2024 GRANT WEBSITE

SOAK*2024:

electric ocean

grant awardees

funded Art, Camp & CIvic projects

for Portland, Oregon’s

🐙💡

💡🦀

regional burning man event

tag! you’re it!

The first volunteer team activated for SOAK is Talented And Gifted, a.k.a. TAG. Volunteer members of TAG Peer Review consider art & civic proposals from SOAK Participants. TAG volunteers are creatives, theme campers, & passionate Participants. Everyone in TAG Gifts their time & expertise.

you may already be a member!

This year, 30 voting members of TAG chose to fund 73 Projects at $30,409.2 for 2024.

Non-voting reps from Fire Safety, Placement & Radical Inclusion also participated.

THANK YOU to all

Talented And Gifted volunteers!

14 years of ART grants!

Grant Details

41 projects funded! Pioneered in 2009, SOAK Art Grants assist with:

New Fire 2D 3D sculptures mutant vehicles installations processions projections and other art forms Interactive intriguing visual and auditory art Independently placed art

1. ✨ aura crystals by Singsong - Portland OR (repair/update)

Artist Statement:

“I make artwork that is of accessible materials and in an accessible way that inspires others to make art as well. I hope to create an atmosphere that allows people to connect with their inner child and be playful.”

grant funds:

New lights (8 waterproof rub low voltage landscape lights)

2. 🦈Bee One With the FLOWERS

BY Mary Palmer, Alissa Arakelian, Zaanan Tellschow, Leon Rogers, Susan Flynn- Eugene OR (new)

Artist Statement:

How do we process human emotions in an inhumane world? How do we reconnect to the earth and our role as active participants within an ecosystem? How do we honor our ancestors and the ancient ones, their rituals and traditions? I grappled with these questions during my philosophy studies, and these ideas are the primary influence on my art. I often depict solitary women honoring natural spaces, caught in a moment of contemplation or meditation. My subjects are inspired by an exploration of ancient cultural traditions of femininity, goddesses, deities, gaia theory, and matrilineal societies.

Each flower is made out of natural fibers: paper and wooden parasols, wool, cotton, and paper. The wool flowers are wet-felted and hand-dyed. The paper and fabric are stretched over wire and paper parasols are painted with home-made botanical dyes. Some flowers will affix to wire stems and stake into the ground and others will hang from nearby tree limbs, creating a sense of being surrounded by giant flowers. Each flower will be imbued with an essential oil blend, inviting participants to “stop and smell the flowers”. The flowers will also be outfitted with battery powered lights and activated when the sun goes down, creating a totally different, almost otherworldly effect.

site

3. 🐚 Booty Beacons by Nova- Seattle WA (new)

Artist Statement:

“I'm inspired to make art that encourages unstructured play and silliness. Adults don't have enough outlets for unstructured and unorganized play to help foster friendship and community. The playa is essentially an ephemeral playground that we bring our weird to.”

The inside surface of the chairs will be covered with programmable LEDs to turn each into a giant illuminated "screen" with animations that react to the music playing, like a set of lava lamps, a giant equalizer, etc. The chairs will be networked together and synchronized to orchestrate their animations. When someone sits down on one, a sensor below the seat reacts to them and triggers an animation/visual flourish in response. The response changes for each additional person sitting in a chair. When all five seats are occupied, something special happens as a reward for finding a group of folks to participate.

video

4. 🐙 (We are) Celestial Beings by Chrispy & Noises-Portland OR (repair/update)

Artist Statement:

“Our art is a way for us to create spaces and social contexts. It is an exploration of form and a way to create a social container for connection. “

insta

This time around we will be adding more stars and stellar objects (moons, etc). As well as adding reimagined aquatic creatures - fish, eels, etc. They will all be hanging from above, glowing in sync with each other. We also plan to create a cuddle/lounge space below our art so that people can enjoy the art from below. Optionally, we plan to include a subtle soundtrack of singing bowls and attach some of the pieces together in to a mobile.

5. 🦑 The Chromosphere by Christopher Condrat- Tigard, OR (repair)

Artist Statement:

“I like the idea that interactive art, especially multi-person interactive art, enables the participants to become part of the art, creating something bigger than the installation itself.”

insta

The Chromosphere, or “sphere of color,” is an interactive, animated LED art sculpture in the shape of a large, hollow, wireframe sphere. The sculpture is named after the layer of the Sun’s atmosphere that is normally only visible during total eclipses as a thin rosy red colored edge.

