Gasifier Experimenters Kit

Untitled DocumentHomeProject DescriptionOverviewTechnologyPhysical SpecificsDrawingsPeopleWorkshopsPhilosophyMotivationMechabolic HypothesisLogisticsBudgetSafetyTimelineClean UpContactThe Mechabolic: Clean Up (and its relation to set up)The Mechabolic will be a containerized installation to the greatest extent possible. We areplanning this project in a manner so that it will survive in usable forms for future contexts,Burning Man related and otherwise. We are therefore avoiding "loose part" on-site buildswherever possible.All creature organs and processes will be self-contained, modular units, either skidded oncontainer floors, or skidded on custom platforms, sized for easy fit inside a standard shippingcontainer. Similarly, all superstructure and locomotion items will be designed and fabricated foreasy containerizationl. We intend to make all Mechabolic components to fit into two 40'containers, Russian Doll style. And do so with each module still assembled, allowing for easyindividual module demonstration in future contexts, without having to rebuild the entireinstallation from scratch.This containerization strategy was the original motivation for the container based Shipyardart/build facility. Following the very painful "stuff everywhere and always in pieces" nature ofthe stock puppets, I decided that i would never build another large art project except in amanner that it could be easily stored and transported in shipping contianers. No rented boxtrucks filled to the rafters with a million loose parts, all ending up as a dusty rusty pile in yourshop the following winter. Containers allow for transport and storage in the same structure, withforklift trasfer between the two modes, no loading and unloading required.Over the ensuing years, this formula elaborated into an intention to also use the container itselfas the foundation for the artwork. The shipping container as the sculpture, as the transport, asthe storage. However, given our need for organic "non-square" shapes in the Mechabolic, Idoubt we will be able to use containers in raw form for the organs. But skidding each organ andhaving it easily fork into and out of a container, assembled and ready to go, is nearly as good.http://whatiamupto.com/mechabolic/cleanup.html (1 of 3) [10/9/2008 08:18:12]