That’s right folks – at the Port Commission of San Francisco’s next meeting, on Tuesday, June 8th, they will discuss and have the opportunity to approve the installation of the Raygun Gothic Rocket at Pier 14 on the SF Embarcadero!

This is a tremendous opportunity for the crew and supporters of the Rocketship, for the Black Rock Arts Foundation, and for all of those citizens that would like to see more public art in our city. Although the rocketship will be closed to visitors, we are designing an informative kiosk, very much in keeping with the overall aesthetic of the ship, that will delight and share our story with the public. Cast in the guise of a ‘rocket stop’, it is to space travel what the bus stop is to public transportation.

The installation is being sponsored by the Black Rock Arts Foundation, with financial support from the Port of San Francisco and people like you! (More information on how to help will be posted once we receive official approval.)

The (open session of the) Port meeting will be held on Tuesday June 8th, beginning at 3:15 PM. We are item #10 on the agenda. Public comment is permitted, and we’d love to see some of you come out and voice your support for this opportunity. The meeting will be held at the Port Commission Hearing Room located on the second floor of the Ferry Building.

FIGMENT is a forum for the creation and display of participatory and interactive art by emerging artists across disciplines. FIGMENT began in July 2007 as a free, one-day participatory arts event on Governors Island in New York Harbor with over 2,600 participants. Since then, FIGMENT has grown significantly each year—in number of projects, duration, participants, volunteers, fundraising capability, exhibitions, locations, overall level of commitment and participation, and public support. FIGMENT now expands to the Boston area, with its first event outside of New York and is one of the 2010 Black Rock Art Foudation’s grant recipients!

FIGMENT will be produced through a partnership with the Cambridge Arts Council, on June 5, 2010, co-located with the Cambridge Arts Council’s long-running Cambridge River Festival, on Memorial Drive on Saturday, June 5, 2010 from 12 pm to 6 pm.

See the web site for directions: figmentboston.org

Paul Cesewski aka Paul de Plumber, creator of the Composting Contraption, taking it for a spin.Thanks for coming out to the Maker Faire and checking out our prototype, and providing “notes” on how we can improve the next ScrapEden project. The Black Rock Arts Foundation in partnership with San Francisco Department of the Environment are developing The Composting Contraption. This human-powered, interactive, kinetic artwork is designed to travel to local festivals, street fairs, farmers markets and schools to inspire, motivate and educate San Francisco residents to increase their practice of composting. Read more about the Composting Contraption here.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YlqFTJa6ZpM]

Prior Posts regarding the Composting Contraption

photos: Tomas McCabe
Video: Freddy Hahne

Although it was one of the coldest June 21sts in recorded history in Reno Nevade, the opening celebration for Duel Nature was fabulous.
There were hoopers…
There were “Thank Yous”…Thank you Maria Partridge for making this happen, thank you Kate Raudenbush for creating such fabulous art and thank you Crimson Rose for continuing to support the link between Burning Man, the Black Rock Arts Foundation, Reno Nevada and public art.
Thanks from Kate to Dave Aiazzi, all around renaissance man, crew member, electrician and Commissioner and Reno City Councilman.
Thanks to Spaceman for all the work he did installing Duel Nature, and thanks to all the crew not pictured here for making this happen. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

Thanks for representing the Black Rock Arts Foundation, Crimson Rose, Maria Partridge and surveyor and amazing crew member, Richard Johnson.

There was Controlled Burn

and the Black Rock Arts Foundation volunteers were well represented by Larry DeVincenzi, Public Relations, Maria Partridge, everything else and Affinity the BRAF blogger.

Prior posts about Duel Nature

photos: : Larry DeVincenzi

Come to the Maker Faire and see a preview of the next ScrapEden project, which the Black Rock Arts Foundation in partnership with San Francisco Department of the Environment is developing The Composting Contraption.

This human-powered, interactive, kinetic artwork is designed to travel to local festivals, street fairs, farmers markets and schools to inspire, motivate and educate San Francisco residents to increase their practice of composting. Read more about the Composting Contraption here. We are proud to be working with San Francisco artist Paul Cesewski, creator of a myriad of contraptions, including the bike-powered rides of Cyclecide’s Bicycle Rodeo and the Star Wheel, a participant powered rolling Ferris wheel. Mr. Cesewski also contributed to the creation of the floating sculpture rafts of Miss Rockaway Armada.