The sculpture reacts to sound, enabling participants to affect the motion, color, and intensity of the animations with voices and other sounds. In this manner, the audience can manipulate light with sound, and also interact with other participants.

6. 🦐 Community Conch by Casey Morel & Hudson McCarthy - Portland OR (new)

Artist Statement:

“To create unique and beautiful experiences that hopefully facilitate connections between participants and the community.”.

This captivating sculpture, initially resembling a skeletal form of a shell, invites individuals to discover and participate in creating a unique communal space within its graceful curves

As visitors enter this space they will be offered a piece of cloth to write or draw something about themselves or their experience at Soak. Once finished guests can then weave their piece of fabric in amongst others however they like. Together these individual stories and experiences will literally create a space for the community to enjoy and connect. The piece itself is made out of PVC (or potentially other recycled material if I can sorce them) formed into a shell like shape that is large enough for around 4 people to sit or stand in.

As participants weave their pieces of fabric into the structure it will take shape in unique and unpredictable ways as we collectively create our environment.

7. 🦀 Cosmic Carcinization- by Douglas Cummings, Portland OR (new)

Artist Statement:

“Expression of myself the constant flow of creativity. In my day to day I also work in a creative field as an art director and fabricator for stopmotion but love to express myself and foster creative collaboration with my community.”

Monolithic crab statue about Carcinization. Inviting people to play with the idea of being a crab and placing their hand on its belly in a claw shape. Its silly and im excited to see people crab walk and pretend to become one with the crab and embody evolutions "perfect" design! roughly 5-7 feet tall and 5x5ft square. Carved foam, LEDs, wood, acrylic.

8. 🧜🏽‍♀️ the Cosmic Messenger by Miki Masuhara-Page- Portland OR (update)

Artist Statement:

“I like to explore the imagination and create works that spark curiosity in the mind through fun, whimsical, childlike, and animal qualities. I enjoy the element of surprise and bringing life to creatures and materials that are unexpected to have such properties such as metal being man made and masculine, turned into the form of an animal or creature that we see to have life instead a fabricated industrial feel to it. My passion is in making creatures embodying more animalistic and living characteristics in the form of a domain of fantasy or purity of feeling, usually cartoonish in nature.”

I would like to enhance a pre-existing piece by switching out the tail she has now, with a big beautiful mermaid tail. The tail would be mostly made of metal with some possible glass panels, awesome paint job, and lighting. In length, I picture the tail to be anywhere from 3-6 feet in length, 4 feet at its widest point. The intended participants are for anyone and everyone that enjoys beautiful mystical creatures that invite you to interact with it. Potential ideas for color changing paint, heat reactive paint, and touch changing abilities.

9. 🦈 Dimensional Dreams XXL by becca priddy- portland or (update)

Artist Statement:

“As a teacher in a low-income school teaching special education, I come home each day exhausted mentally and physically. Art is my self care. When I create art I feel rejuvenated and happy. Dimensional Dreams was originally created as a meditative art piece that answered the question "where is your happy place?". Since creating the first boxes I have expanded this idea and created a huge version! “

Dimensional Dreams XXL is a super sized version of the smaller boxes I've made. The frame of DDXXL is 4ft by 4ft by 6ft tall. Each side of the frame has been custom CNC cut to allow 13 laser cut panels to slide into the box. The 13 layers of acrylic are laser cut into the shapes of a coral reef. There are 3 clear layers of acrylic that have been laser etched with over 12 species of underwater animals. The box is lit by over 300 LEDs which run between each layer of acrylic. When viewed from the front, participants can look through the depths of the box and find the creatures hiding between the layers of coral. A button in the front allows participants to change the colors of the LEDS inside the box.

10. 🐚 Fractious Flow by Daniel Young, Carly Rubin, Fox JW, Kai- portland or (new)

Artist Statement:

“We weave our worlds together with belief. Belief in the authority of our knowledge. Slowly ever tighter, ever more rigid, more substantiated by the grooves of our repeated experiences. The more we know the less we experience directly. Though manifest in a variety of forms, the undercurrent to my work focuses solely on exposing, disrupting, and loosening the shells of definition our minds are prone to overproduce and to reverse the atrophy of our experience of the preternatural beauty that surrounds us."

