will continue uninterrupted. They will be completed within the framework of BRAF in collaboration with Burning Man Project.

About Burning Man

Burning Man is a 501(c)3 public benefit corporation whose mission is to facilitate and extend the culture that has issued from the Burning Man event into the larger world.  Black Rock City is the seminal manifestation of the 10 Principles-based culture known as Burning Man. The gathering, which last year included participants from all 50 states and 40 countries around the world, happens the last week of August in the Black Rock Desert in Nevada. For more information, visit http://www.burningman.org.

CITY OF FERNLEY, BLACK ROCK ARTS FOUNDATION AND BURNING MAN PROJECT TO UNVEIL COMMUNITY ART PARK AUGUST 7

“Big Art for Small Towns” program, with support from the National Endowment for the Arts, to showcase interactive art in small communities in Nevada

Main Street Park
610 East Main St.
Fernley, NV 89408

FERNLEY, NV, July 24, 2014 — Black Rock Arts Foundation (BRAF), Burning Man Project and the City of Fernley will unveil three art pieces in Main Street Park on Thursday August 7, including Desert Tortoise, a new, permanent piece by local artist Pan Pantoja using mosaics created by local students and community members.

The opening reception is from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. at the park at 610 Main Street and will include live music, speakers and arts activities for children and adults.

The park and artwork are the latest effort by BRAF and Burning Man Project as part of their Big Art For Small Towns program, funded in part by a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts.

“Several thousand participants pass through Fernley each year on their way to Burning Man and  we felt compelled to share the cultural and economic benefits with the surrounding communities,” said BRAF Executive Director Tomas McCabe. “We’re tremendously grateful for the community’s enthusiastic participation and contributions to the project, without which it couldn’t have happened.”

Desert Tortoise is a 25-foot long and 17-foot tall tall sculpture crafted from boulders from a local quarry and thousands of 4”x4” painted ceramic tiles of images which reflect the culture of Fernley and the surrounding area. Pantoja worked with students from every school in Fernley and community members who took part in a community painting night.

“The tortoise fosters community,” Pantoja said. “The tiles were a way to include participation from the majority of the residents and their children.”

Rockspinner 6 is a nine-ton stone slab by artist Zach Coffin that rotates on an axis such that a single person can set the piece in motion.

“I design my pieces to encourage people to interact with them – and experience the surprise that something so massive can move so effortlessly,” Coffin said. “It’s a great feeling to know the people of Fernley will have a chance to experience it.”

Bottlecap Gazebo, by artists Max Poynton and Andrew Grinberg. The gazebo was designed to be a social meeting place fostering interaction and connection. The name comes from the thousandsof recycled bottle caps that were individually smashed flat and drilled and strung together with wire in the form of leaves, creating complex lattices of glimmering colors and patterns.

The Bottlecap Gazebo in Fernley, Nevada. Photo courtesy of Jerry Mansker.

The Big Art for Small Towns project is a collaboration between Black Rock Arts Foundation, the Burning Man Project, and the City of Fernley. The founders of BRAF and the Burning Man Project have a personal investment in giving back to the Burning Man event’s neighboring communities.

With its intent to support creative placemaking projects that transform communities into lively, beautiful, and sustainable places with the arts at their core, the National Endowment for the Art’s Our Town grant was an ideal match for the vision of this project.

About Black Rock Arts Foundation

The mission of the Black Rock Arts Foundation is to support and promote community, interactive art and civic participation. BRAF was founded by several of the partners who founded and produce Burning Man, an annual arts festival in the Nevada desert.  BRAF was established to bring this idea of creating and coexisting with art to the rest of the world, with the vision that community-driven, inclusive, and interactive art is vital to a thriving culture. The foundation received its 501(c)3 status in November of 2001. For more information visit  www.blackrockarts.org .

About Burning Man Project

The mission of the Burning Man Project is to facilitate and extend the culture that has issued from the Burning Man event into a larger world. This culture forms an integrated pattern of values, experience, and behavior: a coherent and widely applicable way of life. The survival and elaboration of this culture depend upon a cultivated capacity for learning and transmitting knowledge to succeeding generations.

The primary purpose of Burning Man Project is to uphold and manifest the values described in the Ten Principles of Burning Man. Burning Man Project provides infrastructural tools and frameworks that will allow people to apply the Ten Principles in many communities and spheres of endeavor. For more information visitwww.burningmanproject.org.

• Make a tax-deductible donation to a Burning Man-bound art project!
• Artist Update
  • Goodbye, Future’s Past!
  • Hello, Soma! Opening Reception, August 1!
  • Goodbye, Defenestration!
• Grantee Update
  • Hung Viet Tran (Forever Our Change. Dream Your Mind)
  • Soundwave (Illuminated Forest)
  • The Cabinet of Curiosity Project
  • Compression Sesquicentennial Peregrinations
  • River of Wings
  • Before I Die…
  • Cardboardia
  • Burning Baskets

Make a tax-deductible donation to a Burning Man-bound art project!

Now, it is possible! Through BRAF’s new Fiscal Sponsorship program, you can make a tax-deductible donation to one of many superb projects bound for the playa this year.

As you know, BRAF has been funding off-playa projects since 2001. As the original offspring non-profit organization of the Burning Man event, BRAF has strived to support our greater community’s artists in every way possible. However, it wasn’t until recent changes to Burning Man’s organizational structure that we could offer fiscal sponsorship to playa-bound projects.

These outstanding projects need your support. Make a donation to Michael Christian’s or Charlie Smith’s latest works, or to David Best’s Temple, or one of the many other wondrous projects, including a massive video projection wall, a 20 foot kinetic model of the universe, a flaming metal praying mantis, and so many other inspiring works!

Just a few of the BRAF fiscally sponsored projects going to Burning Man in 2014.

Artist Updates

Goodbye, Future’s Past!

We’re so sad to see the deinstall of Kate Raudenbush’s Future’s Past after its two-year stay in Hayes Valley in San Francisco! However, we’re thrilled that it was so welcomed and loved by the local residents, and that its stay was extended for so long! What was meant to be a one-year exhibition was extended to two. Thanks to the Hayes Valley Arts Coalition, Kate’s crew of tireless workers, all the project’s donors and supporters, and, of course, to Kate Raudenbush for her inspiring work!

Hayes Valley says goodbye to Kate Raudenbush’s Future’s Past

Soma at Pier 14

The Flaming Lotus Girls’ very cool and smart Soma is being installed at Pier 14 as we write! If you’re in downtown San Francisco this week, pop on down to see the FLG team in action and lend them your enthusiasm and support.

Originally displayed at Burning Man in 2009, Soma is an interactive sculptural installation depicting two communicating neurons connected by an axon bridge. At its new home on Pier 14, the public can interact with Soma’s computer-controlled LED lights by pushing buttons, activating the ‘trans-synaptic action potential simulation,’ resulting in an output capable of 16 million possible colors!

On August 1, we’ll gather in celebration at the project’s Opening Reception. Don’t miss this party! Hear the artists speak and stick around for the lighting ceremony. You have to see Soma’s new lighting effects!

A Cerebral Celebration: In Honor of Flaming Lotus Girls’ Soma

Pier 14
San Francisco, CA
Friday, August 1, 2014
5:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Free!

The Flaming Lotus Girls crew installing SOMA at Pier 14 in San Francisco, CA.

Goodbye, Defenestration!

Defenestration, fiscally sponsored by BRAF in 2010, by Brian Goggin, transformed a San Francisco building into a renowned art site in 1997, and for seventeen years it remained. This multi-disciplinary sculptural mural displayed seemingly animated furniture; tables, chairs, lamps, grandfather clocks, a refrigerator, and couches, their bodies bent like centipedes, fastened to the walls and window-sills, their insect-like legs seeming to grasp the surfaces. Against society’s expectations, these everyday objects flood out of windows like escapees, out onto available ledges, up and down the walls, onto the fire escapes and off the roof.

Defenestration was created by Brian Goggin with the help of over 100 volunteers, and individual works were restored four years ago with generous community support, including artwork donated by Banksy.

Defenestration by Brian Goggin.

