Thursday, April 29, 2004

  Please look at the following detail plan for building out the dome. we talked about having a production work party the weekend of May 22nd. In the meantime, we can get several things prepared so that when we meet as a group, we have a great jump start with our efforts. Please give feedback and suggestions. Thanks! Phil The Tanabata Dome and Tanabata Tree Detail Description: Dome DécorTeam Leads: Barkley Anderson David Domanski Halcyon Domanski Phillip Solomonson Blake Beckstrom Pat Highlander Overview: The Tanabata practice will be one of three main interactive activities at the camp and the activities that most directly relates to the theme of this year’s camp. The other two main activities are the ceramic studio and the WhistleWorks performance. We plan to re-create the spirit of the Tanabata Asian festival with our 18-foot geodesic dome while respecting the fact that we are a group of westerns. We want to respect this Asian tradition. The interactive practice will be where guests are invited into the dome to write their wish or heart’s desire on our version of colorful Asian Tanzaku strips. The Tanzaku strips will be burning later in the week as practiced in the traditional festival. We will pull the strips and burn them in a ceremonial fashion at the beginning of the WhistleWorks Sound Sculpture Performance tentatively scheduled for Thursday night. Interior: The Dome will be decorated from the inside as a galaxy. The ideas so far include: 1. Create a tight fitting interior dark fabric wall with The Milky Way painted in day-glow paint and white decorative twinkle lights protruding through the fabric. 2. Create a layer of el-wire designed constellations mounted on secure semi-rigid frames. The constellations will be based upon ones that are relevant to the Tanabata story. 3. Hang three Asian paper star lanterns that represent the main characters in the Tanabata mythology: Altar, Vaga and Tanabata (is that correct?). 4. Build a rotating globe projector on a three-foot high pedestal that throws light that mimics a galaxy of stars. The projected lights will throw light at a mid-waste height (3 feet from the ground) up to the apex of the dome. The horizon line will be demarked with a ring of blue rope light. 5. The flooring will be covered with an eighteen-foot diameter dark carpet under a bed of thick foam to finish the environment as a comfortable chill-out space. Below the foam floor will be a protective tarp to help seal out dust, rain and natural elements. 6. A supply of blank Tanzaku strips will be available for guest to write their wishes on to be hung and displayed in the bottom-half of the dome (so that it doesn’t get in the way of the projected lights) or outside of the dome on bamboo shoots. 7. A small sound system will be installed behind the fabric. The system will be playing a continuous loop of the 70 plus minute original soundtrack of Camp Tanabata. The music will be a chill-out ambient mix with a voice over track narrating the story. 8. Modest signage will be displayed with instruction for guests to fill out the Tanzaku strips and how to hang them. Exterior: The dome’s exterior décor will be a simple but colorful display of bamboo, Tanzaku strips, and star lanterns. The idea so far includes: 1. A series of (24) ten-foot bamboo shoots mounted and lashed to the ground (with rebar) and to the dome on the dome’s structural PVC. The bottom of the bamboo shoots will be on the inside of the dome and will protrude out at the dome’s seems approximately three feet from the ground. Symmetrically, the dome has 12 logical points where two bamboo shoots can be lashed in a cross pattern. This configuration will add durability to the bamboo and create a visual spectacle. Finally, at the top of the bamboo, we will have Asian style star lanterns mounted. Lower on the bamboo shoots will be filled out Tanzaku strips. 2. Install four 29 inch triangle informational signs within the PVC pipe cross members of the dome’s exterior windows. The signs will have a modest amount of copy explaining Tanabata and the interactive practice guests are invited to participate within the dome. The intention is to have copy lure people in and answer ‘what is this?’ in it’s most brief and concise manor. The signs could be four-inch deep shadow boxes with backlighting. 3. Since wind is a major consideration, we will want to place the dome in the most strategic position to the wind block that the RV’s will create. Materials: Our intention is to pre-make components to the Dome’s design so that when we meet up for our production weekend, we are assembling sub-parts, making field alterations and last minute additions. The material list and components includes: 1. (1) bolt, interior fabric that is soft to the touch, affordable and easy to paint with day-glow. The weave and opacity needs to be considered. Once approach is to make pie-shaped panels and attached them together with alligator clips or zip-ties 2. (1) lot Day-glow paint 3. Small twinkle lights 4. (1) lot, el-wire and semi-rigid frame with appropriate power source. Total dimensions and linear footage determined to fit the space and monitor costs since el-wire can get expensive. 5. (1) bulk, eighteen-foot diameter thick plush carpet remnant with thick foam underneath 6. (1) All weather tarp to cover eighteen-foot diameter dome floor 7. (3) Asian style star-shaped paper lanterns with appropriate power source 8. (1) lot, 1000 count of multi-colored cardboard shipping tags with reinforced punch-holes 9. (1) Rotating galaxy projection globe and pedestal with necessary throw of light and appropriate power source. Wide base for sturdy placement and resistance to contact or damage. 10. (1) Eighteen foot length of blue rope light 11. (24) ten-foot lengths of bamboo shoots 12. (24) small rebar 13. (24) Asian style paper star lanterns with appropriate power source 14. (4) 29 inch triangle shadow-box signs with backlighting and appropriate power-source. 15. (1) portable sound system for playing Tanabata soundtrack Work Assignments: To best execute such an ambitious project and meet our timeline, we should breakdown the work to sub-parts. So when we meet for a work-party weekend, we will have a leg-up on our completion of the dome. Whereas everyone is welcome to join in, we need team leads to own the responsibility to complete the task. I propose the following work assignments: 1. Projection globe: Dave Domanski 2. Day-glow painting of The Milky Way on fabric and lights: Halcyon and Barkley 3. El-wire of constellations: Halcyon, Greg and Phil 4. Four shadow box signs: Blake and Phil 5. Bamboo and Tanzaku strips: Barkley, Phil and David 6. Carpet and flooring: Phil, Frank and Chris 7. Sound system and soundtrack music: Barkley, Phil, Blake, Pat 8. Three stars: Barkley and Phil 9. 24 Asain style star lamps: Barkley and Phil
9:20 AM

