AlchemEyes | Burning Man Project

**Image:** 'AlchemEyes' by House of Fabl in the Black Rock Desert, Nevada

TITLE: ALCHEMEYES
ARTISTs: HOUSE OF Fabl
26 August - 2 SeptemBER 2024

Introduction

This project involved an artwork installation in the Black Rock Desert, for one week, in Summer 2024. It received about 70,000 visitors and was a meeting point for communities and groups, day and night, as a key fixture in the desert. The artwork sustainability was coordinated starting from the design process and funding process, and the major material elements such as the wood, the prints and the energy were organized to be as sustainably sourced as possible. The studio works in a collaborative manner to broaden and share the experience of making the artwork. There was no air travel or air freight for the project.

House of Fabl's artists Hunter Leggitt, Jonathan Berry, and Brian Pinkham premiered AlchemEyes, their 36-foot tall abstract representation of the visual eye cortex at Burning Man. The artwork is comprised of six super graphic artworks representing archetypal sources of perceptive inspiration and a 7,000 pixel LED sculpture representing the synaptic process and neural pathways of the imagination. The artists' write:

"Where the eyes become the windows to the cosmos and the synapses ignite with wonder. Untethering from the default, reach up to touch the infinite. As the child’s imagination transforms a sandbox into pure potential, let us break free from the ordinary and wander down the rabbit hole! Liberation lies in curiosity; Soften your gaze and delight in a journey beyond the mundane."

Climate Approach to Project

Every design element and material choice is crafted to maximize the experiential impact on our audience and minimize the consequential impact on our environment. As a studio we practice recycling, composting, all local travel is on two wheels. All components of the material production of the artworks are designed to minimize waste. As a studio, we limit scrap and re-utilize wherever possible. Onsite exhibition production and logistics are shared through our HUB camp partnership, for shared resources and efficiency.

Carbon Emissions from Travel (tCO2e): 0.03

Carbon Emissions from Shipping (tCO2e): 2.81

Carbon Emissions from Energy Use (tCO2e): 2.85

Emissions - Other Categories (tCO2e): 0.23

Emissions - Accuracy: Accurate

Emissions Calculation Description & Methodology:

For the calculation, the data was collected by the artists. The Gallery Climate Coalition v2 calculator and the Artists Commit data collection template were used. Scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions were engaged; food was not included in the calculation.

Waste Report Description & Methodology:

This is a 95% no-waste artwork. The studio has a zero waste policy, wherein material scraps are used and/or repurposed. In a collaboration toward material efficiency, the design team thinks through the eventualities of the cutting and fabrication. When the studio machines out a piece of plywood, they work to use all sections of a board in a puzzle piece manner. When there is a scrap, it is repurposed or recirculated. In order to avoid waste from the frames, supports, and equipment, the studio turns to rentals (which lead to longer lifecycles for the objects), which composed the majority of the volume of this artwork. The entire artwork is stored for reuse and will be exhibited and reconfigured in the future.

Climate Actions Taken:

Sourced sustainable materials: The plywood is FSC certified. Our fabricator has a no waste policy, applying all scrap material waste to other projects.

Rented truss superstructure: 70% of the volume of the sculpture was rented, reusable staging material.
Rented generator: reusable, high efficiency generator to provide light energy.
Rented lighting: all LED, lowest possible power consumption, and reusable.
Arranged ground travel and shipping: There was no air travel or air freight for the project.
Reusable prints: The prints are designed to be reused.
The artist collective works in a collaborative manner to broaden and share the experience of making the artwork.

A focus of the Climate Action when making this artwork was to rent the majority of the art's underlying Truss. The scale of the artwork is considerably large, and can be seen from a mile away. However, the material emissions from the build of this artwork is comparatively small at 0.41 metric tonnes of carbon emissions due to putting an emphasis on renting the materials.

How did the project support staff to take climate action?

The sustainability conversations by the fabrication and build team, and the installation team were a central part of the build. The CNC shop has a zero waste policy and supports staff in thinking how to repurpose any scrap lumber.

Exhibition credits:

ARTISTS: Hunter Leggitt, Jonathan Berry, Brian Pinkham

BUILD TEAM: Hunter Leggitt, Jonathan Berry, Brian Pinkham, Ryan Young, Noah Ray, Hans Valor, Lena Keller, Autumn Muckenhirn, Clayton Wangbichler, Gretchen Leggitt, Reuben Sadowsky, Luca De Vico, Jason Hester

FABRICATION TEAM: House of Fabl, Featherbuilt, Bonnie Gregory

LED TEAM & CONTENT: Photonic Bliss, Keenan Hock

STRUCTURAL ENGINEER: Carl Fosholt / Craft Engineering

PHOTOGRAPHY & DRONE VIDEO: Noah Ray, Atlas Media / Jess Gallo, Keenan Hock

A.S.S. TEAM: Peter Platzgummer, Weapons Grade, JRay, Mustang, Hairball

HEaT TEAM: Bruiser, Alpheus Underhill, Witchfinger

SPECIAL THANKS: Lotus Art Fund, Daniela Auñón, Tracey Oliver / Sierra Arts Foundation, Mainlight,

THANKS to: Jessica Gath and Haley Mellin for the Climate Impact Report work