Although we must say farewell to this beloved work of public art, we can take home a piece of San Francisco history. Contact Varnish Fine Art Gallery and purchase one of the individual works from the Defenestration collection.

Varnish Fine Art
16 Jessie Street, #C120
San Francisco, CA 94105
(415) 433-4400

The landmark SF installation ended June 3rd, but the exhibition continues online through July 31st.

Grantee Updates

2013 Grantee – Hung Viet Tran

2013 BRAF Grantee Hung Viet Tran, artist of (Forever Our Change. Dream Your Mind) reports from Vietnam on a new initiative:

“Livinwondr is transformative public art celebrating human connectivity in time and space, connecting global citizens with each other to create an innovative, large-scale interactive, public sculpture that has the ability to alter and re-configure itself into multiple structures. A key feature of the sculpture is its potential to transform and expand as more people participate in its creation. Through crowd sourcing, Livinwondr engages the public to create art and stories, builds transformative art for worldwide exhibitions, and presents new interactive experiences. Livinwondr is 21st century art arising out of digital technology, mass data, social networking, transmedia, globalization, and international cultural activities. The very first project will be exhibited in the front courtyard of the History Museum of Ho Chi Minh City in conjunction with workshops, talks, and a gallery exhibition.”

Hung Viet Tran’s Livinwondr

For more information and to participate, visit:

www.facebook.com/livinwondr or www.livinwondr.com

2010 Grantees – Soundwave

Since their grant in 2010, for the Soundwave project Illuminated Forest, these grantees have gone on to produce the very successful annual Soundwave festival in San Francisco. Soundwave features a ton of interactive and experimental sound and visual works and is going on now! This year, Soundwave’s overarching theme is “water.”

Events include hikes in the Marin Headlands to site-specific performances, listening events at Ocean Beach, artist talks, and performances at venues like the Exporatorium and Intersection for the Arts.

Read about all these wonderful events and buy tickets at www.soundwavesf.com/6/

 2014 Grantee – The Cabinet of Curiosity Project

Artist Mai Thomas reports that the Cabinet is coming along nicely and the public feedback has been great! See pictures of this work in progress, here. Nicely, indeed!

2014 Grantee Cabinet of Curiosity by Mai Thomas.

We can’t wait to see where this grantee project goes next. Read about past events connected to the project at thecabinetofcuriosityproject.blogspot.com.

2014 Grantee – Compression Sesquicentennial Peregrinations

Marvelous things are happening in Nevada and Erika Wesnousky tells us about it…

“Lovelock loved their Compression festival! One HOT summer evening the fire toys started popping. Lovelock artists stepped up beside seasoned Burners for their event, giving it unique and intriguing flavor. The same thing happened in Fernley the next weekend, where the rodeo grandstands were packed fuller than they’ve ever been, even for the rodeo!  Both communities hope to replicate festivals next year, meaning that the goal of the BRAF project (to offer the successful template for an annual community-driven arts festival) has been achieved.

Controlled Burn dancers and flame effects at Fernley Rodeo Grounds (photo by Bill Kositzky) for Compression Art & Fire 2014 Fernley Multi-Cultural Festival.

“An Austin Compression event in conjunction with the International Landsailing World Championships will be held on another remote Nevada playa, Smith Creek Dry Lake, on July 12. Regional Burners, this has been the most challenging because NO local artists have stepped forward. If you care to collaborate, display, or attend, JUMP UP!  The land yachts (“blocarts!”) race all week, and conditions are playa self-reliance, leave no trace in a beautiful place.”

Ain’t nothin’ better than a cowboy doing fire for Fernley. Justin Cunningham (local event lead) spinning fire with Controlled Burn at Compression Art & Fire 2014 Fernley Multi-Cultural Festival (photo by Jerry Mansker).

“Reno Compression Art & Fire is on July 26. Reno is proud to hold this event in the heart of downtown, with art cars on the main streets and the Fire Garden on iconic Virginia Street Bridge. Performances (alternative, tribal, youth and fire dance) run from 5:00 p.m. – 11:00 p.m. on the main stage at Reno City Plaza on the doorstep of City Hall. Held for the 7th year as part of the month-long Artown festival, Reno Compression draws crowds to this free family-friendly celebration of the culture of Burning Man. Come and see Controlled Burn’s new flame effects, great works of propane art in the Fire Garden, playa art displays, and beautiful costumed Burners sharing a slice of their playa lives. Volunteers and donations are always welcome, well loved, and pleasantly schwagged!  There is still room in the Playa Art & Theme Camp area if you’d like to share your creativity.”

Mark your calendars! Compression Art & Fire Events in Austin and Reno, Nevada:

• Austin:  July 12, 2014, 7:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m. at Smith Creek Dry Lake 20 miles outside Austin, Nevada (www.nalsa.org/Worlds2014Pages/news.html)
• Reno:  July 26, 2014, 5:00 p.m. – 11:00 p.m. at Reno City Plaza (First and Virginia Streets), Reno, Nevada (www.compression.controlledburnreno.com)

2014 Grantee – Rivers of Wing (ROW)

This new grantee is ramping up! Read on and get involved. This from the artists:

“River of Wings (ROW) is a community-based, temporary public art installation conceived by Los Angeles Burners Marcelle Gravel and David Hoffmann, consisting of a flock of 60 avian inspired kinetic mobile sculptures that will be hung along the bank of the Los Angeles River. Each sculpture will be personalized and re-imagined by local schools, community groups, and local artists. The installation will take flight on September 13, 2014 as part of the Frogtown Art Walk along the bike path in Elysian Park, just north of Downtown Los Angeles. The flock will then migrate to other venues around Los Angeles in the year following. The project is produced by LaMachineArt with initial funding from the Black Rock Arts Foundation, but it is powered by the relentless energy, creativity, and support of our local artists, students and of course members of the Burning Man community.”

2014 Grantee, River of Wings

“We would love to have some of our inspired artist burners in Los Angeles to reinvent their own bird and become part of the flock. If you are interested please contact us.   RiverofWings @gmail.com  (RiverofWings @gmail.com)  “

“We are also looking for a metal shop to build the remaining perches that we need to complete the installation.”

For more information on the project please visit www.riverofwings.com or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/RiverOfWings

2011 Grantee – Before I Die… by Candy Chang

Over the past three months, 38 walls have been created in 18 countries! Thanks to passionate people around the world, 510 Before I Die… walls have been created in 70 countries and stenciled in 34 languages. Candy Chang sends a big thank you to Tartu, Kralendijk, and Tkibuli for bringing Before I Die... to Estonia, Bonaire, and Georgia for the first time. Candy writes, “Together, we’re creating public spaces to restore perspective and reflect on our lives with the people around us.”

Interested in making a wall? Visit beforeidie.cc/site/build-your-own-before-i-die-wall/.

And for more information, visit www.facebook.com/BeforeIDieWall, instagram.com/beforeidiewall, beforeidie.cc, or twitter.com/beforeidiewall.

2011 BRAF Grantee project, Before I Die…

2009 Grantee — Cardboardia

Cardboardia is still cooking! Since their 2009 BRAF grant, they’ve gone on to produce over three hundred events in over thirty cities! Wow.

Recently they hosted a Street Performance Laboratory in Moscow.  See it at vimeo.com/92821507. The next European project will be a workshop and parade in Amersfoort in the Netherlands. For a full accounting of all their wonderful activities take a look at www.facebook.com/cardboardia, twitter.com/cardboardia, or www.cardboardia.info.

2009 Grantees, Cardboardia

2007 Grantee – Burning Baskets

Mavis Muller was selected to receive a 2014 Artist Fellowship Award from the esteemed Rasmuson Foundation in Anchorage, Alaska. This highly competitive award of $18,000 is a gift to help her continue to pursue her artistic goals. Mavis began her Burning Basket project of community interactive, impermanent art in 2004, and has facilitated a total of 28 enactments. Mavis was also a lead artist for the CORE effigy representing Source Maui at Burning Man in 2013. This is Mavis’ third award from the Rasmuson Foundation.

2007 Grantee, Burning Baskets. Mavis Muller, newly selected Fellow of the Rasmuson Foundation, stands next to one of her large basket sculptures of intricately woven natural plant materials. The basket will ultimately be released through fire.