This piece is a kinetic art piece that runs at high speeds. It is important that it is safe and built with strong materials. I typically over engineer a bit so everything is strong and durable for outside elements. This is expensive to do, and the grant funds will be used to fit the piece specifically to the SOAK environment, namely rain and weather proofing depending on placement. I am self funding the main pieces of the art, these funds will be put to use adapting to this environment and ensuring the structure is aesthetic and functionally sound for SOAK.(Photo: Axis Mundi, collab)

instagram

11. 🦑 GigaHex by Austin Schmidt, Evan Greenwald + Alex Yancey- Portland OR (update)

Artist Statement:

“We make light art because we find it innately captivating. Light has a profound ability to put people in a state of immediacy and acts as a catalyst for introspection and examination. We create art because we want to share these contemplative experiences with others so that they have a space and the catalyst to experience so many of the things which make us human.

Evan, Alex and I call ourselves “moths” because we are drawn towards light wherever we go. We find community in sharing our art with others, and self-actualization in creating light art.”

GigaHex is a 8’ tall by 6’ wide by 5’ deep interactive LED sculpture made out of wood, metal, 3D printed parts, and electronics. 6 hexagonal blocks house a total of 4,336 diffused LEDs. GigaHex invites active participation and allows festival attendees to play with and control color patterns in real time. This interactive feedback system immediately connects with people when they realize that the buttons on the podium are linked to how the sculpture is colored and that they can play a role in affecting how the sculpture looks. We want participants to come up to the sculpture and get sucked into playing with the different effects. We want you to be immediately satisfied when playing with it.

site

12. 🐋 Glow-Getter by Teresa Findley- portland or (new)

Artist Statement:

“I want to give others a meaningful and beautiful container to have experiences in.”

Glow-Getter is a nighttime art installation inspired by the theme of electric ocean. While walking through the forest, you see a light bulb hanging in the darkness. As you almost reach the light, something lights up behind it. It’s a massive angler fish with it’s mouth wide open, glowing in the dark. If you are brave, crawl into the mouth and gaze up at the mandala shimmering on the roof of the fish’s mouth and ponder the mysteries of the deep electric ocean.

13. 🦐 Great Pacific Giving Plankton by guzzler, Kamira, Throat Punch, Teleport, Google- Newport OR (new)

Artist Statement:

“To increase the awareness of the world outside Playa as well as contribute to the Burner community through the 10 principles.“

The Great Pacific Giving Plankton is a piece to acknowledge the impact humans have on the world and oceans, specifically highlighting The Great Pacific Garbage Patch. This entity is made up of trash, mostly plastics and miscellaneous items floating between California and Hawaii, and is technically one of the top 20 largest countries by surface area.

The idea for our art project is to build a large, mostly recycled item octagonal frame (16'-18' diameter PVC) that will be draped in a large fishing net representing the non-specific shape of a plankton or free drifting organism (jellyfish are considered a type of plankton in a macro sense). On the outside, there will be various once used/loved items attached to the net (ex: hats, stuffed animals, kazoos, water bottles, anything reusable). Each of these can be removed and taken with the observer as a way to upcycle/repurpose the item (Gift Giving). As items are removed, the GPGP slowly shrinks in size as a way of representing everyone doing their part to help decrease the size of the GPGP.

14. 🐙 the INterface by Esa Hall, Jadryn Ownbey + Camden Boyd - Portland OR (new)

Artist Statement:

“To help people connect on a deeper level with themselves and others, and to facilitate expansive and transformative experiences.”.

MATERIALLY The Interface fits in a briefcase and is meant for two people. It's two chest mounted subwoofers and heart rate sensors, and a fabric tube people put their heads inside, with LEDs spiraling from both faces. The LEDs are also synced to each person's heartbeat. The operator optionally leads people through a guided meditation/experience and makes sure nobody breaks stuff.

SCIENTIFICALLY It uses heart rate coherence and neural-entrainment to assist people in entering a deeper state of co-regulation. So, people's nervous systems and heartbeats start to sync together, as well as some of their brainwave patterns because outside of the other person's face, they are experiencing the same visual stimuli. Where as when usually gazing at someone and someone gazing back, you are both experiencing different visual stimuli, the Interface facilitates visual stimuli which is the same for both persons in the Interface.

PSYCHEDELICALLY The Interface generates a localized wormhole that blends the consciousness of two people so that they may better understand each other's experiences and perspectives. In relation, this helps the individual better understand themselves and how they perceive others.