Wednesday, April 28, 2004

  Below is the result of your feedback form. It was submitted by Philamonjora () on Wednesday, April 28, 2004 at 09:58:14 --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Comments: Hey Campers, Great meeting on Sunday! We got lots accomplished and have a good plan for building our camp. I wanted to highlight some of the key outcomes. Please jump in with additional comments, corrections and concerns. Overview: 1) Camp Name: Camp Tanabata (The Festival of the Stars, featuring the Raku Ceramic Studio and The WhistleWorks) 2) Camp Count: 31 / 7 RVs - Arrivals and Departures Schedule to be revised and reposted by Phil 3) Budget: Two scenarios: A) with e-Sam contribution, per person costs are appx. $100 per B) without e-Sam contribution, per person costs are appx. $150 - budget includes one year of storage in Empire, NV. Revised budgets will be distributed as updated. Camp collections can wait until later May. 4) Shipping: Shipping has to be figured out, some things can go out with Halcyon's RV (Dome, stove, ceramics) while other items will be purchased or shipped to Orange County (c/o Frank's shop). Frank and Chris will advise everyone as to their payload limit. 5) Dome and Tanabata Tree: To be decorated inside with dark fabric with Day-Glo design of The Milky Way, Xmas tree lights, EL wire design of constellations, interior light projection of constellation, carpet, pillows, audio soundtrack of Tanabata story, exterior explanatory signage (four signs in each window triangle) and bamboo shoots with Tanazaka Strips (aka 'wish upon a star' strip, material to be determined). The bamboo shoots will be designed like a Tanabata Festival Tree. 6) Raku Studio: Burning Chicagoans provide a quantity of pre-made ceramic Japanese ceremonial tea bowls for people to glaze at the studio. Studio hours: M - T noon to 4PM, night firings M - F - bowls will be marked (when made) so that when people come by to pick up bowls, they will find the one they glazed. 7) Studio Structure: The studio will be repainted and the exterior walls stenciled to create an Asian Temple facade, the interior will be repainted, have Asian paper lanterns for mood lighting, low-legged tables, carpet and pillows. A roof will be pre-fabricated with the same pitch and eves as an Asian Temple but we will use pipe and wind screen for materials 8) WhistleWorks Performance: Tie-into the Tanabata theme, Thursday night performance, call out for fire spinners and drummers 9) Mutant Vehicle: Chris and Frank are building and designing an art car that will tie into the Tanabata theme - something like delivering your wishes and dreams - hand out Tanazaka Strips for later returning to the camp for display Barkley and I are meeting tonight and will post the work-groups that we discussed on Sunday. Cheers, Phil x: 121 y: 7 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
9:58 AM

  More research and content info for the camp: Soundtrack.doc60 Second Radio Spot final 04.04.docSoundtrack.docTanabata Practice_Outline.doc
4:52 AM

  Here is some good source information about Tanabata and Raku BC_BM_04_Source.doc
4:50 AM

Tuesday, April 20, 2004

  Here's some promotional copy for discussion: Camp Promotional Description.doc
7:12 AM

  This is the 2004 camp outline that I have e-mailed everyone. Please review and add comments.Camp Outline.doc
7:10 AM

Saturday, April 17, 2004

  Submitted by Silver --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Hi - Chris here. Got a break from the crazies and finally got here. Silver by Night
9:30 AM

Thursday, April 15, 2004

  hi all swaa online now
4:27 PM

Thursday, April 08, 2004

  RE: Camp Submission Bark- Have you been recieving e-mails on this subject?
9:51 AM

  Below is the result of your feedback form. It was submitted by Barkley () on Thursday, April 8, 2004 at 05:41:56 --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Comments: Our camp questionaire has been submitted. We are Camp Whistleworks, again, along with Tanabata, festival of the stars. Hopefully this will factor as a way of greenlighting our camp placement at the plaza. Description as submitted to Burning Man Burning Chicagoans present Camp Whistleworks along with Tanabata, festival of the stars. Support a self-sufficient gift economy by creating your own gift; medallion, trinket, whistle whatever, out of clay, and make that thing at the only fully functional ceramic studio in Black Rock City. Imagine the joy the receiver of such an object will feel, when you tell them you actually created their gift right there on the playa! Practice the mythical Asian practice of wishing upon a star at the Tanabata tree where visitors write their desires, wishes or haikus on tanzaku strips to be displayed on the tree before being ceremoniously cast into the river of fire. x: 115 y: 10 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
5:42 AM

Tuesday, April 06, 2004

  Submitted by Barkley Anderson Tuesday, April 6, 2004 --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Comments: Looks like burning the wishes isn't a new variant on the Tanabata practice of casting the wishes into the river. http://home.woh.rr.com/rbsnyder/com.html ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
11:29 AM