Mavis is also seeking an assistant with skills in photography, graphic design, writing, publication, and is offering an artist-in-residency that includes rustic lodging at her amazing Cranehaven Studio of Art & Nature on the shores of Kachemak Bay, overlooking the Kenai mountains & glaciers. For more information contact her at mavis @mavismullerart.com.

Follow Mavis at www.mavismullerart.com and www.facebook.com/BurningBasketProject

We’ve just learned that the KQED team that produced a segment about the impact of Burning Man Art off of the Playa has won two awards for their work! On Saturday, June 14th, the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences awarded the piece a “Northern California Emmy Award” and on May 31st, the San Francisco Peninsula Press Club awarded a “Greater Bay Area Journalism Award“.

Our sincere congratulations go to Executive Producer Joanne Elgart Jennings, Producer Lori Halloran, Reporter Thuy Vu, and the rest of the crew! Here they are accepting their Emmys:

In case you haven’t seen it, here’s their piece, winner of an Emmy for “Best Arts/Entertainment Feature/Segment” and a Greater Bay Area Journalism Award for “Best Feature Story of a Light Nature:”

Yay! We won an #Emmy for #burningman beyond the playa @Thuy @halloranlori @kqed @BRAF pic.twitter.com/BnkYwY0G74

— JoanneElgartJennings (@JoJenningsNews) June 15, 2014

• Fiscal Sponsorship for Burning Man Honorarium art
• Sunset Piano Opus 3 next events
• Grantee Update
  • Why Can’t the First Part of the Second Party be the Second Part of the First Party?
  • Compression Sesquicentennial Peregrinations
  • Towards the Green Surface
  • River of Wings
  • Hospitality House
  • The Pool
  • Global Lives
  • Soundwave

Fiscal Sponsorship for Burning Man Honorarium art

As announced in our last newsletter, the Black Rock Arts Foundation is thrilled to be in the fortunate position of being able to fiscally sponsor projects bound for this year’s Burning Man event. When BRAF was founded, it was the art at Burning Man that set our standard for participatory, community-driven public art. With this high standard in mind, we established our grants and civic arts programs.

Now, with the recent changes to Burning Man’s organizational structure, BRAF is able to directly lend our support to on-playa art activities. We offered Fiscal Sponsorship to all honorarium art projects that were not fully funded by their honoraria, and thirteen projects signed up. Burning Man participants can now make tax deductible donations to these projects though BRAF. We hope that this creates new fundraising opportunities for these worthy projects.

Now you can receive a tax deduction for donating to these exemplary projects, including this year’s Temple. Browse a complete list of projects, and donate what you can to the projects that call to you. Help these artists realize their dreams of bringing their art to Burning Man!

Artist David Best’s rendering of the Temple of Grace

Sunset Piano Opus 3: Next Events!

Mauro Ffortissimo’s inaugural Sunset Piano Opus 3 event was delightful! Thank you to Central Market Microhood and the Bold Italic for co-producing this first event!

The Sunset Piano Opus 3 project temporarily places pianos in public places, inviting both local musicians and the general public to play us all a tune. The results are a harmonious array of dramatic, playful, moving and lively melodies!

Don’t miss the next Sunset Opus 3 events:

Friday, June 13, 2014
5:00-8:00 pm
Happening as part of Central Market NOW #PhotoFriday
6th and Market
San Francisco, California

Thursday, June 19, 2014
4:00-8:00 pm
Happening concurrently with YBCA’s ConVerge event, featuring Paz de la Calzada’s Solstice Labyrinth Walk
Yerba Buena Center for the Arts
San Francisco, California

ALSO on Thursday, June 19, 2014
Happening along side Side Walks and Neighbors Photography Exhibit Reception
SF Museum at the Mint
88 5th street
San Francisco, California

Saturday, June 21, 2014
12:00 – 5:00 pm
Music Day
Civic Center Bart Station
San Francisco, California

All events are free!

Read more about this wonderful new BRAF collaboration.

Read about the entire Sunset Piano project at www.sunsetpiano.com and about the documentary film by Dean Mermell on the project at twelvepianos.com.

Join a Facebook group and follow the entire project at www.facebook.com/groups/sunsetpiano.

See a wonderful gallery of the previous projects at twelvepianos.com/gallery

A spontaneous piano player at a Sunset Piano Opus 3 event.

Grantee Updates

2014 Grantee – Why Can’t the First Part of the Second Party be the Second Part of the First Party?

Only two days left to see this cool exhibition!

Studies in both psychology and engineering, artist Bernie Lubell’s large scale, whimsical wood machines challenge participants to become actors in a theater of their own imagining. Bernie Lubell’s new large-scale interactive wood installation monitors San Francisco’s Intersection for the Arts’ building systems. Adamantly low-tech, consisting of a complex system of gears, cranks, wheels, and pulleys that relies entirely on participant engagement to come to life, the piece offers an experience much more than purely visual – it also engages touch, hearing, movement, teamwork, and collaboration.

For more information about the artist, visit www.bernielubell.com.

Bring a friend and take part in this interactive experience!

Ongoing exhibition
April 9 – June 7, 2014
Gallery Hours: Tuesdays – Saturdays, 12–6pm
925 Mission Street
San Francisco, California 94103
Free!

For more information about the exhibit, visit theintersection.org/2014/02/bernielubell

A previous piece by 2014 Grantee, Bernie Lubell.

2014 Grantee – Compression Sesquicentennial Peregrinations

Lovelock will be a happier place on June 20 thanks to BRAF and Nevada Burners, who will roll into town to create a “Compression Sesquicentennial Peregrination” with the Nevada State Firefighters Association (NSFA.) NSFA is holding their annual fire games (part of the association conference) while Controlled Burn of Reno and Compression participants create a community arts festival. Many Lovelockians have come forward to participate, volunteer, and activate! Bike decorating and rodeo, puppetry, fire arts, art cars and alternative performances offer enriching experiences to complement local expression.

On June 28, Compression volunteers will do the same for Fernley, where the Burning Man BIg Art for Small Towns project is also being built. Local and regional Compressionistas will be at Out-of-Town Park as part of the Fernley Multi-Cultural Festival.  There will be aerialists, fire arts, Fernley gunfighters, dancers, vendors.

The festivals are free and open to the public. Visit the Compression’s Facebook page for information, locations, times and updates.

To learn about Compression and what goes into creating the regional festivals, watch The Work of Art: Artown. The segment featuring Compression is 61 minutes in, but the documentary showcases much of Reno’s art and Burner scene (although not all are “confessed Burners”).

To get involved, contact Erika at erika @controlledburnreno.com  (erika @controlledburnreno.com)  .

2014 Grantee, Compression.

2014 Grantee – Towards the Green Surface

Congratulations to the 2014 Grantees, Towards the Green Surface who just celebrated their Opening day in Caracas!

Last May 18th 2014, Towards the Green Surface “Hacia el Plano Verde” opened the doors to a massive crowd of artists, creatives, families and art lovers. As the public entered the Centro de Artes Integradas and made their way up the hill from the parking lot, they were surrounded by art everywhere they looked! They were then welcomed by the high school students who offered hourly guided tours and explained the different events happening throughout the day. The activities started off with a presentation by the theater group, Grupo Bagazos, in honor of Gabriel Garcia Marquez, activating the bleachers by Carlos Cruz Diez (Inducción cromática doble frecuencia Jardines de la Colina Creativa, 1993), followed by performances by Carlos Salazar Lermont and Erika Ordos, and the creation of an interactive sculpture with Gregorio Siem Velarde. The art-filled day was finally closed with a hip-hop concert by artist Bosta’s Brain.

The exhibition will be on view at the gardens, hallways and transit spaces until December 2014 at:

Centro de Artes Integradas
Caracas, Venezuela
Hours: Monday-Saturday, 9:00am-5:00pm.

An activitiy at 2014 Grantee Towards the Green Surface

2014 Grantee – River of Wings

Check out the first test flight for River of Wings!