15. 🦈 Jumbo Kaleidoscope by matt kelly + Team- Portland OR (update)

Artist Statement:

“To encourage others to tap into their creativity, playfulness and wonder.”

insta

The piece is generally made up of lumber and plywood. The main projection surface for the kaleidoscope is a large fabric drop cloth that can be attached to the side of a barn or with standalone stands. Smaller screens and projectors can be provided for the other two interactivity stations as space allows.

A grant would help the continued development of the Kaleidoscope to ensure it works well at SOAK's setting and can handle large quantities of participants..

16. 🐚 Lamina by James Sartor + Justin Kittell- Eugene OR (update)

Artist Statement:

“Foxlight Labs is a light art enterprise led by James Sartor and Justin Kittell, light artists and scientists. Our goal is to push the boundaries of perception with lights, music, and mirrors. With a focus on interactive light art, their creations blend the senses of participants, evoking a state of wonder and childlike enthusiasm in those who engage with them.”

Insta

Our piece is called "Lamina" because it is a collection of plant leaves made from light. In plants, "lamina" is another word for the thin surface of the leaf blade. While the typical plant's lamina absorb light for photosynthesis, ours do the opposite, instead emitting light from the glowing veins of the leaf... a beautiful symbolic concept because they represent necessary change.

We plan to hang 5 lamina leaves. They will hang from a branch or structure so that they can spin around and people can touch them.

(Last photo: Crystal Ball Kelidascope)

17. 🦑 LED Icosidome by Evan Greenwald Portland OR (update)

Artist Statement:

“I enjoy creating artworks, sculptures, and immersive spaces that stimulate my curiosities, challenge my abilities, and allow me to express and share my the thoughts, ideas and emotions that I have. I make art because I can, I want to and I like to, and because it has been a means for me to push my technical capabilities to be able to build beautiful installations that light up and glow at night and inspire wonder and joy within those who encounter my creations. “

For this years SOAK, I would like to update/improve the LED Icosidome by adding decorative exterior panels that will help create a contained space, will shade the interior space during the day, and provide an opportunity to colorful decorate the installation. I have some ideas for colorful mosaics that I could print on the panels to add to the visual aesthetic. The exterior panels will also help protect the entire installation in the event of any rain or inclement weather.

18. 🦀 Lighthouse by kamikaze

- portland OR (update)

Artist Statement:

“for fun “

base 15x7 (anchor is a dodge ram 3/4 ton) tower is mild steel, 27 feet tall, lighting GlowFlock and complex light fixture "beacon" visitor observation deck at 10' (approximately 8 people max) and an artist regulated snuggle pit loft. top of lighthouse is a Geodesic dome. [Funds will go toward] materials to make vehicle appear like rocks, Glow flock lighting, materials for beacon, fuel for electricity, steel & rope for stairs, deck, handrail, safety equipment .

19. 🦐 Lightwave by Tamagotchi + Squirtle- Portland OR (update)

Artist Statement:

“I like to bring people joy and amusement, and I like to challenge myself doing it.”

The Lightwave that has existed so far is a 45' long array of 80 "light sticks", with each light stick being 4' long. The sticks each light up, and the whole thing makes fun, bright, colorful patterns.

What is changing this year is the addition of interactivity in the form of a full size digital keyboard communicating wirelessly with the Lightwave.

Participants will be able to play the keyboard and see visual form of the music they are making playing across the Lightwave from across the event.

20. 🐙 Love Thy Beast by new era- portland OR (repair)

Artist Statement:

“Truthfully, I make art to heal myself. Art/creative expression has always been a means of solace. Through the years of creating, I have found myself to be most present during the creative process. It beings me so much peace to find my flow and rhythm in the creative process. What I have found to be rewarding is the reaction of others and their relation and experience to my art. Redefining it to suit their own narrative, desires or needs. Creating experiential art is new to me and it has opened up a whole new world.”

site

Love Thy Beast is a multifaceted interactive installation that welcomes everyone to participate in the journey of self-discovery. Divine beings have gathered together on the Playa to offer the healing gift of introspection. Bearing a mirror on its chest, each being offers a moment to explore the depths of our reflection and a chance to greet ourselves with love. Adorned with hand crafted masks, the beings display otherworldly creatures, unique and strikingly surreal.

21. 🐋 the Mind Flayer by cuddles- Eugene OR (new)

Artist Statement:

“"We weave our worlds together with belief. Belief in the authority of our knowledge. Slowly ever tighter, ever more rigid, more substantiated by the grooves of our repeated experiences. The more we know the less we experience directly.

