I am a visual artist and have a refined aesthetic sense, but for me, the building is about the joy of working really, really, really hard with people I care about and who care about me and producing something that’s bigger than anything any of us could have dreamed up by ourselves. I have since moved on from Temples, doing big art projects. That’s where I met Dave and where I met a lot of the people that I build with today. I built a couple of Temples, which is about creating a place where people could add meaning to their lives and experience something more than just shiny visual art. I got started doing art very early, and the thing that brought me into Burning Man art was experiential art, where you’re creating an experience for someone.
Folly Builders, 2019 (Photo courtesy of the artists) How did you get involved in Paradisium ? The following are excerpts from our conversation, which took place in June 2022. Recently, Kai Dalgleish, a Paradisium interior design coordinator, took a break from the busy build to share their thoughts on the many ways Paradisium aligns with the sustainable-first ethos of the collective and to give us a behind-the-scenes peek into some of the innovative ways this human-made forest is up-leveling environmentally friendly big art. Trees are intelligent, strong, and adaptive, and in Paradisium, they also become a clear reflection of Folly Builders’ dedication to creating dynamic, earth-friendly art experiences that stay with the participant long after the playa dust has settled.įolly Builders are racing to complete Paradisium by a July 30 deadline, with the imminent shuttering of their long-time workspace (American Steel Studios in Oakland) nipping at their heels. The symbolism is rich: life rekindling after a long period of death and destruction. “Paradisium” by Dave Keane & Folly Builders, 2022 (Image courtesy of the artists)Ī comprehensive forest ecosystem, complete with flora and fauna, the Paradisium story continues where The Folly left off, a family of trees born from the regenerative power of the ashes left behind by the burned village. After a two-year COVID-enforced incubation period, Dave and his team will present Paradisium.
Last embers of the burn had turned cold, the seed of the next big thing began to germinate. But the force of creation pulses strong through Dave and his band of badass makers.
Shipit journal drivers#
It would be natural to take a massive breath after a project like The Folly-go off-grid, move to Italy, swear off chop saws and impact drivers forever. In 2019, guided by their lead artist, Dave Keane, the crew brought their immense talent-individually and collectively, key members have played roles in many of the playa’s most notable Temples, Man Bases, and art pieces-to the creation of Theįolly, the mind-exploding fishing/mining village that enraptured visitors with its towering height, winding passageways, and near endless nooks and crannies.Ĭonstructed primarily with reclaimed materials (though safety precautions required the use of virgin lumber for structural elements), including wood, ropes, clocks, and decorative elements, The Folly demonstrated just how far you could go when you give resources a second life. The Bay Area big art creators seamlessly weave environmental stewardship into their massive installations from inception through finale, manufacturing dazzling immersive experiences that refuse to place art before the planet. For Folly Builders, sustainability is simply who they are. For some organizations, sustainability is something they have to do, an add-on that helps keep integrity intact and values respected.