2014 Grantee – Hospitality House

We have a few announcements from the Community Arts Program:

Nature’s Way Art Exhibition
Hospitality House’s Community Arts Program (funded in part by the Black Rock Arts Foundation)

Nature has inspired art since the beginning of civilization. Hospitality House’s Community Arts Program artists exhibit their work inspired by nature at this group show running from May 23 – June 20th. You’re invited to a special Artist Reception!

Artist Reception
Friday, June 13, 2014
5:00-7:00 pm
The Community Arts Program
1009 Market Street at Sixth Street.
San Francisco, Calinfornia

In addition to the exhibition, enjoy our art market where you can meet artists working at the Community Arts Program and purchase fine art, crafts, and other items directly.

This event is free and open to the public, with 100% of the proceeds from the sale of art going directly to artists creating the work.

The Nature’s Way Artist Reception coincides with other neighborhood activities as part of Central Market NOW, a monthly art event in Central Market held on the second Friday of the month. Learn more at the project’s facebook page.

2014 Grantee Hospitality House’s Nature’s Way exhibition.

Run with Ronnie

Community artist in SF Marathon!

Ronnie Goodman is a self-taught homeless artist and runner living in San Francisco. On July 27th he will run the Second Half of The San Francisco Marathon to raise funds and awareness for Hospitality House and their ongoing efforts in the city. Hospitality House’s mission is to build community strength by advocating policies and rendering services which foster self-sufficiency and cultural enrichment to make the heart of San Francisco a better place for us all. One example of their mission in action is the Community Arts Program (CAP), which provides a free-of-charge art studio, art guidance and supplies to community artists in San Francisco who otherwise wouldn’t have the means to create art. CAP is funded in part by the Black Rock Arts Foundation.

Ronnie has been involved with the Community Arts Program for over ten years and will be creating an original piece of art to be raffled off in support of the Hospitality House and CAP. Our goal is to raise $25,000. With these important funds, Hospitality House could provide our community with peer-led programs, buy art supplies for hundreds of artists, and help improve the well being of San Francisco through many other services. For more information and to make a donation, visit here.

2012 Grantee – Jen Lewin’s The Pool

The Pool is now in Syndey, Australia, as part of the annual Vivid Festival. Millions are expected to visit this popular festival, and The Pool is just one of the many light-art highlights. Read more and see some beautiful photos (The Pool is the tenth image in the slideshow.)

2007 Grantee – Global Lives

Seeing Asia {Global Wednesday}: Free Happy Hour, Music and Panel Discussion
Wednesday, June 25th, 2014
5:00-9:00 pm
Folsom Street Foundry
1425 Folsom Street
San Francisco, California 94103

How do we see Asia? Join Global Lives for an exploration of the ways in which film and media shape our understanding of Asia and Asian culture, both in the US and globally. A panel will be presented against the backdrop of a Global Lives Project 12-screen video installation featuring video of daily life in Kazakhstan, Japan, China, India, Indonesia, Lebanon, South Korea, Vietnam, Nepal and Turkey. Complete the experience with pop-up Asian cuisine for dinner, cash bar and live music! Hosted by the Global Lives Project and the Asia Society Northern California Young Professional Group.

2007 Grantee Global Lives at Folsom Street Foundry

more info at globallives.org/seeingasia

2010 Grantees – Soundwave

These grantees have gone on to produce amazing events every year. Join them for their sixth summer biennial event!

Soundwave ((6)) Biennial submerges Bay Area in Water

Tickets have just gone on sale for the largest, daring Bay Area sound-based art festival’s sixth summer biennial, featuring a 3 month eclectic program of performances, talks, exhibits, and immersive environments that inspire audiences with intimate and interactive experiences from across the sonic spectrum.

Water is this year’s theme exploring the mysteries of the sonic connections we share with what is arguably our most important and threatened natural resource: water. Through that prismatic lens, participating artists investigate provocative ideas about our ecologies and its affect on our lives, explore new and old narratives, and fully express water properties and phenomena.

Soundwave showers the audience with a mix of world premieres and festival-specific commissions ranging from otherworldly multi-media exhibition ‘Water World’ at Alter Space Gallery; floating concerts on the ‘AudioBoat’, a touring ferry boat along SF’s waterfront and The Bay Lights; modernist movements at the de Young Museum; aquatic performances and exhibits at SOMArts, Intersection for the Arts and the Center for New Music; outdoor experiential adventures at Ocean Beach, Battery Townsley in the Marin Headlands and Sausal Creek in Oakland; and a two-day indoor closing symposium in partnership with the California College of the Arts. Artist works and explorations include hydroprinting, flooded memories, water cymatics, ice instrumentations, aquaphobia folklore and bioluminescent phytoplankton.

Soundwave ((6)) Water Biennial
Thursday July 10 – Sunday September 28, 2014
Held at multiple locations, including: Cal Academy of Sciences, Intersection for the Arts, SOMArts, Alter Space, De Young Museum, 3 Fish Studios/Ocean Beach, Battery Townsley in the Headlands, The Exploratorium, Ferry boats, California College of the Arts and Sausal Creek in Oakland.

100 plus artists, 40 works and performances and 20 events.
9 free events. 11 ticketed events $9-45.

More info about festival, updates and tickets:
soundwavesf.com/6
facebook.com/SoundwaveFest
twitter.com/med1ate

Soundwave ((6)) Water festival preview trailer:

Watch performances from previous Soundwave festivals: at www.youtube.com/user/med1ator

• Sunset Piano Opus 3 at the Central Market Microhood
• Fiscal Sponsorship for Burning Man Honorarium art
• Artist Update
  • Bryan Tedrick
  • Five Ton Crane
• Grantee Update
  • Compression Sesquicentennial Peregrinations
  • Why Can’t the First Part of the Second Party be the Second Part of the First Party?
  • The Pool by Jen Lewin
  • Burning Baskets by Mavis Muller

Sunset Piano Opus 3 at the Central Market Microhood

Join us for the first BRAF-supported happening of Sunset Piano Opus 3 by artist Mauro ffortissimo! Come hear talented local musicians perform, or grab the opportunity to play your own melodies on one of the pianos!

The project will be a highlight of this month’s Central Market Microhood event, produced in collaboration with the Bold Italic. This free event features an evening of live performances, great deals from local merchants and unexpected surprises between 6th Street and 8th Street. Come celebrate the Central Market neighborhood’s many arts organizations, awesome shops and purveyors of delicious coffee, food and drinks.

On Thursday May 15, this stretch of Market will be transformed with music, dance and interactive events.

Sunset Piano Opus 3 at the Central Market Microhood
Thursday, May 15, 2014
6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Market Street, between 6th and 8th Streets.
San Francisco, CA 94103
Free!

Central Market NOW host events every second Friday that activate, promote and celebrate the local arts and businesses in Central Market.

Read more about this wonderful new BRAF collaboration.

Read about the entire Sunset Piano project at www.sunsetpiano.com and about the documentary film by Dean Mermell on the project atwww.twelvepianos.com.

Join a Facebook group and follow the entire project atwww.facebook.com/groups/sunsetpiano.

See a wonderful gallery of the previous projects at twelvepianos.com/gallery

Fiscal Sponsorship for Burning Man Honorarium art

Artists creating work for Burning Man face many challenges. They must find a way to raise the money needed to fund their project on top of the figuring out how to actualize their vision in a way that can survive the harsh conditions of the Black Rock Desert, recruiting and supporting a large crew, and getting a potentially massive and elaborate structure, once built, to the playa. For first-time Burning Man artists and veterans alike, these challenges often make for a very stressful, if rewarding, summer.

As one small way to help make their dream a reality, BRAF is launching a pilot program to provide fiscal sponsorship to artists bringing work to the playa. This will allow artists who sign up to receive tax-deductible contributions and potentially open up other sources of funding, hopefully easing the burden of fundraising.

Burning Man art engages, creates, and interacts with community in ways that are a perfect fit for BRAF’s mission and values. With recent changes to Burning Man’s organizational structure, BRAF is able to directly lend our support to on-playa art activities. This is a very exciting moment!