As children, our models for reality are much looser. The concept of self that we use as the lynchpin to build our relational webs of meaning around, has not yet been set. It is easy for us: to be a pirate, to be an eagle, to be a doctor or explore, to be free in so many ways that we will slowly lose to the weight of self-image and the dismantling of possibility by definition.

Though manifest in a variety of forms, the undercurrent to my work focuses solely on exposing, disrupting, and loosening the shells of definition our minds are prone to overproduce and to reverse the atrophy of our experience of the preternatural beauty that surrounds us."

In many ways, play is the highest state of awareness. Because it acknowledges fundamentally that our belief in reality is fluid and constructed. It is effortless for us to shift from this reality to another. Changing by implication the entire construct of knowledge and language that will eventually ensnare us within a singular existence.

22. 🦑 Overview by Spark- Portland OR (update)

Artist Statement:

“I love creating spaces and experiences for other people to explore and enjoy, and I like having something challenging to work on when I'm at SOAK.”

The structure is fundamentally the same as last year in many respects, a 26' diameter steel toroid with a shade canopy and projection fabric stretched underneath The structure is entirely solar powered (weather permitting) and provides a shady gathering spot during the day, and chill space-and-science related projections and videos at night, including images from the JWST, views of the Earth from space, and an updated version of my movie from last year, "Overview". This year, I hope to update the canopy to make it lighter and glow more brightly, and replace the projection fabric underneath.

23. 🦐 Pelagic RESILIENCE by park- Portland OR (update)

Artist Statement:

“To bring light and wonderment into the world.”

5 Welded wire frame sea creatures each 18' x 50" iluminated with LEDs, suspended over head, in a space roughly 10' x 30'

24. 🦈 Pipe Gorgon by Alan Becker, Mara Greenberg, Cameron Brown- Berkeley CA (Travel)

Artist Statement:

“We are makers inspired by decades of trips to Burning Man (BRC), the wild creativity and generosity of the community, and the wonder inspired by interactive fire art. After several burns, we started to build our own art to bring, give back, and similarly inspire -- focusing on interactive propane fire art with a narrative message. “

The Pipe Gorgon is a propane-powered pyrophone set behind a metal bust of Medusa - an interactive sculpture combining many of our favorite things: music, fire, art, and strong women. The flame element will be emerging from her trademark snake-hair. Each flame element includes a pipe-organ style whistle in-line to create the musical note. Each of these elements are then fed back behind the head where a participant can play the Pipe Gorgon using our “keyboard” of spring-closed manual valves. The piece will sit on a 2’ high platform with step leading up, setting all flame elements above pedestrian level and allowing the Organist to bring Medusa to life with fire and music. SOAK would be our first regional, and we would be thrilled to bring the Gorgon up!

25. 🐚 Principles Fantastica by Honey Badger, Alisa Diggins, James "Wick" Wickham (symbols)- Vancouver WA (repair)

Artist Statement:

“I've been volunteering at SOAK since about 2009 (what was the last year at Miller Brother's?), and I was the medical lead since 2014 (co-lead with Shepherd in '13) until volunteer medical ended. During the years, one of the things that always came up was the limited education offerings regarding the principles and what they meant to the community.”

Alisa Diggins had, in 2016 or 17, run the idea of making plaques that lit up with the symbols and definitions on them as a way of literally putting the principles right in participants faces. Then she gave me a stack of acrylic panels left over from a display case. So I started tinkering. And I keep tinkering. But last year's installation really let me experience something for the first time. Being a publicly acknowledged artist with a highly visible installation. And I can't quite put into words the upswell of happiness I experienced sitting with Shiny across the road and watching people come up to my piece and watch and read it. It was also a lot of joy in talking with people while acting like I had no idea who made it.

I also made the decision to include Consent as the 11th principle with zero regard to dissenting opinions on the matter.

26. 🦀 Prismatica by Jordan pedroso, Lexi Taft - portland or (new)

Artist Statement:

“To make folxs feel connected and a part of art”

Essentially a large kaleidoscope. We need 6-9 panels of plywood. 3-6 panels of plexiglass or polished steel. A projector and led strips.

This art piece is radically inclusive. Fueled by your participation and breeds immediacy. This beautiful art piece will radically express you!

