PROJECT: Sacred Ice Fire and Penguin Patrol

CONTACT INFO

Project Lead: Carter Brooks (aka, Ice Marshal), carter@carterbrooks.com, He/Him, 415.816.4593

Comms Lead: , , , 

PROJECT

Project Deets: CAT, In my Room Service proposal for The Ice Fire Chill Station, I wrote, "... another intent of having an “ice fire” is to tie in the spirit of Saratoga Springs and Big Stick both metaphorically and directly. Melting from the beginning of the event to the end, it symbolizes the basic practice of having a sacred fire burning as a ritual when gathering. This specifically ties to the kitchen at Big Stick, because Carin McKay is the one who coined the term “ice fire” when, at one of our gatherings at Saratoga Springs, we couldn’t have a sacred fire of actual fire, but we substituted my ice as an “ice fire.” Finally, the “ice fire” is also a foreshadowing that I will propose to present ice in the fire circles for the next Big Stick." So, this is that proposal.

The anchor and foundation of the project is to tend a sacred ice fire in the sunken fire circle in the center of Saratoga Springs, turning a space that is generally just a smoking area into an active fire circle with all the attendant "gathering around a fire" qualities, but just with ice instead of fire. Like the Ice Fire Chill Station, a central large block of ice forms the center focus of the campfire space, while other displays of ice on stands complete the ambiance, and provide an active gathering place for non-programed participant interaction. Like the Ice Fire Chill Station, it also provides a destination where other projects may partner include in their distributed content, scavenger hunts, etc. In addition to the dedicated space, mobile ice fires will bring the art to other locations during the event. (One particular extra location will be center pieces for a couple of the picnic tables during artist meals, to specifically tie in the sacred ice fire to the kitchen. Carin McKay has approved the concept.)

The sacred ice fire is tended by a team of anthropomorphized penguins—the penguin patrol. The penguin patrol is not only responsible for maintaining the the central ice fire—replenishing ice and keeping it shaded during the day—but also bringing mobile ice fires to other locations of the event. Though the ice is naturally interactive on its own in a passive presentation, the penguin patrol provides more interactivity and a tie into the narratives and theme of the event. There are many potential schticks, ranging from sacred monk-like worship of the ice to simply encouraging playful interaction with the it, to questing with a mobile ice fire in search of other ice dependent creatures such as polar bears, walrus, krill and plankton, to basic spontaneous interaction with other project. Since the ice fire itself is intended to be a 24-hour space, the interaction with penguins probably be best as a roving band with a mobile ice fire, bringing the interaction and the art to various places and projects in the event, while improvising rituals or other interactions on the way. One practical activity of the penguin crew may to be involved in the ice concession, that is the sale of bag ice during certain times of day, either as a mobile activity—like a penguin or from the central sacred ice fire instead of the main info table.

The project can scale depending on budget and logistical resources from as small as a single ice fire in the main fire circle, to as large as a "monumental" scale installation by also utilizing the larger fire pit near the strip club which could have huge 300 lbs blocks, which should take over 48 hours to melt each. However, this year I am not proposing such "monumental scale" effort, at least not for the full event, as this would require more shade infrastructure. I have included a top tier budget that includes the ice necessary. At the other end of the scale, I would still like to present the sacred ice fire in the fire pit, even if that is the only location, which I would offer even if not given any budget. Ideally, I would like to be allocated enough budget to maintain a status of a CAT project.,

Journey: As a chill space, the participant’s experience doesn’t have a play-by-play. However, generally people’s first experience encountering the ice is to have their curiosity engaged—is that ice? Participants tend to engage in touching this ice, watching it like a fire, wondering how one makes it clear, being soothed by the sound of dripping. Hopefully, participations in will also naturally understand the metaphor of a campfire, and all the the things that generally unfold around a campfire—discussion, stories, singing, watching the fire—will unfold.

The penguin patrol encounters both at the the sacred ice fire space and about the event will remind people that certain creatures are dependent on ice, like penguins, polar bears, walrus, but also microorganisms like plankton and krill.