For this first year of the program, BRAF is offering sponsorship to artists already receiving an honorarium from Burning Man that only partially funds the piece. This will allow us to work in close collaboration with the Burning Man Art Department to ensure that tax-deductible funds are used appropriately, so that you can make such a donation with confidence.

Artists are currently signing up for the program and we we are very excited to announce the art projects that we will be supporting in our next newsletter, as well as to begin providing a way to make a tax-deductible contribution to these projects. Stay tuned!

Artist Updates

Ever wonder what happens to all your favorite Burning Man art projects after the event? Well, sometimes they sit in warehouses, waiting for the funding to help them see the light of day again, which is why your donations to BRAF are so important.

But sometimes these wonderful works of art have a happy ending. Here are two stories of works that were purchased by certain individual and corporate art lovers who clearly have excellent taste!

However, this is not the norm. We don’t have exact statistics, but the number of projects that are purchased or installed publicly by BRAF are a fraction of those that need our support. You can help by making a donation to BRAF so we can share these works with the rest of the world. Thank you, dear BRAF and public art supporters!

Bryan Tedrick – Artist Update

Bryan Tedrick, artist of BRAF-funded project Portal of Evolution in Reno, NV, reports that his piece Coyote, shown at Black Rock City in 2013, has been sold to Ken and Diane Wilson of Wilson Wineries in Sonoma County. He invites all to come visit Coyote at 1960 Dry Creek Road in Healdsburg, CA.

Coyote by Bryan Tedrick at Burning Man. Photo by Aaron Muszalski.

Five Ton Crane – Artist Update

Those of you who miss the unforgettable Streampunk Tree House will be thrilled to see footage of the piece in its new home. Watch HGTV’s piece on the artwork (with a nice Five Ton Crane mention and a few cameos during the installation.) The Steampunk Tree House was one of Five Ton Crane’s first large-scale works, and have since, of course, gone on to build the BRAF-funded project The Raygun Gothic Rocketship and other incredible endeavors.

‘Steampunk Treehouse’ photo by Waldemar Horwatt.

Grantee Updates

2014 Grantee – Compression Sesquicentennial Peregrinations

Controlled Burn is ricocheting around Northern Nevada, bringing together Burners, community activists and artists to create Compression events with a diverse flavor. If you’re interested in learning more, Reno’s KNPB Channel 5 will air a piece called “The Work of Artown” on May 12, featuring footage of Compression 2013.

Nevada residents and visitors will have four chances to join in the fiery fun in Nevada! In Lovelock, on June 20, Compression collaborates with the Nevada State Firefighter’s Association for their Annual Conference. In conjunction with their Multicultural Festival, Compression hosts events in Fernley on June 28. On July 12, an event will be held on Smith Creek Playa (a dry lake bed near Austin, NV) as part of the International Land Sailing World Championships. And finally, in downtown Reno, the Compression Art and Fire event will be held on July 26 as part of Reno’s Artown arts festival.

There is still space at each event for artists, performance troupes (particularly youth and alternative groups), art cars, fire garden sculptures, theme camps and playa projects.  Volunteers are always and forever loved, appreciated, and needed.

Visit the Compression’s Facebook page for information, locations, times and updates.

To get involved, contact Erika at erika @controlledburnreno.com  (erika @controlledburnreno.com)  .

2014 Grantee, Compression.

2014 Grantee – Why Can’t the First Part of the Second Party be the Second Part of the First Party?

Bernie Lubell’s new large-scale interactive wood installation monitors San Francisco’s Intersection for the Arts’ building systems. The installation uses wooden computers to slowly get nothing to happen. Adamantly low-tech, consisting of a complex system of gears, cranks, wheels, and pulleys that relies entirely on participant engagement to come to life, the piece offers an experience is much more than purely visual – it also engages touch, hearing, movement, teamwork, and collaboration. As participants pedal, crank, and play together on the sculptural installation, they become active partners in the construction and understanding of the work, and an essential component of a complex system that participants can see activated as a direct result of their movements.

For more information about the artist, visit www.bernielubell.com.

Bring a friend and take part in this interactive experience!

Ongoing exhibition
April 9 – June 7, 2014
Gallery Hours: Tuesdays – Saturdays, 12–6pm
925 Mission Street
San Francisco, California 94103
Free!

For more information about the exhibit, visit theintersection.org/2014/02/bernielubell

A previous piece by 2014 Grantee, Bernie Lubell.

2012 Grantee – The Pool

Jen Lewin’s new 2014 version of The Pool just returned from an exhibit in Singapore where it received an amazing response, including front-page coverage and personal tweets from the prime minister! It will next be traveling to Vivid Light festival in Sydney opening May 23 through June 9, then returning to the U.S. and heading to Burning Man as part of an honorarium to create a Super Pool.

For more information on Jen Lewin’s art visit www.jenlewinstudio.com

2012 Grantee, The Pool.

2007 Grantee – Mavis Muller

Mavis Muller, who always reminds us “life is not a support system for art, it’s the other way around,” told us about the 27^th enactment in the Burning Basket series, which took place in the Mississippi River Delta at the Gulf of Mexico. Using locally gathered materials, she created a woven sculpture of a fractured heart symbolizing the collective fractures left in the wake of devastating oil spills.

The piece, titled Life Support – The Basket of Sustenance & Solidarity, was first featured at an environmental art conference held in conjunction with World Water Day and 25th memoriam of Alaska’s massive oil spill.

It then moved on to be featured at Louisiana’s State Capitol in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, where legislators, lobbyists, activists, and visitors of all ages were invited to tie a colored ribbon of solidarity for the protection and restoration of the waters, cultures, fisheries, lives and livelihoods injured by traumatic oil spills in Alaska and the Gulf of Mexico.

The basket sculpture was transported to the heart of the bayou where it continued to gather ribbons of solidarity at the T-Bois Blues festival. Life Support was then ignited and burned, releasing and dispersing positive intentions in the sparks and flames.

Follow Mavis at www.mavismullerart.com and www.facebook.com/BurningBasketProject

“Art can be a powerful way to connect communities that are separated by distance, disparate and incomparable, but share the heartbreak of loss due to traumatic oil spills. We can creatively merge our communities as we continue to heal and to shape our future. Imagination can create reality.”

– Mavis Muller

Life Support by 2007 Grantee, Mavis Muller.

2004 Grantee – Reverend Billy & The Church of Stop Shopping Choir

Reverend Billy on his righteous struggle in defense of the honeybee…

Friends!

We’re swarming at Times Square and Harvard University and Monsanto – a corporation that drenches the land with bee-killing pesticides and GMO crops. We returned from Cambridge, where we confronted designers of the Robobee, the robot slated to replace the Honey Bee as the real bee slides into extinction.

The Robobee lab at Harvard’s School of Engineering and Applied Science (SEAS) was exorcised by me and the Stop Shopping Choir, dressed as queen bees and singing a song in honor of the threatened Honey Bee. The Robobee would replace the Honey Bee with the capacity for artificial pollination. It is likely that the drone-makers (DARPA) at the Pentagon are also looking to use the science developed in this lab. (The lead scientist at the Micro-Robotics Lab is a DARPA fellow.)

On Sunday, May 4, we opened The HoneyBeeLujah Show at Joe’s Pub at the Public Theater in New York City. Our “Fabulous Saint” this first Sunday was beekeeper Joseph McElroy, an urban farmer from the Bronx.

Directed by Savitri D., with Music Director Nehemiah Luckett, the performances feature the 40-member Stop Shopping Choir, fronted by yours truly, and accompanied by the five-piece Not Buying It Band. We have eight consecutive shows on Sundays at 2pm – with activist events during the week.

Tickets are $15 and can be purchased at www.joespub.com or 212.967.7555.  Discounts are available, too, if you contact us Revbilly @revbilly.com.

Will you join us? Will you shout out to your friends and family in New York? Spread the good word on your electronic networks on the web. RSVP on Facebook for The HoneyBeeLujah! Show. We’d also be honored if you followed and retweeted us @RevBillyTalen.

– Reverend Billy

Watch a clip of Reverend Billy’s most recent exorcism. Earthalujah!