27. 🐙 Projection Mapped Soak Logo by echo-

portland or (new)

Artist Statement:

“I have always appreciated art and conversation. One way to ensure creating a statement piece, or to initiate a conversation, is to create something that stops people in their tracks. Layering plywood, adding stain and paint, and then projection mapping said art certainly does the trick. I've learned over the last 5 years (started lasercutting in 2018-2019) that people really enjoy what I have created.”

28. 🐡 Psychedalia Garden by Tyler FuQua Creations-

Oregon City OR (repair)

Artist Statement:

“It's in our blood. We have to or we will perish.”

The Psychedahlia Garden features 6 12' tall flowers that have bright, fuzzy petals and leaves. In the center is a spinning light that shoots colorful beams all around. The lights are vibration activated so if it's quiet enough they will go to sleep until the next person comes in a sits down. The flowers are attached to a decorative hexagon shaped fence which is lined on the inside with a bench that's capable of sitting over 12 people. This provides a somewhat enclosed space for hanging with friends or meeting new ones. In the center of the circular benches is a patch of giant mushrooms that light up and change color with the touch of a button!

29. 🐟 School of Dreams

by SUnshine & Josh-

Tacoma WA (new)

Artist Statement:

“I make art to encourage positivity, love, free expression, creative expression, radical participation, to elicit feelings of wonder and joy, to help heal and move forward from past traumas, to promote hope and champion collaboration ”

30. 🦑 see neat bugs! by scout-

Tacoma WA (repair)

Artist Statement:

“As a biologist and educator, I appreciate the creation of gathering spaces focused on curiosity, investigation, sharing of knowledge and stories. I use this installation as a chance to slow down and really see nature around me, especially the sort of nature that's often hidden at night and by small size. ”

31. 🦐 Smaug by Jim and Ame Beard-

or (update)

Artist Statement:

“Being an artist has been part of my existence since I was a small child.The daughter of two talented artists, I was influenced by their passion for art. My grandmother was exceptionally talented and very influential in stoking my art exploration. ”

The dragon is made from copper on a metal stand (4 by 4 by 10 feet tall). Intended participants are all SOAK visitors. Materials include natually sourced bone and secondhand hand gems.

32. 🐚 SOAK Sign Shop by Clownbaby, Just Christie, Noodles, Alter Boy-

Sheridan or (new)

Artist Statement:

“Our goal is to create an participant inspired art space, that encompasses all 10 principles of the BurningMan Project. Creating hand carved custom signs on spot that captures burners experiences in the moment, that they can bring home to the default world as a happy reminder of the community our principles create. Whether at the burn for individuals or camps, in our local community at burners homes and offices or across the oceans in the hands of burners across the world, we hope our art reminds people of the transformative experience that burning and art create.”

33. 🐡 SOAK*Star Newspaper by Overall + Magpie-

portland or (new)

Artist Statement:

“To connect with the community, and help facilitate co-creation with participants that otherwise may not have led a project themselves. This helps give ownership of projects to a broad group of burners by co-calibrating and giving opportunities to get involved in the community. ”

SOAK Star Newspaper is a collaborative community project created with the intent to give creative burners an outlet and platform to express creativity and a gift to the community as a whole. We have almost a dozen SOAK participants assisting with writing, editing, layout, and artwork. SOAK Star newspaper will be a 4-8 page Tabloid sized newspaper featuring articles such as harm reduction awareness, horrorscopes (thats not a typo), satirical funnies, and much more; including a back page on how to get involved with the community. We will print 500 issues (sticker in each issue!) with two water proof distribution boxes, and even a paper girl hand delivering newspapers! The distribution boxes will be handmade to handle potential wind and rain, and each panel will also be an artistic showcase of various artists and lights for at night!

34. 🦈 Sprialator by Jesse Caldwell-

portland or (new)

Artist Statement:

“Our world is changing now more rapidly than ever, and with significant controversy and understandable contempt. Seeking not to compete with, steal, or invalidate the work of other artists, I wanted to pursue some new avenue of creating art that wouldn't have previously been possible for me. “

35. 🐋 Temple of The Sun by Corona + Ruscetti-portland or (update)

Artist Statement:

“To push the limits of our capabilities and engage participants in new and unexpected ways”

The Temple of The Sun is a 10ft tall 16x16ft Hexagonal Prism with 8ft lasercut pillers on each of the legs and a fire ceiling in the center. The planned additions to last year's project include 6, 8ft "Cathedral" style Lasercut arches (in a similar style as the legs) wrapping around the top of the structure concealing the steel frame and completing the "Temple" aesthetic.

