Project: Archaeopteryx
Location: Black Rock City, NV
Year: 2019
Team: Nicholas DeBruyne, Mark Ransley, David Smith, Alana Hutton-Shaw, Allison Horner, Erica DeBruyne, Valentyn Syenin, Emily Eve Shannon, Ali Vermilio, JP Thwaits, Mathias Gmachl, Marjorie and Michael DeBruyne
Archaeopteryx (pronounced arch-ee-op-ter-rix) is a light sculpture that debuted at Burning Man Festival 2019, designed to bring people together.
Rising from the dust, our sculpture invites you to touch, explore, and inhabit. In order to activate her fullest potential; people must work together. Through collaboration, participants can mobilize her 20ft wingspan and activate beautiful illuminating light graphics.
Named after the first bird known to evolve from the ancient dinosaur, the work is centered around the theme of evolution. The Archaeopteryx marked an important leap in the story of evolution on earth, and the project is a physical and symbolic reminder that in order for humans to evolve, we must work together.
Making of Archaeopteryx:
This logistically complex project on a site with extreme conditions in the middle of the desert was accomplished only by a truly collaborative effort.
Explore a Digital Microcosm:
As participants are seated, sensors detect and relay their presence into the projection canvas where they become a protagonist within a simulated microcosm, manifest as a virtual "cell." Your cell is able to grow, divide, and merge with other participants in real-time over the duration of your interaction.
When participants leave the work, their cell fades to the background and becomes part of the history of the piece. In this way, the Archaeopteryx presents a collective memory of each person who has experienced it and will grow more full and vibrant as the number of participants increases over time.
With special thanks to:
Typhaine Sotes
Katie Hazard
Ali Vermilio
Rhian Lowe
Richard Harding
Hugh Thomas
Natalie Nicole
DISORIENT
Ryan Donald
Rachelle Eisentrager
Kayleigh DeBruyne
Jay Dill
Jim & Barbara Vandygriff
Brenna Baily and Truckie
Monroe County Public Library
Hetal Patel
David & Martha Moore
Far Gallery
Ignition Arts
Jessica Fry & The Generator Reno Charlotte Paul & SCORE
Shane Spring
Philippe Meicler
Owen Craven
Vincent Rommelaere
Dave Siegert
Dian Hartono
Canaan Folk-Reinke
Ted Werth
Don Papa Rum
Mary Gin
Kyunghee Mun
Marion Hunt
Torey Carrick
Chris & Kaitlyn Gin
Bill & Vicky Polanski
Cath Shannon
Susan Pritzker
Rebekah Nagy
Gina Vermilio-Shaw
Kevin Workman
Bob Vandygriff
Megan & Matt Wieck
Parker Walters
Loraine Martin
Madison Bischof
Ahmad Sadraei
Greg Gember
Gail & Steven Hale
Dave Askins & B Square Beacon
Jennifer Tilley & The Herald Times
Susan Kelly
Janice Lilly
Sarah Pugh
Sharon Mayell
Genna Dynice
Barbara Schuetter Dill
Sabrina Richter