• Announcing BRAF’s 2014 new grantees!
• Artist Updates
  • Sean Orlando & David Shulman
  • Peter Hudson
• Grantee Updates
  • Why Can’t the First Part of the Second Party be the Second Part of the First Party? Opening Reception this Friday!
  • The Pool
  • The Music Box
  • Before I Die…

Here they are! Announcing BRAF’s 2014 new grantees!

Congratulations to our 2014 Grantees! This year, the Black Rock Arts Foundation Grants Committee awarded more money than ever, $70,000, to more projects than ever before (15 in total)!

Here’s just a glimpse at this projects, highlighting their diversity, ingenuity, and community benefit:

• Interactive L.E.D. murals in Bombay and Dharamasala, India
• Mini art museums made of shipping containers in Oxford, Mississippi
• A performance/installation illustrating the waveforms of its visitors’ pulses in Barcelona, Spain
• A spirited and entertaining free fire art festival in Reno, Nevada
• A thriving, free, and accessible art studio for low-income and homeless artists in San Francisco, California
• A roaming cabinet of curiosities in Wales, United Kingdom
• An impressive program of visual, installation, and performance art in Caracas, Venezuela
• A garden of oversized, glowing flowers, each made from intricately folded plastic, which respond to visitors with motion and sound in San Francisco, California
• … and more. Read on for complete descriptions of all 15 projects!

We can’t wait to see how these projects evolve! Stay tuned for updates here on our newsletter, or by following us on Facebook.

Your donations directly support these projects. Thanks to all who made donations to our Grants to Artists program last year, and please consider supporting future grantees with a donation today!

Also, check out our Grantee Updates section, below, for details about one of our new grantee project’s debut next week as well as updates about several past grantees.

Congratulations 2014 Grantees, and welcome to the BRAF family of artists!

2014 Grantee project, Urban Anointments

Artist Update: Something fishy from David Shulman and Sean Orlando in the Pacific Northwest…

Sean Orlando and David Shulman have been selected to design and create a large-scale permanent “Gateway” installation in Tacoma, Washington. On March 10, 2014, the SoundTransit Art Advisory Council and the Tacoma Arts Commission unanimously approved their concept for Gertie’s Ghost. Gertie’s Ghost is a large-scale, monumental steel sculpture inspired by the mythical 600-pound octopus that theoretically lives in the submerged ruins of the Tacoma Narrows Bridge.

Sean Orlando and David Shulman’s Gertie’s Ghost (artists’ rendering)

Eight octopus tentacles will emerge out of the ground, an abstract representation of the “Ghost of Galloping Gertie” climbing straight out of the City’s history and into the future. This massive sculpture in eight segments will span over 100 feet long, 50 feet wide, and 20 feet tall, and is scheduled to be installed in the spring of 2015.

For more information visit: www.engineeredartworks.com/public-art

Artist Update: Peter Hudson – Save the Date!

Creator of the beloved BRAF 2008 Civic Arts project Homouroboros, artist Peter Hudson shares his latest amazing zoetropes with the public! We are happy to report that Peter Hudson and crew are working to complete Eternal Return, the most dynamic stroboscopic zoetrope yet.

To kick off the final build, Peter and his crew invite you to join them for an event that they’re calling “Hudzo’s Spin.” They will be exhibiting and spinning past zoetrope favorites for two nights in Peter’s studio on Treasure Island. The pieces will be set up to spin and Peter will give a presentation about his artistic inspiration. Come celebrate the countdown to completion of Eternal Return and join the crew for appetizers, cocktails, big art, and a great time!

Hudzo’s Spin
May, 15th-17th
Peter Hudson’s Studio
Treasure Island
San Francisco, California
For updates and ticket sales find the event on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/eternalreturnzoetrope

Additionally, artist Peter Hudson and crew are looking for volunteers to assist with Eternal Return. There’s plenty to do and the crew is a lot of fun! For more information please email our volunteer coordinator: maggiemonroesf@gmail.com

Charon, BRAF-funded artist Peter Hudson’s 2013 Burning Man project.

BRAF Grantee Updates

BRAF 2014 Grantee – Why Can’t the First Part of the Second Party be the Second Part of the First Party?

Intersection for the Arts presents Why Can’t the First Part of the Second Party be the Second Part of the First Party?, a new, large-scale, interactive wood installation by San Francisco-based Guggenheim Artist Fellow Bernie Lubell.

Detail of a site-specific sculpture by Bernie Lubell

Lubell’s works are complex systems of wooden gears, cranks, wheels, and rubber pulleys. They rely entirely on participant engagement to come to life. The experience engages touch, hearing, movement, teamwork, and collaboration. As participants pedal, crank, and play together on the sculptural installation, they become active partners in the construction and understanding of the work, and an essential component of a complex system that participants can see activated as a direct result of their movements.

Bring a friend and take part in this interactive experience!

Opening Reception
Wednesday, April 9, 2014, 6-9pm
Ongoing exhibition
April 9 – June 7, 2014
Gallery Hours: Tuesdays – Saturdays, 12–6pm
925 Mission Street
San Francisco, California 94103
Free!

BRAF 2012 Grantee – The Pool

Jen Lewin’s The Pool delighted participants in Singapore’s Marina Bay Light Festival!

The Pool was also featured in the Los Angeles’ Times “Photo of the Day.”

Visitors walk over light art installation titled ‘The Pool’ by Jen Lewin Studio during the i Light Marina Bay 2014 festival in Singapore.

For more information on Jen Lewin’s art projects visit www.jenlewinstudio.com

BRAF 2010 Grantee – The Music Box (Dithyrambalina)

New Orleans Airlift is very pleased to announce that New Orleans-based artist Dawn Dedeaux will be building the first new musical house of 2014 for Airlift’s ongoing musical architecture project Dithyrambalina. In partnership with a variety of community partners, the Airlift plans to build transportable houses in 2014, creating a roving musical village that will visit different neighborhoods in and around New Orleans in 2015.

Dedeaux’s Can You Hear Me? house is being built in partnership with the children and musicians of the Lower 9th Ward. Made entirely of tin cans, an age-old acoustical device that speaks to invention and the humble origins of the blues, the house will be assembled at the Lower 9th Ward Village, a non-profit community center. This project was developed in partnership with the Center for Sustainable Engagement and Development. Airlift is collaborating with Dedeaux and the wider community to turn the Can You Hear Me? project into an amplifier for the Lower 9th Ward, where community members continue to struggle for their voices to be heard and for their needs to be met nine years after Hurricane Katrina.

Can you hear me? Image by Dawn Dedeaux

The Music Box and the New Orleans Airlift thank New Music USA! New Orleans Airlift is honored to be a new grantee for New Music USA in 2014. Airlift will create a year-long series of six performances on musical houses: structures built with invented instruments embedded in the floors, windows, and walls. New Music USA aims to increase opportunities for composers, performers, and audiences by fostering the creation, dissemination, and enjoyment of new American music, both nationally and internationally. For more information visit New Orleans Airlift at www.neworleansairlift.org or www.dithyrambalina.com.

BRAF 2010 Grantee – Before I Die…

There have now been a total of 468 Before I Die… walls in 67 countries and in 31 languages. In the past two months, 25 new walls were built in over nine countries. Wow, this project just keeps growing!

See an impressive list of all of Candy Chang’s Before I Die… walls.

• The Bay Lights Anniversary: Two Events
• Caruso’s Dream: Photos and video
• Big Art for Small Towns: Lecture and informal reception
• Grantee Update
  • Bambufonomat

Psst.. stay tuned! Next month’s newsletter will announce BRAF’s 2014 new grantees! We can’t wait to tell you about these projects!

Celebrate The Bay Lights’ one year anniversary with two fun and free events! Read on…

One Year Anniversary Re-Lighting Ceremony

Join us in celebration of this monumental achievement of public art! This week, The Bay Lights celebrates its first birthday. At its exact one-year anniversary, Thursday, March 6, at 7:00 p.m., the piece will go dark for 10 minutes, and artist Leo Villareal will lead a countdown to its re-lighting. The event will be held at Market Bar and is free and open to the public, but if you would prefer to listen in from another vantage point, KFOG-FM 104.5 will broadcast the event and a special 20-minute Bay Lights soundtrack.