We plan to lay a tarp with rugs underneath the fire ceiling to catch any soot that falls to the floor. Once the fire ceiling is lowered to the ground, a small vacuum is used to clear the soot before placing it in a bag and then a full moop sweep is conducted of the area.

36. 🦀 Trifecta by Tim Holloway, Laura Holloway, Ted Weerts, Greg Bumgardner-

Williams OR (new)

Artist Statement:

“We create art to inspire and empower participants to interact with fire and art. It inspires us when we can bring about joy and wonder in people when they are a part of the art instead of merely looking at it. Life can be magical and wonderful and art is a reminder of what is possible.”

We have brought the Fiery Flowers and Zen Garden, and the Flaming Sunflowers with Plunderground Theme Camp. Trifecta will be a six-sided 14-foot circular structure that is 16 feet tall, with fire pits extending out in three places. The flowing curves of the roof pieces and the shape of the space itself will delight the eye. Participants can explore and interact with the lighting and offerings. This new art piece promotes and encourages the trifecta of interactivity, connection, and beauty. We have designed Trifecta with the needs of the participants of SOAK in mind. Trifecta is an art piece that is inspired by a desire to awe participants with fire balls that they can activate, to offer a place for warmth and connection with others, and to evoke the beauty of the underwater world.

37. 🦑 Whimsy Wonder Cloud by SingSong-

portland or (update)

Artist Statement:

“I make art to inspire people to make art as well. This rainbow cloud cluster has so much to explore! Is it a whimsical landscape with fantastical giant creatures? A nest of rainbow cloud producing worms? I have been a creative weirdo forever but never considered myself an “artist.” It has always felt unattainable, too expensive and out of my skill level. I focus on creating art they feels both accessible and healing to the inner child.”

This project if made of mostly trash and foam. It is about a 10’x10’ space with the rig that holds it. It can also be hung from trees possibly. Participants would play and engage with the art. It’s also got a cuddly space to lay underneath. I plan to add a lounge space, a sign, and potentially rain cover or waterproofing.

38. 🦐 You Are Love(d) by Sunshine+ Josh-

Tacoma WA (update)

Artist Statement:

39. 🐙 Zen Generator by Jesse Banks-

Beaverton Or (update)

Artist Statement:

“To bring joy and inspire thought. This project received one of (I believe) the first art grants ever issued for SOAK art in 2012. I was told I asked for too little at that time. Through the years I have also brought Vulcan mini poofer (2013), Chromospores (2013), Virror(2018, 2019), Stoichiea(2017, 2022), Disco Porto (2023), and Ice Bag (2019). I surely am less-than accurate on some dates and omitted other projects.”

Spinning Disks by Paul Stoffregen 2007, @ppetizer Burn by @pparatus 2007 & Party in a Box by Luna 2012, TransItional Elements MBS by Sepia, Jinx + Crew 2015.

4 years of Civic grants!

26 Projects funded! Pioneered in 2018, SOAK Civic Grants assist with things Burning Man does not cover, like:

Theme Camp frontage decoration lighting signage SOAK Service projects Fuel for completed Fire projects

Grant Details

civic grant winners

Acid drip Roof for New frontage

By Cassandra Mitchell

We have a 20x10 metal frame that we call a fruit stand. It does not have a roof, and we plan to build a roof and

then add a mesh over it so it can be a chill place for people to sit.

Bermuda

By Domegod & Hypnodrome

I'm creating some triangular LED fixtures for domes. They're made of twinwall polycarbonate (i.e. what you use for greenhouses) with wooden frames and we've built all the wiring harnesses ourselves.

Black Rock Observatory sign

By Zoom

Making its debut at the Texas Eclipse Festival. Coming soon to a SOAK near you!

SITE

Buckets 2024

By Sydney Running

The sound system will also be utilized to create a celebratory atmosphere during our High Tea at Bucketham Palace featuring Ms. Soak 2023 and the future Ms. Soak 2024! Despite the fact that royalty will be present, there are no castle guards keeping the masses from joining in on our high-end affairs! We plan to shower our Bucket Guests with gifts of love, tea, laughter, treats, compliments, good music, and friendship!

Caffeinated Catalyst Frontage and Lighting

By Cle & Beth

We would like to have a nice lit sign to guide participants into our event space, as well as create 'jellyfish' lights that are spread throughout our theme camp space to align with the theme.

