The Temple of Flux

Role: Structural build lead and master carpenter

Skills: Coordinating a team of 50+ volunteers, structural design, design for shipping, rough carpentry, shop supply, supervising work days, on-site layout, rigging and crane work

Drawing its inspiration from the mountains surrounding its desert valley site, the Temple of Flux carved intricate, canyon-like spaces and passages between its five graceful, double-curved, wooden dunes. The ephemeral Temple stood for seven days and nights, and was then ceremonially burned.

As master carpenter I worked with the architects to design the structure of the dunes. Each of the structural triangles creating the sculpture had unique dimensions and had to be pre-built in Oakland, CA, labeled, disassembled and shipped to Nevada for the final installation.

With my 20 ton bridge crane.

Build model.

Each dune was supported by 12 to 28 triangular frames, anchored into the ground and clad in plywood sheeting.

Inside a clad dune.

Narrow passages impressed a feeling of protection on visitors to the space.