The Heart Machine

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The Heart Machine is inspired by the 2010 Burning Man theme and In Fritz Lang’s 1926 movie Metropolis.  In the movie the main character asks, “It was their hands that built this city of ours, father. But where do the hands belong in your scheme?” His father answers, “In their proper place – the depths.”  The Heart Machine questions human kids symbiotic relationship with technology.  Would technology exist without us, how would we be different without technology… where to the lines begin to blur between man, machine and pure thought?

At the heart of the city, the heart of our Metropolis, exists a machine: the heart machine.  Without the heart machine the city and civilization as we know it would fall apart. Yet without humans to interact with it, the heart machine would cease have a purpose; cease to exist.  In the absence of this symbiotic relationship the heart machine sits silently on the playa and participants passively wander the night looking for “something.”

How we perceive technology guides our interactivity with the heart machine.  Do we watch passively for the machine to react to our presence or do we take active control?  Do we reach out and explore without fear or do we wait to take the lead from others? Even if we do reach out and explore, no one person can wake the heart machine.  We must visit the depths of our metropolis together to build the connections the heart machine needs to interact and communicate with us.  We, the citizens of metropolis, are the nerves, the arteries, the lifeblood of the heart machine and her warming fires are our reward.

Interactivity with the Heart Machine

Without the citizens of our metropolis, the heart machine does not exist. Within the space of the heart machine there is the central heart held together by years of repairs.  Surrounding the heart in amongst the flame effects are several interaction points that require “humans” to care for and acknowledge.  Although pilot lights for the flame effects are lit, the heart machine means nothing without the laying of many hands.

Participants must complete the heart machine circuits by working together.  Once a connection is made, the switch is turned on and a large flame effect is their reward.

The possibilities of what is created by participants depends on their imagination:

1. a group of 4-5 participants work together to set off one flame effect
2. 5-10 participants self organize to set off 2 flame effects at once
3. musically minded participants realize by breaking and reconnecting withing their group, they can create an organic beat born in flames
4. Groups of participants can explore various interaction sequences that create different flame effect responses
5. 20 participants work together to engage the entire heart machine; perhaps initiating a hidden sequence within the heart machine

The possibilities are endless but the interaction is always all inclusive and encourages strangers to interact with each other.  Imagine a lone burner walking by.  She hears a group of people calling to  her, beckoning her to come over and join them.  When she approaches they explain they need her as the final link to create the connection.  She joins in and a burst of flames lights up the night.  More people come over to see what is going on.  By the end of the play, new connections have been made within the heart machine.

HELP SUPPORT THE PROJECT

Help support fire arts in Toronto, Canada by making a donation to the Heart Machine project.  100% of your money will go to the purchase of materials that will be used to create this majestic work of fire art and the cost of getting it to Burning Man 2010. We have receive from the Burning Man Arts Grant Committee on playa support via fuel and construction, but this will fall short of the estimated $8,000  required to build and transport the Heart Machine to Black Rock City in August 2010 and set it up for an event right here in Toronto!

Any amount you contribute will help, even twenty dollars, please consider making a donation as the Heart Machine is an official Burning Man 2010 Honorarium Installation.

If you know someone in transportation and shipping or can help us get the piece down to the playa, please contact Christine Irving at christine (dot) irving (at) gmail (dot) com

Funds are graciously collected by Max Stevens-Guille’s Product Works Inc PayPal Account and are specifically for the heart machine project.  Please contact Christine Irving if  you have any questions: christine (dot) irving (at) gmail (dot) com.

THANK YOU TO OUR DONORS

The Heart Machine team wishes to express our sincere appreciation for the generosity of our donation supporters.