"Camp" Frontage

By sweet Jesus and Sunshine

All ages family friendly drug free camp called “Camp” - we are constructing a new vibrant light up sign reading “camp” that not only identifies our camp but acts as a beacon guiding folks through the darkness as a lighthouse of hope.

Camp Rejected

By Byrdie

Theme camp frontage. We want to create better signage for our camp that also lights up at night. Looking to try

to fund our rejection art piece, "What do you Reject?"

Camp Take the Heat

By Chelsea Dawn

LolSix camp members are building a paper mache ocean vent art installation- several hollow tubes on a base with a fog machine and LED lights inside. Also adding ocean decor and lighting for carport public gathering space.

Propane for firepit.

Cats in space: Meow Station 9

By Nelson Unsworth

~8'x16'x8' (WxLxH) structure with space for lounging/viewing fire circle on top. Below the top deck is space for

bar/living room/sound. The frontage will be a large cat that can projection map or lit up with LED rope lighting.

Cirque Steamworks R & D LabsZ

By Steve La Riccia

My contraptions are made recycled items, repurposed into an interactive art.

Most pieces are 8 -12 cubic feet and under.

Cosmic Chai Tea Bar

By Space Case

We are building a tea bar in our space that will serve as a bar for 'to-go' orders, a display case of otherworldly artifacts we've picked up in our travels, suspicious food items (not edible), and a DJ booth for ambient human near you!

Costco Camp Frontage

By Duckie

Frontage Signs for a camp returning to SOAK need to be reprinted. Additionally would like to buy several reclaimed inexpensive wood pallets to act as camp frontage, which we can attach various "Store Hours"

"GRAND OPENING" and subsequent "GOING OUT OF BUSINESS" banners.

DSF Playatech benches

/Photo-op cutouts/bar sign

By Magcelium

We will build two "loveseat" playatech benches and set them up in our camp frontage space. We will also build two photo cutout boards for our frontage space, painting them with a design that supports this years theme. Lastly, we will paint a sign for our bar that lets people know what time it will be open, and what libations we have to offer.

Fire Camp Propane for Poofers and Fire Pits

By Khan

6 poofer frontage with 2 propane fire pits for warmth under the big top.

FryGuy Kitchen

By Kyle Rich & Tuna Guys

We operate an all inclusive kitchen and provide quality food made with love for a minimum of 10 services throughout the week.

Hang Loose Camp Civic Grant Sign Frontage

By Joseph Tiegs (Echo) & Evan Greenwald

Main 'Hang Loose' lasercut, multi colored wood sign (see example of previous work in picture attached), other hammock instruction limit signs, other camp/wayfinding signs, string lights, stanchions, flag materials

Haus Anima art repair & frontage upgrades

By Zhigalka, Ribbit, & Kalesta

We built 3

loveseats in 2023; now we are going to make them more comfortable with custom upcycled cushions as well

as adding an additional couch to provide a comfortable respite under our Dream Willow art piece.

HYSS Fire Ceiling Propane

By Shiny and Jah

It's a 10' steel frame that holds up a small structure made with a welding blanket. Propane is run through the top and lit underneath, trapping the flame in the welding blanket. It's really pretty!

Krampusberg frontage

By Krampus

We are adding custom metal signs to the front of the bar. We are switching to rechargeable batteries for our faux candles.

Medusa

By Ocellia

Medusa is a 38" acrylic, LED and aluminum sculpture. It can stand alone, but was designed to sit on top of the

30' tall Clusterfuck circus big top as a neighborhood beacon. It will be a permanent fixture at all events

attended by Camp Clusterfuck.

Over Fuckin Rated Warming Fire

By Ian dustrial + Friends

We bring a propane fire pit that is on all night every night for people to enjoy. And to provide it for the public in addition to our camp offerings. We provide a comfy ambiance around it with chairs / pillows.

Plunderground

By Holiday + Friends

The Flaming Sunflower Bouquet which is a visually enchanting cluster of drooping steel flowers. During the day, it invites participants to sit beneath the massive flowers and feel a sense of wonder... At night, the flowerheads are filled with slow billowing flames at each center, which cast light, beauty, and warmth.

Teenie Weenie Art Tent

By BFG

20 lb propane cans for fire. 3 playa tech love seats getting spruced up and Themed Up

Universal Eggsperience Inviting Origins

By Cartoon Bunny and Universal Eggsperience

To improve the interactive artistry of our frontage and welcome participants into the deeper realms of our offerings, we will construct a large golden pussy archway that occupies about 7 feet of our frontage (width).