Hopeful first timer & is this a do-able project?

[Cataract]

As I've posted in the introduction thread, I go by the name of jon, I'm going to turn eighteen next week, I hail from England... I've just stumbled across BM recently and really like the idea...

Before I even heard of this, me and a beloved mate of mine had been planning to take an ambitious road trip across the USA and central america - to buy a VW bus in new york next summer, or the year after, and drive it to mexico, taking in anything and everything to see along the way...

obviously, you can see where burning man could fit in very nicely. I was reading up on the project, really liking the idea and then thinking - wait, well I can't go to this event and do nothing..

so thinking of something interactive and artistic that just me, my friend, our VW bus, sufficient but minimal funds, little packing space...

I've come up with this...
to park the bus on a large weighted down tarpaulin, mask off all the windows, chrome bits etc etc (thus creating a very nice dark shady cool space to take a siesta) and set out a load of spray paints, brushes and buckets for anyone and everyone to repaint and redecorate our 21st-century hippy van as many times over as possible...... take a couple photographs of different stages and so on... and then may we continue our trip on tuesday morning looking sufficiently more psychodelic than before..

never having been even NEAR nevada before - I ask this -

1. would sand and dust storms be constantly ruining this constant art-in-progress? would we need to cover it over with a large tent structure or anything?
2. would the paint just end up bubbling and cracking in the heat (we might put a primer on first)
3. would I have to buy very large amounts of paint just to keep peoples artistic urges satisfied?
OR conversely
4. parked in the normal camping area, would this actually generate much interest and participation?
5. has this been done before/many a time before?
6. is this too ambitious for someone who's never been to BM thus far?

theres probably a load of questions relating to BM I wouldn't even know how to ask, too...

sorry if this is a bit long, but you can tell I'm getting excited already =D

(and no I'm not intending to move it at all during the festival so I'm not worried about DMV licencing and so on... )

thanks for any helpful and constructively critical responses.

[Kriten]

1. Would sand and dust storms be constantly ruining this constant art-in-progress? would we need to cover it over with a large tent structure or anything?

The wind may be a problem with spray paint. Possibly you could use an acrylic paint. You want to make sure thou that if will dry fast and not bleed. The last thing you want to have to do is leave a huge colorful mess on the playa. Remember leave no trace. Consider putting a tarp underneath and raise the ends with wood to off set the run off. Incase of rain.

2. would the paint just end up bubbling and cracking in the heat (we might put a primer on first)

That will be an issue on the type of pain to get some paints spray of now actually take better in dry heat. Most cars a painted and then baked in a huge oven

3. would I have to buy very large amounts of paint just to keep peoples artistic urges satisfied?

Yes quite some paint is you plan to have this open all day every day. Maybe consider making paint schedules so you can control the use of paint.

4. parked in the normal camping area, would this actually generate much interest and participation?

Yes parking anywhere will work although the denser the populous around you the better.

5. has this been done before/many a time before?

I have not gone to burning man yet but let me tell you I have scoured the reports and journals, all the logs of eplaya and photo galleries. I haven't come across anything like this yet.

6. is this too ambitious for someone who's never been to BM thus far?

Never! My first year, I plan to offer a community pub. But sadly in American you’re not of legal age to drink


As a side not VW really done have much space if you do still plan to go try to form a small group with some other burners not necessarily a camp just someone willing to bring extra supplies for you as well I’m sure you may not have enough room for food cooling and storage and water along with all you art and survival necessities. I suggest finding the dimensions of an old VW and figuring out space demands. It can be done but you will need comprehensive planning. I plan to go to BM 07 as my first as well perhaps I can be your American contact that will double as your survival aid

[AntiM]

Basically a good idea, and you've hit most of the potential problems right on. Wind is a huge factor, one year we had dust white-outs every morning and afternoon. You'll just have to factor in the dust (there is no sand) as part of the texture of your new decor.

Heat can be a problem; you'll need a way to protect the paint from direct sunlight; cans of paint will dry up and become hard lumps. How will you clean the brushes if using that sort of paint? Disposables? Spray paint might be a better option, but some prepare for some cans to walk off. Don't put out all your paint at once. Picasso Camp put up large canvas walls to be painted; they used brushes and acrylics with drop cloths underneath, so painting can be done out there. Even though I do the Home for Wayward Art, I don't provide paints and art supplies; I've decided the responsibilty for the mess is more than I care to deal with in the desert. That's just me; simplicity. Your plan sounds like you can make it simple to maintain and clean up after your project.

