Artist Talk: The Art of Burning Man
Join The Crucible for a panel discussion with Karen Cusolito, Christopher Schardt, and Crimson Rose, where they will discuss how they have developed art for the playa at Burning Man. Crucible Board Member Jeremy Crandell will moderate this discussion showcasing The Crucible creative community and artists from Burning Man. There will be a Q&A after with the audience.
In partnership with Oakland Museum of California’s No Spectators: The Art of Burning Man, this Artist Talk is a unique opportunity to hear from some of the Crucible artists featured in the exhibition, reflect on the incredible artwork seen at Burning Man, and envision a bright future for The Crucible and Burning Man.
This is part of a series of intimate, community building events where nationally-renowned artists share their creative journey and methodology of their work. Crucible members get discounted tickets for Artist Talks throughout the year. Drinks and concessions available for purchase.
Panelists
Crimson Rose
Crimson Rose, Burning Man’s original fire art dancer, began participating in Burning Man in 1991. Crimson leads the development of the organization’s Art Department, which grants more than $1.4million to artists annually, and is a founding board member of the Black Rock Arts Foundation.
Crimson currently serves as Secretary to the Burning Man Project Board of Directors and as a public speaker nationally and internationally as an ambassador for the ethos and creativity that fuel Burning Man.
With Crimson’s support and guidance, Burning Man serves as an inspirational limitless canvas, the works of which now find public placement in cities around the world, serving as catalytic sparks for community collaboration.
Christopher Schardt
Christopher Schardt has been creating large-scale sculpture since 2000, focusing on LEDs since 2013. His pieces have between 2,000 to 22,000 individually controllable pixels in uniquely-shaped image displays. The animated imagery they present depends on the installation. Sometimes a slow, organic pattern is appropriate, sometimes something photorealistic, at other times abstract. Whenever possible, music is incorporated into the piece, dramatically enhancing its impact.
Schardt has exhibited pieces at Burning Man, Life is Beautiful, Electric Daisy Carnival, Beakerhead, Maker Faire, and other events. For 10 months of 2018, his piece, “Nova” was exhibited at The Renwick Gallery of the Smithsonian Institution.
Karen Cusolito
Karen Cusolito studied at Rhode Island School of Design and Massachusetts College of Art, working on several public art installations in and around the Boston area before moving to San Francisco in 1996. Her art has taken many forms, from painting and mixed media to the large-scale steel sculptures she’s presently developing.
Karen finds drawing to be the easiest and most concise form of communication and the human form a rich arena in which to explore and express emotion, intention, and challenge. Much of her work focuses on humanity and the environment and the delicate balance between the two.
Karen ran American Steel Studios in Oakland, CA, which famously provided studio and gallery space to over 100 artists and small businesses for almost 10 years.
Moderator
Jeremy Crandell
Jeremy Crandell is a co-lead of the Art Department for Burning Man, where he manages large-scale and technical art installations destined for Black Rock City. On playa, his teams include Art Support Services, Fire Art Safety Team, Eyes on Art and ARTery Operations, and he serves on the Event Operations Team.
Jeremy Crandell is the owner of St. Louise Studios, a collaborative workspace for artists, fabricators and entrepreneurs, located at the northern end of the West Oakland Industrial Arts Corridor. Crandell has worked with The Crucible since 2000 in various capacities; as student, volunteer, staff and on the Board of Directors from 2005 to 2012. He has returned to Board service again in 2013. He has worked on collaborative art teams bringing large-scale public art to both Burning Man and municipal settings.
Special Performance
Shreddertainment
World-class entertainer Shreddertainment performed on the playa at the Burning Man pavilion this last year and will be exhibiting a solo from that performance featuring aerial and groundwork.
Shreddertainment is a world-class circus performer with over 14 years experience on the aerial hoop (lyra), hula hoop and fire (sometimes, all three at once), also offering individualized trainings for beginner and experienced aerialists alike.