The Bay Lights Re-Lighting Ceremony
Thursday, March 6, 2014
7:00 p.m
1 Ferry Building
San Francisco, CA 94111
Free!

Rsvp on Facebook!

Join us and Illuminate the Arts in supporting their effort to keep The Bay Lights on the bridge and lit for at least 10 more years.

Illuminate your Ride

But wait, there’s more! Let the relighting ceremony inspire you! Come back on Friday, decked in your best blinkie lights and illuminated bike decorations for an illuminated bike party on Friday, March 7. The SF Bicycle Coalition and SF Bike Party will guide us on an illuminated bike ride around the city with stops for dancing and merrymaking. The evening will kick off on in front of the Cupid’s Span bow-and-arrow sculpture by Claes Oldenburg and Coosje van Bruggen.

The Bay Lights: Illuminate Your Ride
Friday, March 7, 2014
Meet at 7:30 p.m., ride at 8:00 p.m.
The Embarcadero at Folsom St
Rincon Park
San Francisco, CA 94107
Free!

Ben Davis, visionary of The Bay Lights, will kickoff the event with a talk, and with special tributes to the artist Leo Villareal and the brilliant community that made it possible. At 8 p.m, the talented SF Bike Party volunteers will lead the group on a fun and safe ride through the city with stops to dance and socialize along the way. If ever a time to light up your bike, this is it!

Caruso’s Dream

We hope you were able to join us for the sensational Unveiling Happening Event for And My Room Still Rocks Like a Boat on the Sea (Caruso’s Dream). It was a spectacle to behold! Artists Brian Goggin and Dorka Keehn introduced the work to a crowd of at least 1000. The angelic voices of opera singers soared throughout the city block as aerialists descended from the 18 story high-rise, landing on the sculpture and unveiled it for all to see.

Thank you to the many, many talented individuals who contributed to this amazing event:

• Conductor: Mauro ffortissimo (sunsetpiano.com)
• Composer / Conductor: Veronika Krausas
• Pianists: Allison Lovejoy, Martha Cooper, Ander Meyer, Benjamin Gribble, Colleen Murray, Esther Aeschbach, Gerry Bassermann, Heather Yager, Kathryn Ketman, Mauro ffortissimo, Richman Newman, Robert Soper, Steffen Gnegel
• Performers: Zoltan Di Bartolo, Michelle Jasso, Mark Nassar, Erin Neff
• Aerial Choreographer: Karl Gillick
• Aerialists: Alayna Stroud, Ariellah Winther, Esther Wrebel, and Shannon Collier
• Artwork Lighting Designer: Gabriel Rey-Goodlatte
• Marching Band:The Extra Action Marching Band
• Artwork Lighting Designer: Gabriel Rey-Goodlatte (under the direction of the artists) Sound Equipment: Gerry Bassermann
• Stage Manager: Jay Kravitz
• Event Manager: Jennifer Holmes
• Projectionist: Chris Dadzitis
• Event Lighting Designer: Patrick Hajduk
• Soundboard: Sudhu Tewari
• Radio Transmission: David Torgersen

…and many, many more who helped produce and create this project and event!

Catch a glimpse of the spectacle in this short video by Steve Mobia:

Caruso’s Dream Unveiling Happening Event. Photo by Nick Winterhalter.

Caruso’s Dream Unveiling Happening Event. Photo by Nick Winterhalter.

Thank you to the photographers and videographers who captured the awe of this event! See more of Nick Winterhalter’s photos.

Read more about the project, and about the event in SfGate’s recent article.

And My Room Still Rocks Like a Boat on the Sea (Caruso’s Dream) was supported by Avalon Bay Communities, Inc. The Unveiling Happening was made possible by generous support from The Kenneth Rainin Foundation and the Black Rock Arts Foundation.

Big Art for Small Towns informal Reception Event in Fernley, Nevada

In 2012, BRAF and the City of Fernley, Nevada, launched their new initiative, Big Art for Small Towns. A collaboration with the Burning Man Project, this project was awarded BRAF’s second National Endowment for the Arts grant, an Our Town grant, in the amount of $75,000.

Through the Big Art for Small Towns project, BRAF with the Fernley community, are proud to share three works of public art. The works will be installed in a new city-owned park in the spring of 2014. The first two temporary projects are existing works, the Bottle Cap Gazebo by Max Poynton and Andrew Grinberg and Rockspinner6 by Zachary Coffin.

For the third, permanent work of art, will be a newly created work by local artist Pan Pontoja. An established and respected artist and teacher, Pontoja will work with community members, mostly students, to build a large desert tortoise. The shell of the tortoise will be comprised of hundreds of 4” x 4” painted ceramic tiles of images which reflect the culture of Fernley and the surrounding area.

The City of Fernley and the Black Rock Arts Foundation invite one and all to an informational presentation and reception for their new joint initiative, Big Art for Small Towns. Join us for a brief talk by Big Art for Small Towns artist, Pan Pontoja, on his proposed work of art, Desert Tortoise, and a presentation on the entire Big Art for Small Towns project by the Black Rock Arts Foundation. Light refreshments and a reception will follow. The event coincides with an exhibit of visuals in Fernley’s City Hall.

Big Art for Small Towns Reception and Presentation
March 13, 204
5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Fernley City Hall
595 Silver Lace Boulevard
Fernley, Nevada 89408

Join us!

Grantee Updates

Bambufonomat

Now that this project’s BRAF funded exhibition is over, it’s taking off and traveling to new exhibition spaces. Here it is at the Freeze Fest (the project’s BRAF-funded debut.)

Bambufonomat, Freeze fest 2013 from afre on Vimeo.

And here it is on view at a gallery in Germany:

Bambufonomat, Neustadt Multimedia 2014 from afre on Vimeo.

The Black Rock Arts Foundation had a very successful 2013 and has many exciting projects in the works. As a result, we are looking to expand our staff to keep up with the growth of the organization.  Below is a short job description and application instructions for the new position.

Position Available: Operations Coordinator, Black Rock Arts Foundation Location: San Francisco, CA

** Please submit resume and cover letter by noon PST on Wednesday, March 5th, 2104, using this link.

Job Summary

This full-time position reports to the Executive Director and will support other staff and manage office organization and administrative processes for a growing arts organization. The Operations Coordinator provides support to the Executive Director and the Program & Development Associates in areas of program administration, development and general office and business operations. This individual is responsible for sending and tracking correspondence, tracking donations, managing our Salesforce database and filing systems, overseeing the organization of our office and other facilities, providing administrative support for our programs and events, and coordinating office reception.

The position requires a highly organized person with excellent time and task management skills who is able to understand the operations of the organization and anticipate administrative needs.

The position affords professional development opportunities for the right candidate through hands-on involvement with all aspects of this successful, growing organization.

This is a full-time, regular position eligible for benefits in our San Francisco office.

For more info or to apply, please view the complete job listing here: http://blackrockcity.theresumator.com/apply/mr9JSc/Operations-Coordinator.html

• Caruso’s Dream: Opening Reception and Call for Volunteers!
• The Bay Lights Anniversary: Two Events
• Artist Update: Kate Raudenbush
• Grantee Updates
  • The Global Lives Project

Caruso’s Dream

And My Room Still Rocks Like a Boat on the Sea (Caruso’s Dream) opens in San Francisco February 23, 2014! Don’t miss the Unveiling Happening event!

Artists Brian Goggin and Dorka Keehn are looking for volunteers to assist with the Unveiling Happening of Caruso’s Dream on February 23, 2014. There’s plenty to do: participate in the piano rolling procession, security, sound, tech, set up, clean up. Volunteers will receive a signed print of the artwork. Please contact art @keehnonart.com. We promise it will be fun!

Join us for the Caruso’s Dream Unveiling Happening!
Sunday, February 23, 2014 at 5:45pm
55 9th St.
San Francisco, CA 94103
Free!

Conductor: Mauro ffortissimo
Performers: Zoltan DiBartolo, Michelle Jasso, Mark Nassar and Erin Neff
Aerial Choreographer: Karlk Gillick
With a musical world premiere of Il Sogno ad Occhi Aperti di Caruso by Veronika Krausas …and special guests!