Come see this work in progress and contribute your ideas to its development!
Maker Faire
Saturday, May 22, 2010
10:00 am – 8:00 pm
Sunday May 23, 2010
10:00 am – 6:00 pm
San Mateo County Event Center
2495 S. Delaware St, San Mateo, CA 94403

BRAF’s Location at the Maker Faire

Maker Faire is a two-day, family-friendly event that celebrates the Do-It-Yourself (DIY) mindset. This community of Makers who share their projects and skills comprise a growing DIY movement of people who look at things a little differently and who just might spark the next generation of scientists, engineers and makers.

poster: Veronica Ramirez

Previously exhibited at Burning Man in 2006, Duel Nature, by artist Kate Raudenbush, is unique in its materials. During Artown – Fire dancers and spinners from Controlled Burn will entertain Tuesday evenings 8:00 – 10:00. Hula Hoopers from Velocity Movement and bohohoops present “GET HOOPED” at Hoop Jams on Wednesday evenings from 6:30-8:30 – all levels and ages are welcome. Hula hoops provided or bring your own!

Join us in celebration of Duel Nature at the opening celebration:

May 21, 2010
5 pm – 10pm
Corner of Sierra St. and Island Ave. Reno, NV
Wine & Appetizers: Sierra Arts Foundation Gallery
and then along the RiverWalk

Hula Hoop Jam from 5-8,
followed by Fire Spinning by Controlled Burn
Music by DJSource

“Duel Nature references the spiral of our human DNA. The struggle inherent to the duality of the human condition is expressed by the violence of the raw plasma-cut, bolted steel exterior, in contrast with the vitality of the interior blood-red mirror. As visitors gather inside the vibrant core of the sculpture, their myriad reflections remind us of our shared genetic bond and our shared humanity.” says the artist Kate Raudenbush.

Prior posts about Duel Nature

poster: Maria Partridge

Larry DeVincenzi, our guy in Reno said today:

Installation is underway downtown for Duel Nature – Kate Raundenbush’s incredible sculpture that was featured in today’s Reno Gazette-Journal “Playa on the River”

Here are a few shots of the crew’s progess today!

Prior posts about Duel Nature

photos: Larry DeVincenzi

More shots of the installation of Duel Nature in Reno, another fruitful collaboration with the vibrant and active Reno community. Duel Nature by Kate Raudenbush will grace the waterfront of the Truckee River in downtown Reno, NV from May 21, 2010 until December 1, 2010.

Kate making connections

Setting in place

Moving the perimeter
Richard’s eagle eye sets the level

Larry DeVincenzi, our guy in Reno said today:

Check out this amazing volunteer effort today to get Duel Nature set init’s temporary resting place downtown Reno. A huge THANK YOU to everyone who came out to help Kate Raudenbush and the team get it started!

Prior posts about Duel Nature

photos: Larry DeVincenzi

Freddy Hahne, President, BRAF Board of Directors, “Grant Seeking”

Nick Morgan, BRAF Board of Directors “BRAF Events”

Michael Barbarino “Web Development”

Johnathan “ScrapEden”

Harley Dubois, BRAF Vice President Board of Directors “Grants to Artists”

Dicky Davies, BRAF Board of Directors “Grants to Artists”
Mark Sinclair, BRAF Board of Directors “Civic Arts and Fundraising”

Harley Dubois, founding member of both the Burning Man Board and the BRAF Board hosted the evening, and just in case you were not there I thought you might like to see her note to the volunteers after the evening.

Dear BRAF Volunteers,

What a wonderful mixer we had last week! It was a real success. To those of you new to volunteering for BRAF, and are now new to this announcement list, welcome! To those of you currently volunteering with BRAF who were able to attend the mixer, I cannot thank you enough for joining us. There is no better person for a new volunteer to connect with than a committed and active volunteer. Your continued support is the key to our success. Thank You! I hope you feel the love coming through this email.

For those of you couldn’t make it, we had about 50 attendees. We presented quick overviews of nine different areas of volunteer needs:

Fundraising
Civic Arts
Grants to Artists
Grant Seeking
BRAF Events
Scrap Eden
Web Development
The BRAF Blog and social networking
Children’s Programming

It is not too late to express interest in any area. In fact, it is perfect timing. Just email volunteers @blackrockarts.org  (volunteers @blackrockarts.org)   and we will be in touch.

Thanks everyone for a fun and engaging evening.

Harley
—
Harley K. Dubois
Vice President
Grants to
Artists Chair
Black Rock Arts Foundation