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[[ … URGENT INCOMING TRANSMISSION :: COMMS HAVE BEEN RECONNECTED FROM THE ICARUS SPACESHIP, TRAVERSING ACROSS THE GALAXY – ASSUMED LOST, NOW FOUND :: THIS IS NOT A TEST :: STRAP IN // HOLD ON // READ CAREFULLY :: ]]
It has been almost a decade since the ICARUS mutant vehicle first took flight (2014!) at our beloved home of Black Rock City. At Burning Man 2023, this motley crew is gathering once more to give our art project a final sendoff and lay it to rest. In lieu of bringing the full art car back, we are building an art installation: a last chapter telling the story of what happened *after* the ICARUS spaceship flew too close to the sun, burned its wings, and fell from the sky…
In Greek mythology, the tale goes: after ICARUS burned his wings, he fell to the sea. So we thought: what better place for our spaceship to lay rest… than on the plains of the dusty playa bed?
[[ welcome to ]]
/// ICARUS 2023: THE FINAL MISSION – FALL FROM SPACE \\\
:: the site of a spaceship that crash landed from its final endeavor to reach the sun.
Roam across the playa and you may stumble upon the remains of a beautiful beast: a double-wide military scissor lift base transformed into the ((hiding in the shadows)) spaceship known for appearing out of the dust, out of the darkness, amidst the dust storm, traveling ahead on its next adventure…
At Burning Man 2023, we are building a wooden structure remake of the art car and integrating pieces from the original ship onto it - think: the rockets, the dance box (and stripper pole), the panels with glowing LED lights…
We are combining old with new, creating a physical representation of finding beauty in endings, power in nostalgia, hope in new beginnings, and friendship amidst chaos.
The blood, sweat, and tears that have been poured into this project since its inception have forged unspeakable bonds that undoubtedly reign true across so many builders, makers, and artists that have brought their work to playa over the years.
This art piece will serve as a place for burners to explore and reflect upon the ICARUS story as it relates to their own lives, and be a focal point for gatherings throughout the week of Burning Man.
ICARUS has been an uncannily incredible home for our group of misfits, artists, builders, trolls, shenanigan-makers and everything in between. We have not had the easiest path as we have evolved over the years – but what art project hasn't?
And as we reach the end of our road, we have faith that there is a sense of comfort in gathering the family – immediate, extended, and beyond – for a proper goodbye.
There is something special about bringing people together to create. To bond over the love of building big, beautiful art in the desert together; to watch the sun rise from the ship’s upper deck, to laugh and joke and create and express together; to get into shenanigans in the most absurd situations.
We are a crew of humans that found joy in art, in creating, in troubleshooting, in crafting, in learning, in failing, in succeeding, in trying-and-trying-and-figuring it out – together.
We built a family that shares a love for making art in the desert with friends.
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/// THE CREW NEEDS YOUR HELP GETTING THERE \\\
Building art isn’t cheap (what’s new?), so we’re fundraising this summer. Here's an overview of our budget breakdown to give you an idea of where your donations are going!