Upload Materials: Project website at http://bss2024.icemarshal.com

Thematic Connection: The art of ice as a medium was born out of trying to answer these questions. I committed to ice as a medium in trying to answer many of these questions. I was realizing my daughter was going to live to see the ice cap melt, and I wondered does one and all prepare for that? How does a society? Philosophically, I reduced it to the koan "Who will cry for the ice?" I've concluded that keeping certain nuanced qualities alive is as important as technological and pragmatic "solutions." These include curiosity, imagination, and sense of long time. Ice as a medium engages all these, especially the simple nature of change.

I'm personally invested in the question of preparing for uncertainty and overwhelm. As I've engaged the climate crisis through art, I've found one tendency is to avoid being overwhelmed by the scale of the situation, usually to protect "hope," which is seen as a prerequisite to "action." It is assumed that to look at the overwhelmingness of the situation will cause people to check out and disengage. The result is often to hold back from looking at the magnitude of the consequences. In contrast to this, I believe in developing the capacity to be overwhelmed, while staying engaged. How will humanity evolve with that capacity?

Sitting around a fire is a core the story of humans and human soul. Whether it is simply the act of gathering together, or the magic of watching stored energy from the sun unravel in a fire, sitting around a fire is a long tradition of humanity which the sacred ice fire is designed to elicit.

Ritual is also important to what makes humans human. Many cultures have a tradition of maintaining a sacred fire during multi-day gatherings. Treating it as a ritual act, and connecting something as simple as maintaining a fire to a larger sense of cosmos and spirit is a part of a collective consciousness. While humans are generally the animals who have harnessed fire, the ability of the penguins to harness ice a metaphor for fire and therefore ritual is to embrace the positive aspects of change ahead with the arrival of humans.

Narrative Council Interest: Maaaaaaaybe?

Supporting Participants: Other than hinting at civilizational collapse, the project does generally confront participants with heavy themes.

Participant Experience: Open-Ended Interactive

STATIC/ROAMING

Movement: Both

Passive Interactivity: As mentioned already and illustrated by the Ice Fire Chill Station at Room Service, the ice is naturally interactive as an art medium. So it is an active installation even when not staffed.

In addition, I would encourage other projects with distributed content to utilize the space, so it may also be interactive at all times from that angle as well.

Throughput: >400

Placement: 1st: Upstage (6); 2nd: West fork top (2); 3rd: Turn-around (5); 4th: Behind Upstage (8); As noted in the description, ideally I would like the static portion to be placed at the sunken fire circle in the Upstage Area. 

Footprint: Roughly 15-20 ft diameter circular space around the sunken fire pit. 

Structure: Very little structure is necessary, especially for the core vision. The sunken fire pit may be lined with pond liner. Ice will be presented on metal stands, and lit with either ground spots or pond lights. Other free standing pieces at the static portion will sit in metal buckets lined on the outside with pond liner, also lit by ground spots, or spots attached to the buckets. Some ice, particularly distributed pieces may be presented using large metal bowls to contain the display and lit with rechargeable battery submersible pool lights. 

Shade during the day for the main ice fire will be provided using standard patio umbrellas. 

I am open to collaboration with other projects or artists that be synergistic. So the static space could potentially feature other art to define the space that features the ice, surfaces for smaller ice pieces to sit upon or to provide a different solution for shade.

It is also conceivable to reuse the ice fire pit constructed for the Ice Fire Chill Station, which could be placed as a static piece anywhere in the event.

Sound: None of the above

Sound Details: No sound system involved, nor are there sound requirements

Power: Yes

LOGISTICS

Budget Requested: 1330

Detailed Budget

Ice.

The ice, coming from San Francisco, costs $150 for each 300 lbs block. (The Ice Fire Chill Station went through 4 blocks at Room Service, which was a perfect amount.) Ideally for BSS24, we would have the same amount, which should allow for large 50-75 pieces for the main ice fire and main mobile ice fire, and supplemental displays of ice. Unlike Room Service, where the ice stored in the art truck was mostly in freezing temperatures, at Big Stick, unless stored in freezers, the ice will loose volume over the 4 days before it is deployed. For the mid-tier budget, 4 blocks is estimated. For the High Tier Budget, that is the "monument scale" scenario, utilizing the large fire pit by the strip club, up to 8 blocks could be required, but would also be an impressive display of ice.

