Our beast’s internal frame structure, visualized by Architect Dan Swain. You can find more detailed drawings on our construction site.
Reno has gone wild!
Just look at them working on those layers of plywood becoming wheels for our horse’s cart. Or even better: Watch this video!
The boys in Reno are not just heavy workers, but also super up-to-date on all things Facebook. Just look at their page The Cart Before The Horse (loving the title of course!) and their steady stream of new photos and videos, documenting their progress. I think this deserves a ‘like’ by each of you!
Take a look at some gorgeous shots of our Trojan Horse construction site (dated July 17th) by filmmaker Jason Mongue.
Photo Gallery by Jason Mongue:
Trojan Horse Construction – July 17, 2011
And while you’re at it, watch Jason’s videopiece with beautiful views of last year’s Burning Man:
Jason Mongue will be documenting the production process of the Trojan Horse. So, look out for more photo goodness of our horse and it’s hardworking base of followers, here or on our Facebook Page.
The Trojan Horse Project is collaborating with Shift Ministries, a registered Nevada charitable organization, and therefore offers tax receipts for the total value of any in-kind donations or discounts. Any US business can contribute to our project with funds that would otherwise pay the IRS! Companies can support the arts, become part of an ambitious community-driven project, AND be in control of how their tax money is spent! We think that’s a pretty good deal and hope you do too.
Maybe you can help us find vendors and businesses interested in spending their tax money on the horse! Maybe you’re a business owner yourself, or you have friends who are. We’d be happy to accept any in-kind donations or discounts. Mainly we are looking for businesses offering the following materials or services: (Of course, we also accept old-fashioned donations.)
July 30, 8pm
Flaming Lotus Girls/Opulent Temple Party
The Horse will be piggybacking on this Burner Fundraiser. If we’re on schedule, we’ll have the legs and platform raised with some portions of the head and paneling completed. This will be an excellent opportunity to get a feel for the scale of this beast, to meet some volunteers in harness to the Horse, and to contribute to some of this year’s most amazing art on the playa.
August 4, 7pm-late
Monsieur Bacchus presents Trojan Burn
This fundraiser for the Horse and Down Under Burner projects features a feast of local bands and DJs including Vindan and the Loose Cannons, Svelt ,and Meow Ludo Meow Meow. This Greco-Roman spree will feature mulled wine, roast pork and vegie rolls, salacious slave auctions, and more fun than you can poke a bindle stick at. Get more info from Leash, the madcap organizer of it all: alicialei@gmail.com
With great gusto, the hammering that will make manifest our Trojan Horse has commenced! And all in an unexpected place, under the hand of an unexpected leader.
We have sadly said goodbye to Joel as our head builder (he had to exit for personal reasons), and quickly confirmed a new construction lead, staying on our build schedule. Chris Webb has stepped into the project with grace and the confident commitment to build the beast (along with an incredible team of volunteers) in just six weeks. We chose a new, more convenient site to build the horse so bid Treasure Island a fond farewell. The Horse and crew have been welcomed by NIMBY with open arms. This fabulous facility in East Oakland is a magnet for creativity.
Chris, who was born in Bakersfield, California, describes himself as “pretty well traveled for a blue collar kind of guy.” Bringing a stunning list of credentials to the project, he recently served as Manager for Engineering Operations, Utilities Engineer, and Master Mechanic for the biomedical firm, Chiron and its successors This year will be his fourth Burn in the last five years.
The team of builders has already begun assembling those long, long legs, and started on the platform and floor sections July 16. They plan to tackle the head and tail support next week, as well as a trial assembly of the frame. By July 25, the team hopes to be fitting panels and building our Horse’s head.
“I have never felt as confident as I do now about building the beast,” says Dan Fox, Construction Coordinator and the well-organized, creative guy whose fellow workers venerate him as a quick-witted hero. “We have an incredibly strong, dedicated, and enthusiastic team in place, volunteers who have stepped up and committed ta a construction schedule that is demanding and self-sacrificing, yet realistic. With this group’s absolute professionalism and sense of purpose, I know we will erect a work of art true to Douglas’ grand vision indeed.”
Videographers Sought for Grand Procession and Other Activities
Award-winning director/producer Todd Darling is looking for more shooters to film the climactic last rites of passage of the Trojan Horse on Sept. 2. Darling says, “If you’re bringing a video camera to Burning Man, we invite you to join the crew making this film. If you’re a film professional and don’t mind spending a few hours helping out Friday afternoon/early evening, we’d be thrilled. And if you have access to a camera with a good lens, then so much the better.” Details about Darling’s needs and his vision for the film can be found here.
In addition to Darling’s work, the project is seeking to film the building of the horse and Troy Camp and Jordan Betten painting his 2,500 sq.ft. mural August 21-28. Videographers will also be needed August 28-Sept. 2 to cover the interactivities of Burners costumed as various Greek deities and mortals, including such events such as the re-enactment of a battle between Greek and Trojan soldiers, recreations of the story of Troy, and the children’s story hour.
Seattle videographer Sid Fox will coordinate the Trojan Horse Video Project and oversee aggregation on the playa. Volunteers who want to help should be sure to indicate when they are available and sign up for the casting call.
Attention Hikers!
Are you following up on Thales Heliodoros‘s daily ascend of the Grouse Grind? Since June 18th he’s been conquering it every day, all in support of the horse!
Read up on Thales and Tom in this feature, or visit his Facebook page for daily reports.