All are invited. Bring a blindfold / sleep mask and an FM radio. For the adventurous, wear early 1900’s attire. This happening is outdoors; please dress accordingly.

The Bay Lights Anniversary Re-Lighting & Illuminated Bike Ride

The Bay Lights turns one this March! After a full year of the piece illuminating the SF waterfront, Illuminate the Arts is leading an effort to keep it on the bridge and lit for at least 10 more years.

Thursday March 6, 2014 will mark the exact one-year anniversary of the piece. At 7:00pm, the piece will go dark for 10 minutes. Artist Leo Villareal will lead a countdown to the re-lighting at Market Bar in the San Francisco Ferry Building. The event at Market Bar is free and open to the public, but if you would prefer to listen in from another vantage point, KFOG-FM 104.5 will broadcast the event and a special 20-minute Bay Lights soundtrack.

The Bay Lights. Photo courtesy of James Ewing.

March 7th: Bay Lights Illuminate your Ride

Then, on Friday, March 7, we’ll light up the streets again in collaboration with the SF Bicycle Coalition and SF Bike Party, who will host an illuminated bike ride around the city with stops for dancing and merrymaking. The evening will kick off on the Embarcadero at 7:30PM in front of the “Cupid’s Span” bow-and-arrow sculpture by Claes Oldenburg and Coosje van Bruggen.

First up, we’ll hear from Ben Davis, the visionary behind the Bay Lights concept, and pay tribute to the artist Leo Villareal and the brilliant community that made it possible. At 8PM, volunteers from SF Bike Party will lead the group on a fun and safe ride through the city with stops to dance and socialize along the way. It’ll be a great night to show off your illuminated bike or costume!

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Artist Update: Kate Raudenbush

Kate Raudenbush has lots of exciting news for the BRAF community! “I just confirmed another commission to make a big sculpture for Electric Daisy Carnival in NYC in May and Las Vegas in June,” she reports. “I’m also creating a new sculpture work for the Mystery Land Festival on Memorial Day weekend at the location of the famous Woodstock Festival in New York.” Kate also reminded us her Futures Past sculpture is in its final months of installation at Patricia’s Green Park in San Francisco’s Hayes Valley neighborhood and is looking for a new or temporary home after June 2014. Any ideas are welcome!

Future’s Past at Patricia’s Green, San Francisco, California. Photo by George Post.

The Global Lives Project invites you to join them for Global Wednesdays in San Francisco at the historic Folsom Street Foundry. Experience this 17-screen video installation that showcases day-in-the-life videos of individuals around the world, representing the diversity of human experience.

Teachers can also sign up for free field trips and participate in professional development workshops based on Global Lives’ Unheard Stories curriculum. Global Lives’ first professional development day will be on February 17th at the Folsom Street Foundry.

Global Wednesdays
Wednesday, February 5th, 19 & 26, 2014
5:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m
Free to the public (21 & over)

Educator Training and School Field Trip
Monday, February 17 (teachers) & Tuesday February 18 (teachers & students)

Folsom Street Foundry
1425 Folsom St.
San Francisco, Ca, 94103

globallives.org/event/globalwednesdays

For more information about field trips, sponsorship or partnership, or for media inquiries, contact outreach @globallives.org.

2007 Grantee Global Lives presents Global Wednesday

• Opening Reception for Caruso’s Dream
• Artumnal Gathering portrait photos
• Grantee Updates
  • Silent Lights
  • Before I Die…
  • Draw-a-Thon
• Reminder! BRAF has changed our address

Happy New Year from BRAF! We can’t wait to see what 2014 has in store for us!

Caruso’s Dream

Brian Goggin and Dorka Keehn have sent in a report and some great photos showing the progress of their new work, “And my room still rocked like a boat on the sea…Caruso’s Dream” (Caruso’s Dream, for short.)

The Opening Event for this stunning new work will be, what they’re calling, “a playful and immersive unveiling.” The artists request that those attending to please bring battery powered FM radios and eye masks to wear at a particular time during the event.

Join us for the Caruso’s Dream Opening Event!
February 23, 2014
Evening (time TBA)
55 9th St.
San Francisco, CA 94103
Free!

We’re looking for volunteers to make the event happen, especially as 13 pianos will need to be pushed from the Defenestration installation to Caruso’s Dream! 52 volunteers need to join in! For more details and to offer your help contact info @metaphorm.org.

Read more about Caruso’s Dream in this piece in San Francisco’s Chronicle.

Caruso’s Dream by Brian Goggin and Dorka Keehn.

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The Artumnal Gathering – Portrait photos are here!

We’re still reeling from the lovely memories of 2013’s Artumnal Gathering – all the wonderful art, great friends and good times! And now we have all the photos to prove it! Look at these fantastic photos of you by portrait photographer, Eric Schwabel, and, once again, here are Marco Sanchez’s gorgeous photos of the whole event. Thank you to our talented photographers!

Tag and share Eric’s photos on Facebook, too!

Superstar volunteer Affinity passes on the “Affinity Award” to it’s 2013 recipient, Maria Partridge.

 

Silent Lights from Urban Matter Inc on Vimeo.

BRAF 2011 Grantee – Before I Die…

Share your personal story with CNN! CNN is working on a story about the Before I Die… project and is looking for people who have written on one of the 439 (yes, 439!) Before I Die… walls and taken action on their aspiration. If that sounds like you or someone you know, artist Candy Change invites you to share your story. You can remain anonymous on the phone or share in any way that is comfortable for you. You can speak to the CNN producer directly by calling Dana at 212-275-7983 or email Liz at liz @beforeidie.cc

The Before I Die… crew thanks you for your help!

Ongoing and upcoming walls: New Orleans, Louisiana currently has a wall at the Ogden Museum installed by Candy Chang. Providence, Ohio is still hosting walls at Kennedy Plaza and Grant’s Block downtown. Brooklyn, New York features a wall at the corner of Washington Ave. and St. John’s Place. Paris, France is creating numerous walls in March in a campaign against drunk driving. Athens, Greece will be hosting the first wall in Greece in April 2014.

Planning a wall? Want to help with a wall? Want your wall included in our ongoing wall directory? Send Liz an email at liz @beforeidie.cc  (liz @beforeidie.cc)   and she’ll happily help you out. And if you ever stumble upon a wall, send us photos at hello @beforeidie.cc  (hello @beforeidie.cc)  !

2011 BRAF Grantee project, Before I Die…

2013 Grantee – Draw-a-Thon

This 2013 Grantee project was a grand success! Congratulations to the organizers and all the community artists who participated.

Press Street’s 24 Hour Draw-a-thon is the only event of its kind in the city of New Orleans, and perhaps in the nation. This annual art-making and arts education marathon, now in its eighth year, values process over product. Draw-a-thon is 24-hour event open to community participants of all ages, backgrounds and extents of artistic expertise.

Each year, Draw-a-Thon covers the historic Marigny Opera House, floor to wall, with draw-able surfaces, making the entire interior of the building a canvas for the artistic expression of professional and non-professional artists alike. Beginning at 6:30 a.m. on Saturday and continuing until 6:30 p.m. Sunday, participants are free to follow their whims, using their choice of materials to draw whatever they like on the available surfaces.

Participants also may choose to join in one of the many ongoing activities and scheduled workshops. For the 2013 event, this diverse offering of activities included the challenge to illustrate ‘undrawable’ stories written by youth participants of New Orleans’ youth creative writing initiative Big Class, and a Black-Friday themed workshop that incorporated ad stock from the 1950s. Scheduled workshops (organized and directed by practicing artists) included puppet-making, an intergalactic creature drawing “battle”, speed figure drawing, self-portraiture as aliens, silk-screening, a sculpture garden, and many others. Thus, Draw-a-Thon blurs the lines between exhibition and exhibitors, resulting in an interactive and eclectic collection of artistic creations that represent the vastness and diversity of the imaginations of the participating community members.

Still don’t have a good visual picture of this event? Check out this cool time-lapse video! Wow!

Draw-a-thon 2013 timelapse from Courtney Egan on Vimeo.