Ice Logistics.

As the ice will not be able to be delivered daily, it will be necessary to store the ice somewhere in the footprint of the event. Ideally near the main lodge, but conceivably down in the RV parking area. The most practical scenario would be to use a borrowed cargo van, however, a rented trailer may be the most reliable plan. So, $150 for a week rental. The intact 300 lbs blocks will keep best if not broken up, and stored with makeshift insulation of sleeping bags or other insulation material. Alternatively, or in addition, coolers and/or actual chest freezers could be used to preserve the ice longer. Used chest freezers are sold often on Criagslist, and could be resold after the event. Similarly extra coolers could be purchased at Home Depot or on Amazon, with the intention of returning them after the event. In all these scenarios, a dedicated trailer or cargo van will be necessary, especially since it would not be practical or smart to mix into the art truck.

Costumes.

Penguin costumes are available online averaging $25-50. While it may be possible to find and borrow ones already in the community, it will be wise to budget for new costumes for the core penguin crew.

Shade.

The integrity of clear carvers ice is degraded quickly by UV light. It not only simply melts faster, but direct UV will create fractures inside the ice that makes it not clear and eventually simply shatters. While much of the ice can be deployed after the sun sets, the main central ice fire which goes 24hrs will need shade during the day. As an artistic aesthetic, shade will achieved using umbrellas. Either large patio umbrellas or a more creative structure requiring some materials.

Tiered budget scenarios...

Tier 1 (going big):

Ice. 6 @ $150/each = $900

Ice logistics. Trailer @$150 = $150

Costumes. 6 @$30/each = $180

Shade and other misc. $100

Total = $1330

Tier 2 (preferred scenario):

Ice. 4 @ $150/each = $600

Ice logistics. Trailer @$150 = $150

Costumes. 4 @$30/each = $120

Shade and other misc. $50

Total = $920

Tier 3 (low budget):

Ice. 2 @ $150 = $300

Costumes. 2 @$30/each = $60

Misc. $50

Total = $410

In addition to the above expenses, I will likely incur other costs or temporary financial outlay for coolers. For example, 1-2 165qt Coolers @$250/ea.

Add'l Resource Notes: I am willing to self-fund this project if necessary, if that will increase the chances of being accepted as an official project. However, I would prefer to be allocated enough budget to justify being a CAT, and provide enough resource to be able to meaningly interact with other projects, artists and participants. The budgets presented are intended to be a realistic explanation of actual costs, especially the "consumable" part, which is, of course, ice.

CREW

Comps Requested: 4

Crew Roles

Lead Artist (Carter Brooks)

Lighting & Lead Assistant (Lola Mullen, aka Westbay)

(Lola wrote, "Hey, Carter! It is the awkward and quiet Lola from Take 3 / Discord / Slack. Hope you're well! I love working on interesting and dynamic lighting, automation, and sensors, incl. temperature. You already know I love what you do since I bought out your store merch, so let's work!")

First Deputy Penguin & Build Lead (?)

Collaboration Manager and Penguin Patrol Crew (?)

Have you made Sponsored Art for T3?: Yes

Prior Art Projects for T3: Ice Fire Chill Station @ Room Service 2023

Unsponsored ice @ Room Service 2022 and BSS2023

Freak show performances @ BSS2022 and BSS2023

ARTIST SUPPORT:

Do you or any of your crew members identify as BIPOC, working class, queer, trans/gender non-conforming, disabled, and/or part of another marginalized identity? No, 

Do you have any suggestions for how we might make our events more inclusive, safe or accessible for people of marginalized identities? Not yet.

Do you or any of your crew members have access needs that you would like to share with us? No.

Art Crew Mentorship Pilot Program Interest: Yes, as a mentee

Do you have any ideas for ways we could improve our support for artists? I think Take3 does a great job supporting artists. I would be interested in assisting production at Big Stick by assisting with anything related the logistics of procuring and selling of ice.