Monday, August 26, 2013

Photo Journey: First Hand Build




It's been a couple months since we last updated our blog, we've been busy building! The first hand is now standing strong in all its glory, thanks to the hard work of our amazing crew. Take a look back at the last 12 weeks and the building of the first hand:

Concept photo: 3-D rendering of Colin's right hand

Live mold of Colin's right hand

Cutting the pieces of the first hand- CNC router

First hand pieces cut! 

A first stage test of the materials, construction techniques and lighting 

Thumb: full size prototype

Multi-color programmable LEDs

Testing the lights!

Settling into our build space at American Steel Studios in West Oakland

Lots and lots (and lots) of sanding...


Painting the first hand 
Painting- polyurethane clear coating








Wiring LED lights throughout each piece







Sautering and wiring 



Testing the lights!










Assembling the first hand

                                                 




First hand complete!
Metal base

Wrist assembled with LED lights





First hand assembled!



Saturday, May 11, 2013

Hands in action at American Steel's Open House!

Come out for sneak preview of the Hands art installation at American Steel Studios today, Saturday 5/11/13! We are located in Bay 8, the address is 1960 Mandela Parkway in West Oakland. There will be more than 50 artists showcasing their work and fire performances at night!! See you there!



               Hands work space at American Steel Studios, West Oakland


Thursday, May 9, 2013

Fundraiser Party Announced!


We are excited to announce our official project fundraiser party "Symmetry" will be happening this month in San Francisco!  The location is F8 a bar/club located in SOMA - address is 1192 Folsom St (Folsom and 8th).  The party is on Friday May 31 from 10p-4a.  Invite your friends and bring your dancing shoes!  DJ lineup:

Matt Haze
https://soundcloud.com/matthaze

Lenny Kiser
https://soundcloud.com/lennykiser

Or Tregger / DJ Alarm:
https://soundcloud.com/ortregger

More TBA!

Tuesday, April 30, 2013

Dave answers questions about Hands for our fundraising platform which was launched last night!

Take a moment to check it out on Indiegogo and also share it with your friends. Get a hand made gift, make a contribution, or simply follow updates. If we get enough support, we'll reach our funding goal and will help us buy quality materials for building purposes, secure a good work space, and also help us transport Hands to Black Rock city safely and efficiently.

Hands 2013 on Indiegogo

The image below will be displayed on wooden and metal medallions that will serve as gifts for those giving donations for Hands. It shows the silhouette of the Hands sculpture with the 2013 Burning Man structure in the background.

 

Please save the date for our benefit party at F8 in San Francisco, 1192 Folsom on May 31st! 
Poster and DJ line up coming soon.....

Sunday, March 17, 2013

Welcome! Join us as we create Hands, a 2013 Burning Man art installation.

For the love of Black Rock City....

We are really excited that we were recently awarded with grant money to build an art installation for burning man this year. This installation comes from the desire to build, create and give back to Black Rock City, a city that has given so much to us over the years we have attended. The installation called "hands" will be two wooden hands 12' high with palms raised to the sky designed by Dave Gertler.

About Hands

Hands is a structural re-creation of human anatomy. It is a symbol of our human nature to discover, create, and uphold.  Our hands are a primary means of self expression and are of particular interest to our group since many of our livelihoods depend on creation.  Our hands are also a symbol of our personal journeys, survival and creation throughout history.  It is our goal to create an uplifting sensation for participants through the structural pose of these magnified hands and evoke interaction with them and one another.

The position of two hands facing each other in a lotus-like pose mirrors the symmetry of our bodies.  This installation could have been one hand, but so often one hand held upright generally signifies rebellion, defiance, or some other harsh action.  At the very least, seeing one hand so pronounced may beg the question, where is the other hand? Two hands represents some of the basic principles of Black Rock City, suggesting togetherness, teamwork, unity and the act of giving and receiving.

The concept of organic human anatomy becomes evident through a structure of artificial geometry, made of a square grid of wood panels to form human hands.  Sensation is evident in pulses of light which are intrinsic and alien at the same time.  The cupping of the hands facing one another further encourages the feeling of togetherness and places an emphasis on the act of holding or offering. The artificial elements of construction come to show that our desires and possessions are beyond our nature and yet embody who we are.



 





CREATE

We are reaching out to friends, family and acquaintances that might be interested in getting involved with our project or are just interested in what we are doing to in San Francisco. Over the next 6 months we will be finalizing the design, building, lighting and fundraising for our project. We will need help with building, lighting, wiring and would love any creative fundraising ideas. As we start building we will have at least one large group work day a month as well as many smaller group meetings during the rest of the month. Once we set dates for our fundraisers we would love to see all of your smiling faces supporting, collaborating, and partying with us well we undergo this new endeavor. 

With love and dust,

Dave, Shilpi, Tasha and Daniel