Anchoring Large-Scale Art in the Playa

Not so Bland · Post by **Not so Bland** » Sat Jan 24, 2009 10:00 am

I am applying for an art grant, and would love to know the etiquette regarding anchoring artwork into the playa. I attended in 2006 and recall 'Big Rig Jig'. I spoke with someone who helped install the work, and they claimed I-beams were sunk 10 feet into the playa to keep it safe.

Specifically, I am interested in sinking 200 2" pipes measuring 2 feet long flush into the playa*. This would be accomplished by pre-drilling the holes with an auger. [b]Any red flags for this approach? [/b]Should I plan on collecting the playa dirt to fill in the holes once the pipes are removed?

Thanks,
Bland

*For a visual of the framework for this sculpture visit: http://www.blandhoke.com/scuplture.php?id=6

Post by **Elderberry** » Sat Jan 24, 2009 10:04 am

Interesting project. Are/How you going to light it?

I don't know much about the 'rules' but it doesn't sound to me that what you are doing would be causing much more scarring than all the rebar that everybody uses to anchor their tents and shade structures.

JK

Not so Bland · Post by **Not so Bland** » Sat Jan 24, 2009 10:19 am

Lighting is in the works. Perhaps solar LED lamps or reflective tape. I also posses some phosphorescent tape which may be interesting..check out http://www.blandhoke.com/scuplture.php?id=13

dragonfly Jafe · Post by **dragonfly Jafe** » Sat Jan 24, 2009 10:24 am

...have you been to this page yet?

http://www.burningman.com/installations ... ntion.html

Down at the bottom is an email address where you can ask the people at BMorg that handle such stuff...

Post by **Elderberry** » Sat Jan 24, 2009 10:25 am

Nice.

Looking forward to seeing it on the playa!

JK

phil · Post by **phil** » Sat Jan 24, 2009 11:15 am

It looks gorgeous. I look forward to seeing it at night.

I'd also favor getting the answer from BMOrg instead of from us. Having it anchored safely is a good thing, and not having leave sink holes seems to be favored by the powers that be (especially double line of a hundred pairs :->). Get answers and approval before you spend big bucks and find out you'll either not be allowed or worse have to remove it.

(Louise and I saw a guy have to remove his artwork because pieces of it were falling off and being blown around the playa.)

(As an aside, it looks _great_ in the dark. Reflective tape, however, won't work for the great majority of Burners because they don't carry lights at night. While there's something to be said for clotheslining darkwads, it does generate unfavorable PR and BMOrg seems sensitive about such things.)

Post by **mdmf007** » Sat Jan 24, 2009 1:06 pm

Not so Bland wrote:
Specifically, I am interested in sinking 200 2" pipes measuring 2 feet long flush into the playa*. This would be accomplished by pre-drilling the holes with an auger. [http://www.blandhoke.com/scuplture.php?id=6

Augering in the anchors woould make it easy, but at the same time have less holding power. I would have one of the backhoes or bobcats shove them into the playa - makes for a solider anchor. Rebar is great for this as well. Get the 1.25" size. The knurls make for awesome holding power. and you can beat 3' sections into the earth with a sliding hammer. Volunteers are always walking by and willing to pound for a few minutes.

I am poking around to find it in another window, but the BLM had a section in the permit about holes and backfilling. I would cite that as the mothod to be used. Keeping your dirt is always smart - and you would have to keep it in a box, garbage bag or other container. Wind storms are likely to blow piles away.

Bob · Post by **Bob** » Sun Jan 25, 2009 9:31 pm

What are these 2" pipes for exactly? I don't recommend predrilling if they carry much of a load. Anything up to an inch or so can be driven with a sledge hammer.

For anchoring large tents & such, the Burning Man site crew uses circus stakes or 3/4" dia steel form stakes at least 3 ft long. For anchoring guy lines for the Center Camp Cafe, the crew uses dozens of 4" dia helix screw-type ground anchors 40" long with a welded eye at the top, and larger anchors for bigger loads eg for the Man. Try McMaster Carr or Tractor Supply or somesuch -- search under "ground anchors".

SnowBlind · Post by **SnowBlind** » Mon Jan 26, 2009 11:12 pm

mdmf007 wrote:
Not so Bland wrote:
Specifically, I am interested in sinking 200 2" pipes measuring 2 feet long flush into the playa*. This would be accomplished by pre-drilling the holes with an auger.
I am poking around to find it in another window, but the BLM had a section in the permit about holes and backfilling. I would cite that as the mothod to be used. Keeping your dirt is always smart - and you would have to keep it in a box, garbage bag or other container. Wind storms are likely to blow piles away.

There is a section about digging holes in the Survival Guide:

Digging Holes

Do not excavate holes in the playa. Small holes (6 inches or less in diameter & less than 2 feet deep) used for structural support are the sole exception. When digging such a hole it is best to use an auger or a posthole digger, NOT a shovel. Bag the dirt you are removing so that it does not blow away in the wind. Refill the hole by carefully tamping the soil back into place. Repeat this process every few inches while dampening the soil. An inverted sledgehammer works well for this. Experience has shown that the larger holes easily erode within a year's time, even when carefully backfilled. They leave a visible mark and create a serious safety hazard to drivers throughout the rest of the year.

Anchoring Large-Scale Art in the Playa

Anchoring Large-Scale Art in the Playa

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