My name is Scott Kraske and I am proposing on behalf of my team and community the construction of an art project for delivery at Burning Man: Rites of Passage in August 2011 called:

Final Passage a sculpture with the elements (summary)

Final Passage

Connecting all forms of creation evolved and inspired with the elements

that gave them food, energy and faith. It is symbolic

of the beginning to life lived and renewal.

After Burning Man that ends on September 6^th, 2011, it is the artist's anticipation to work with either BRAF (Black Rock Arts Foundation) or NAF (Nevada Arts Foundation) to find a home for this piece in the city of Las Vegas Art District or other part of the city.

Imagine the Tree of Life meets the River Styx standing brilliantly in the desert shimmering with 5 branches, each holding a small flame in a tall glass chimney, surrounded by sparkling leaves. Standing 22 feet tall, this beautiful monochromatic tree will shimmer in the glowing light from the 5 flames; one on each limb. (After burning man the flames may be removed and fitted with electrical lighting unless otherwise)

The piece will be accompanied by two arches representing two halves of a passage where through a boat is passing symbolizing the transition. The ornate metal arches will also have a propane feed helping to keep visitors warm by night while casting a colorful light through the arch.

The orientation and acoustics of the project is based on a lot of religious and spiritual elements but gives the visitor the ability to take away anything they need from it.

The final construction will result in an art piece with a lot of texture and it will use light in a lot of ways to amplify the concept, either by the light generated by the piece itself of from any natural ambient light.

Theme of the Project

There are a lot of spiritual elements combined in this tree, none of which are primarily from a single religion. Since faith is a rite unto itself the perceived meaning is relevant to the individual experiencing the piece.

The tree represents a human connection to nature. In mythology the Tree of Life concept has various origins in cultures all over the world; the start of life, knowledge or even a basic desire to understand where we were coming from.

And then for many death represented by the boat is less seen as a finality but a transition into a new life or even a higher plain of existence. The boat in the water represents the Ferry Man who transported the dead to the underworld, but in this case the boat carries one through the arch from the old to the new.

One additionally interesting factor for anyone who might make a note of it, though it is not specifically demonstrated in the overall construction, the sculpture maintains all 5 elements of nature; earth, water, air, fire and spirit.

Project Schedule

Build Schedule requires concerns for weather because Las Vegas can get very hot my mid June and working out of doors with welding equipment on metal can be trecherous. So we will plan on getting the feature done before the weather turns against the team.

1 April 2011 obtain and begin building core infrastructure for tree trunk and 2 arches by welding for solid connections, but light and easily moved frame work in sections. This will be the bulk of grant money for these materials.

- buy aluminum framing

- buy welding materials

- buy gas for welding

*immediately or have already been collecting required scrap metal for later stage of design process.

10 April 2011 trunk should be completed carefully and configuring the 5 branches so the flames land in the right measurements with some asymmetry on a horizontal level with the aluminum framework.

Start chimneys (x10) for fitting and eventual placement for the next phase

- buy Chimney pyrex

- buy resources for glass blowing

25 April 2011 branches completed and begin to install electrical conduit, gas lines, compressor lines going to each branch and have the flame plate completed with testing as well as both arches; including the ignition system.

1 May 2011 the framework with installed components including gas, air and electrical and be able to be assembled. Then begin applying skin with re-proposed metals and test acoustics; all framing and general foundation work should be done and ready for texturing. All functions should be working and tested.

1 Jun 2011 should be near completion and ready for full 100% testing. Will begin tweaking and applying decorative pieces and then store for use.

25 Jul 2011 considering a trial run at Element-11 for the tree for setup, transportation and breakdown.

- rent a flatbed trailer

26 Aug 2011 load and leave for Burning Man for a 27 Aug arrival to begin setting up.

Construction

The core structure will be built from an aluminum frame welded securely in sections so that it can be easily assembled on any site where it will be displayed. Standing 22 feet tall

The bark of the tree will be created using re-purposed metal strips or cut from larger pieces of re purposed metal welded to the skeletal frame of aluminum in varying textures so that it remains a solid structure. It is also important for the safety of people wanting to make physical contact that we will avoid sharp edges.

On top of each of 5 limbs will be a base to where a propane fed flame with a tall clear chimney possibly made from glass/pyrex or other material safe with the flame effect.

• Copper tubing will lead from the base that will house a propane tank to the main hub at the top 3^rd of the 3 piece skeleton core of the tree.

• A knob at the base will easily shut the flame down as needed.

• 5 lines will feed one to the end of each limb a flame burning low in a chimney glass tube.

An arch feeds off of one side with the same aluminum skeleton over another feature. This arch will be given a faux stone surface also cut from re-purposed metal.

