"Oh I just don't know where to
begin..." (E. Costello, Accidents Will Happen)
I'm humbled, honored and kind of like a "deer in the
headlights" after such a whopping success of our Ein Hammer art
installation at Burning Man 2010. It is my deepest hope
that our 42 member crew looked up at its gleaming reflection of
magnificent flames complimented by the interactive theater and
really "owned" the results as there is no way in hell I could
have pulled it off so beautifully without each and every one of
them. There was a very important member of our crew named Dave
Karlenzig whose passing after our return from the playa has
shocked us all. He was half the inspiration behind the
piece, a worker who shared with us his "hive culture" of skill
and strength, and we now dedicate Ein Hammer to our fondest
memories of him.
We did a lot of the initial 3-D design using the Google
Sketchup program and at one point during the installation one of
the crew members (Dan?) exclaimed "Oh my God... we're IN the
Sketchup!". We were all surprised at just how accurately
the experience resembled the original concepts including Magic's
flame effects simulations in the video below.
I am in the midst of compiling the videos from the many
fine Burners who took the time to capture our work in all its
glory. If you've got some to share, please contact me as
we hope to complete a video montage for Youtube and Facebook
that does the piece justice.
Be well and do strange things,
-Mister Jellyfish.
Photo by Fred Slater
Chelsea Chen as Rotwang The Inventor, a crazed barker inspired
by the 1927 film "Metropolis"
Miko as a Strudel Girl ushered "Ze Wėrkers" to their respective
sledgehammers
Original Demonstration Video
Original Concept:
Underground, beneath a giant sledge hammer, busy
workers move among tunnels and turbines visible from the
portholes on the ground. Infinity mirrors and a large
conveyor belt moving tools to the workers below furthers the
illusion. The stalled subterranean power turbines that run
the city need a "bump start", and a call is made to participants
for their help.
Original 3-D concept image
Three regular-sized lightweight sledge hammers are the tools for
interaction. When a participant slams one down, a deep, low sound shakes
the ground, feet, ankles, etc. The more simultaneously the three
hammers are slammed, the higher the flames go up the giant
hammer's shank. A
stall at the top of the trajectory like that of a metal weight
makes the interface that much more reminiscent of the "High
Striker" carnival attraction. If they get the flames all the way
to the top, the hammerhead spins with fire, unfolds, and
reflects shafts of light downward like an infernal disco ball as
the underground turbines groan up to speed. Strength and
accuracy matter not-- it's all in the timing.
Concept
Image by Maciej
Dressed as Rotwang from
the 1927 silent film, Metropolis, A crazed barker with German
accent engages the crowd into
joining in as they give the three hammer-shlammers the count "Eine...
zwei... drei... jetzt!" igniting a mutual obsession to
restore power to the city and resume the status quo.
Ein Hammer (German for One Hammer) is a tribute to workers as one-- that
with all of our grand ideas, promises, or sales of derivatives,
nothing happens unless the workers work... together.
Slam The Hammer!
Art like The
Ein Hammer Project requires a bundle of bucks, marks, and euros to
pull it off in a way that delights worker brothers and sisters like
you. Please click on the Paypal donation link below and make a
contribution of any size. Together, we'll make history at
Burning Man 2010 whilst speaking in
outrageous German accents!
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