Established through a 2016 Burning Man Honoraria art grant, The Giant Weta is an interactive Black Rock City build project from New Zealand which will bring a large steel weta to Burning Man, Kiwiburn and beyond.
Older than some dinosaurs, the endangered Giant Weta needs your help! Not known for it’s beauty, the world’s heaviest insect is heading to the Burning Man Playa this year as an art project led by Auckland Burners.
To craft it out of metal, create flame effects shooting from its antennae, transport it there, and then back for Kiwiburn, we need your support!
Who are we?
Auckland Burners is a group of Kiwiburners from New Zealand’s largest city who meet fortnightly throughout the year to share ideas. As a collective, they have collaborated to select, design and build an interactive art piece to take to Burning Man,Nevada, in 2016. The group is led by Hippathy Valentine - a Burning Man Regional Contact and artist. Hippathy is most well known for his work on the Temple for Christchurch, a temple built in a civic environment to commemorate the 2011 Canterbury Earthquakes.
Long-time Auckland burner Andrew Benson brought forth the idea for the Weta, and is a co-creator of one of Kiwiburn’s first art car the Flaming Tea Cup. Kiwiburn is New Zealand’s Burning Man Regional event, now in it’s 14th year, it is held annually near Hunterville in the North Island. .
The group were keen to build a uniquely New Zealand structure to take to Burning Man. The Giant Weta is native to NZ (their genus name, Deinacrida, is Greek for “fierce grasshopper”). Also endangered, they are examples of island gigantism. The uniqueness of the insect along with the interactivity incorporated into the Artwork will enable participants to connect with a part of New Zealand whilst on the Burning Man playa.
Where's the money going?
The money raised in this crowdfunding campaign will be used for:
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Steel for constructing the weta
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Shipping costs to the USA
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Rental costs for our build space
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Consumables for the build e.g. welding wire, grinding disks and bandsaw blades
The bigger picture...
Build spaces such as NIMBY in Oakland or The Generator in Reno are what us Auckland Burners have been dreaming about. This project is the catalyst to start our own such space.
Through this project we have managed to secure a lease on a building in Central Auckland.This project will be the first of many, as we finally have a space to build and create in.
By supporting this project you are supporting an ever evolving ecosystem of artists in Auckland. We hope that this project shows people what is possible, providing space and tools for more projects to come.
Other ways you can help
If you can't afford to donate to our campaign here's how you can help:
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Spread the word! Share the link to this Indiegogo and get you're friends talking about this project.
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Volunteer: We're currently building this project in Auckland, New Zealand and need crew to help us. Fill in this form for details on how to volunteer.
- Tools: Got any spare tools laying around needing a home? We can find them one!
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Run a fundraising event: Got time but no money? Get in touch we can work together to get something going!
But what is Burning Man?
Once a year, tens of thousands of people gather in Nevada, USA’s Black Rock Desert (also known as “the playa”) to create Black Rock City, a temporary metropolis dedicated to community, art, self-expression, and self-reliance. They depart one week later, having left no trace whatsoever.
Right, so what’s Kiwiburn then?
Kiwiburn is New Zealand’s annual regional Burning Man event. It is the longest running international regional burn and saw 1,600 participants in 2016. The theme for the 2017 event is “The Robots are Coming!” and is set to be an amazing event.
Rewards
Hip flask
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Artists impression
T-shirt
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Artists impression
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Artists impression
Hoodie
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Artists impression
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Artists impression