• The arch will be hallow and anchored on the ground and locked into a mechanism on the side of the tree.

A slot running on the interior ring of the arch will hold a reflective metallic surface x 2. Each side is reflective and gives the illusion of being see through.

A final feature for the base of the structure will be a trough representing the river Styx with a canoe inside, cut in half, with each side end of the canoe on opposite sides of the reflection.

• The canoe halves will be anchored to the constructed base of the trough.

• A very shallow pool of water (or facsimile) will be in the base of the miniature river bed.

• The trough will have the illusion it passes through the arch.

• One side of the archway is monochromatic.

• The second side is in full color showing renewal.

Crowning the piece at the top will be where smaller branches will be held holding a light gauge wire decorated with white, silver and black metal discs secured solidly to the rods designed to catch the lights of the fire and any ambient light.

• Light gauge wire will filter out of a crown with the small disks welded to them.

• The wires will provide movement and the small disks will provide a twinkling light effect.

• Will provide a fullness and foliage to the top of the tree.

Core Attractions for the Art

• a clean daytime visual without fire that still catches the day time sunlight

• a shimmering night time attraction lit by fire

• a spiritual display featuring the 5 elements; earth, water, air, fire and spirit

Core Safety details to Achieve

• solid fuel connections for the propane with the only output at the lighting point.

• secure exterior skin and limbs against weather and survive abuse by visitors.

• limited access to standing water in trough to avoid drowning (limit space).

Core Environmental details to protect:

• secure shiny discs and exterior skin to avoid MOOP.

• water in trough, if water is used, may have a vinegar in it to avoid clouding water, but will be managed on breakdown and moved out so not to damage the environment.

The Production Team

This project was originally conceived by Scott Kraske while attending the 2010 Burning Man event Metropolis.

Scott Kraske (aka Toaster) is a Las Vegas based artist who graduated from The Art Institute of Las Vegas with a Bachelor of Science in Web Design and Interactive Media. His career goals were purely creative and extended beyond web design and took on many dimensions. Much of his work can be found on his portfolio web site www.art23design.com as StudioSK.

Scott Kraske brought his first art project to Burning Man in 2010 called Monotropolis and it was positioned on the playa with a great deal of pride. The story that led up to getting it there was a never ending series of challenges, but it was brought whole and ready for placement on time.

Ricky Tarkowski is the owner of Weld Rite Services and a burgin who is very excited about learning about the Burning Man experience. He is a long established professional welder in Vegas and is a metal art sculptor. He is certified in polarity, amperage, voltage, MIG, TIG, stick, plasma, oxy fuel cutting and welding through Davis Laboratories in Las Vegas, Nevada.

He has a varied line of metal pieces from small to large that he makes in his brick and mortar business location in Henderson, Nevada.

The project will be built on his brick and mortar business location before it is transported to Burning Man to be assembled in sections for easy transportation.

Robbie Shield is a master craftsman with Royal Studio (www.royalstudio.com) manufactures and sells only the finest in hand blown glass creations. He is an internationally known artist of glass and oil paintings. Robby will be hand blowing the glass (pyrex) chimneys that will sit on each branch of the tree.

Robbie is also a burgin who has dreamed of the Burning Man experience as well and is excited about Final Passage project as an opportunity to introduce him to this world of artists.

Robbie moved to Las Vegas recently after having spent much of 2010 traveling through Europe before leaving his home country of Australia.

Shane is a 5 year veteran of Burning Man with his beautiful wife Liz who might be recognized from their shark car that premiered at Burning Man 3 years ago. Shaney is responsible for uniting this exciting team and will be designing and implementing the ignition system for the propane fed flames on each limb.

Shaney is an engineer and electronics technician for XYZ company based out of Henderson, Nevada.

The Team will grow as we add other members of the team to assure the safety, assembly, and break down of the art piece before and after Burning Man 2011.

Playa Placement

It is with great hope that this placement will have the esteemed and wonderfully placed I had in 2010, when I was very fortunate for that project.

The Financing

Scott Kraske (as StudioSK) is looking at three main channels of fund raising so that construction can begin no later than the beginning of March 2011.

• posting a project video and fund raising campaign on IndieGoGo.com

• local fund raising effort in the Southern Nevada community

• and applying for Grant recognition from Burning Man and NAF (Nevada Arts Foundation)

None of these sources are guaranteed and not a single one will pay for the entire project. Having used IndieGoGo with some success last year it is hopeful, that with better planning and more knowledge, this year will yield the funding needed to complete and place the project.

Many of the services needed to assemble the project will be donated, but the caveat will be obtaining the supplies needed for construction.