A good way to secure a drop cloth to the playa is with bigass masonry nails; they're about 10 inches long and pound in right through the grommets. A weighted tarp can be tricky, if someone accidently moves your weights you've got flap and slap.

Once playa brain sets in it is difficult to stick to a schedule, so posted painting times may not work well. Will people be allowed to paint at night? If so, how would you light the work area? Solar? 12v? Not your car battery, a spare and how would you charge it up? You can always make a sturdy open and closed sign and a sign explaining the project so people wandering by know they're supposed to pitch in and it isn't just something you're doing yourself.

The event ends on a Monday; we're all expected to leave then, not Tuesday. You'll see folks staying behind for clean-up, but they've got prior permission and asssignments. Don't count on staying the extra day; you may well be asked to pack it up and take yourselves away.

Hehehe, you said normal camping area.

Sounds like a decent idea; normally I advise first timers to just try to take it all in the first go, but since this may be your only chance, you may be able to pull this off. At least you're not setting up a bar, everyone does bars. Keep reading and planning and asking questions, you'll get it together.

[Cataract]

thanks..

yeah, I was thinking of buying enough paint to be one or two cans of each colour per day, and sort of ration it that way..

raising the edges of the tap slightly to stop runoff etc sounds like a good idea, yeah..

probably just keep the paints on a tray or basket with a sunshade over them I imagine... maybe on top of our cooler, heh.

I wasnt really thinking of having set opening schedules, really, just leaving it out for anyone who wants to come along at any time, provided there's still some of the day's paint left lying around..

I could see about just getting a small ring of electric lights with their own battery overnight so that people can see and add to it at night - it shouldn't bother us who'd be sleeping inside, as the windows are masked over and blacked out, and we'll have the earplugs... hehe

plus if we're trusting people not to nick stuff, we could probably just lock up the van and walk away completely, wouldn't stop people from adding stuff.

yeah, I think a sign saying "Paint our Burningmanvan for us. please don't nick the paint, we're poor students" should do the trick..

I think the dust might not stick provided its a type of very quick drying stuff..

well, "normal" as far as BM normal goes

oh yeah, and depending on how much it gets used, most of the art which is put on will probably get covered over later on in the week, so I was thinking of taking pictures of each stage and sending it out to an email list of anyone who wanted to see how their work on it turned out....


I think the most unfortunate thing about this is we'll probably end up getting too attached to the van to want to sell it in mexico..

As a side not VW really done have much space if you do still plan to go try to form a small group with some other burners not necessarily a camp just someone willing to bring extra supplies for you as well I’m sure you may not have enough room for food cooling and storage and water along with all you art and survival necessities. I suggest finding the dimensions of an old VW and figuring out space demands. It can be done but you will need comprehensive planning. I plan to go to BM 07 as my first as well perhaps I can be your American contact that will double as your survival aid

cheers. we might have to have a trailer for the rest of the trip anyway so it should be okay.... more vehicle space for our BM comrades to decorate.. probably pick up a cheap bike or two from somewhere in the US along the way..

and thanks a lot for that offer.... although we might be there in 06

........

as for this being the only time I could go ....... not necessarily, flights can be fairly cheap if you pick 'em right.... however this is the only time I could take a bus, trailer, and pair of bicycles!

[blueniteowl]

There are some good thoughts in there. But remember to try and limit your expectations. There is plenty of crime on the playa, don't think that anything you own won't be nicked even if you ask nicely. I would recommend not just leaving things out when your not at home. What if someone who was drunk or high came by and start just throwing the paints around. You could end up with a large mess to clean up and cleaning paint off of the playa could be rather difficult.

probably just keep the paints on a tray or basket with a sunshade over them I imagine... maybe on top of our cooler, heh.

I don't think that this will really work for you if you plan to leave it out for extended periods of time. Remember that it is very, very dry out there and paints will turn as hard as a rock within a matter of one or two hours. I tried to glue some things into a scrapbook last year and had problems with my glue drying on the back of the page before I could even get it in the book. I don't think that acrylics would be the best paint to use. I'm not sure what would be better though. Definately not quick drying though as it will dry right on the brush before you can even get it on the van. You'd need to find a paint that will stick on top of automobile paint or metal. And remember that paint also has difficultly sticking to unclean surfaces. The dust will stick to everything, and get in places that you'd rather it didn't. It's a very fine akaline dust that usually won't clean off with just water, you have to neutralize it with a mixture of water and vinegar.

I'm not trying to discourage you here, I'm just trying to help you prepare. You could open up the paints when you are home and invite passersby, neighbors, new friends to paint on it with you. That way you'd also be more in control of what gets painted on there. There are people that might put crude, rude and vulgar things if not told otherwise. Are you okay with that? It might draw unwanted attention to you later on in your trip in other states.

You've got a really good head start though so should be able to whip it all together. Good luck! And wow that trip sounds like fun, it's also something I'd like to do one day.

[Cataract]

I don't think that this will really work for you if you plan to leave it out for extended periods of time. Remember that it is very, very dry out there and paints will turn as hard as a rock within a matter of one or two hours. I tried to glue some things into a scrapbook last year and had problems with my glue drying on the back of the page before I could even get it in the book. I don't think that acrylics would be the best paint to use. I'm not sure what would be better though. Definately not quick drying though as it will dry right on the brush before you can even get it on the van. You'd need to find a paint that will stick on top of automobile paint or metal. And remember that paint also has difficultly sticking to unclean surfaces. The dust will stick to everything, and get in places that you'd rather it didn't. It's a very fine akaline dust that usually won't clean off with just water, you have to neutralize it with a mixture of water and vinegar.

........

That way you'd also be more in control of what gets painted on there. There are people that might put crude, rude and vulgar things if not told otherwise. Are you okay with that? It might draw unwanted attention to you later on in your trip in other states.

that's slightly disappointing in one sense, I'm used to european metal festivals where on the whole you can usually trust that your stuff isn't gonna be nicked....

but yeah, thinking over those reasons I think maybe it ourght to be limited to when there's one of us around to make sure nothing particuallarly untoward happens.. I guess I was kinda hoping to let people do it in their own time..

it sounds like I should do some major research on the paint there..

like I said, we could have an auto paint primer coat, which should make it possible to use most kinds of paint on there..

I'm not too concerned about people painting giant penises or whatever, I'm sure if theres anything particuallarly bad we can just paint over it.
plus we will have completed about 60-70% of the trip already, and will have visited some of our more sensitive american relatives already in a slightly less standout looking van.. hehehe

cheers

[robotland]

I'd love to be able to come by and help vandalize your ride....Closer to the event, I think that if you post a request for folks to bring a can or two of spraypaint then you'll probably have plenty. I know that you'll be covering a lot of new territory on your trek, but the kind of surplus stores that sell Chinese tools and tarps often have vast supplies of cheap spraypaint. I personally go through lots and LOTS of Krylon paint, and vouch for its color-quality, quick-drying capacity and ease of application. Spraypaint is the most practical solution for getting lots of layers onto something without big patches of it sloughing off, and you can reduce the wind-and-dust problems by making a partial wind shelter that can be moved around at will. The hot dryness is a WONDERFUL environment for Krylon, and the warm metal even partially bakes the enamel on...I compound this effect when painting my aluminum sculptures by blasting the fresh paint with a MAPP torch, which also creates pretty color effects.
For nighttime play, look into 12V or solar landscape lights- A couple of spots on poles should do it. (I envision a kooky rig mounted on the roof of the VW, like billboard illumination, but that's another project.)
Oh....and DON'T forget the stencils! A stack of aluminum roofing shims is an integral part of my paint kit, and you can cut intricate designs with scissors or a matte knife. Hold up loads better than cardboard, but I'd pack some of that, too. And masking tape.
Lemme know when and where to bring the spraybomb.

[Cataract]

I'd love to be able to come by and help vandalize your ride....Closer to the event, I think that if you post a request for folks to bring a can or two of spraypaint then you'll probably have plenty. I know that you'll be covering a lot of new territory on your trek, but the kind of surplus stores that sell Chinese tools and tarps often have vast supplies of cheap spraypaint. I personally go through lots and LOTS of Krylon paint, and vouch for its color-quality, quick-drying capacity and ease of application. Spraypaint is the most practical solution for getting lots of layers onto something without big patches of it sloughing off, and you can reduce the wind-and-dust problems by making a partial wind shelter that can be moved around at will. The hot dryness is a WONDERFUL environment for Krylon, and the warm metal even partially bakes the enamel on...I compound this effect when painting my aluminum sculptures by blasting the fresh paint with a MAPP torch, which also creates pretty color effects.
For nighttime play, look into 12V or solar landscape lights- A couple of spots on poles should do it. (I envision a kooky rig mounted on the roof of the VW, like billboard illumination, but that's another project.)
Oh....and DON'T forget the stencils! A stack of aluminum roofing shims is an integral part of my paint kit, and you can cut intricate designs with scissors or a matte knife. Hold up loads better than cardboard, but I'd pack some of that, too. And masking tape.
Lemme know when and where to bring the spraybomb.

heh, cheers dude, I like the sound of that...

I'll keep you informed