Burning Man 2011 - Rowing Skeletons / "Charon" by Peter Hudson

[lostsugardisco]

so amazing.

[lisadaveg]

Cool, I never saw the thing working...A couple days into Burning Man and most of the ropes were down. Several ropes were not enough to get it spinning fast enough....

[Sirgumbydammit]

This is one way to tell that all your friends are FREAKS! And yes, the bell was very good.

[ytubefkr]

Yeah that's annoying.

[pluselite]

<3

[herbmagic333]

that is sooo crazy and cool

[heyshanaynayluv]

Charon was the best, Peter Hudson..you are brilliant! I love hearing the bell...it is chilling!

[Marindejong]

Would love to do an art installation at Burning Man once! This installation is awesome :-)

[MockEmpire]

good acid brah

[montesmoulder]

@peterhuduh I saw this at Ghostship, saw it on Playa, and it is so wonderful, allegorical. It deeply affected me both times. When I saw it at Ghostship I felt like I was home again! Thank you so much for the hard work. Wish I could help you in your vision!

[gratitude4all]

Yeah, thanks for the video. He makes such increadible illusions for us! :D

[InnerCityX]

FUCKING GENIUS

[undefeated8606]

Shut that fucking bird up!!!

[kevinfrank54]

Hey the skeletons are flipping us the bird!!! All that time I spent watching it on the Playa I never realized it was doing that?

[kevinfrank54]

Hey the skeletons are flipping us the bird!!!

[creativerights1]

we'd like to show this at SF DECOM. I need your contact info.

[sagiliciousness]

Stumbled upon it Sat. night after searching for it all week. Astonishing. The fervor of people heave-ho'ing added to the intensity and meaningfulness. The bell tolling...well done. I can't even fathom how difficult this is to execute.

[Guitarsenals]

What camera / settings did you use to shoot this? Slow frame rate, or fast? My video of this rarely caught a flash that fully lit the skeletons. It was a challenging thing to capture on video!

[cannatari]

@Guitarsenals The camera is a JVC Everio. I don't think I can adjust the frame rate. It only let's me adjust the exposure which was probably at 1/30.

Peace.

[ShpongledHoops]

wow, that is freaky! i heard about this while we were there, but never got out far enough to see it. sad i missed it in person, but glad you uploaded this video!

[MrIonization]

the longest i saw it run for was like not even a minute. so sad I couldn't get good video of this. so awesome though

[oberlepa]

Gorgeous!

[sarcip7x]

WOW that is fucking awesome. Well done.

[sanaisaful]

One of the biggest highlights of my first burn <3 Completely enchanting..kept going back to it :)

[balancex3]

a slice of awsomeness

[riquiolux]

awesome.... this is devilishly amazing !!..

[Blueshoe40]

So amazing, definitely the most impressive piece out there this year (in my opinion)

[Salsipuedes23]

Chron was my favorite on the Playa this year as well. Peter you are amazing. Thank you for making such beautiful art. You were working way up on top when I stopped by and gifted you an Art Model Camp pin.

[jjhhkkify]

Anyone else notice the skeleton flipping you off right in the middle of facing the crowd? see it best from 0:52 till about 0:57

[cthamusick]

rockin' & rowin', they're moving fast!!! ..... crazy eerie... moving..... motivating..... better get on with it!! let's row! go! go!!!!

[satweavers]

THE most amazing thing at Burning Man. Magnificent!

[mwitty100]

This art stopped me in my tracks when I saw it on the playa... I had to get off my bike, sit down and just think about Life and Death.

[MathewSchreiber]

Brilliant, Peter! Excellent work. Boomer would be proud.

[norcaligurl9259]

peter, that is Great Art, added feature of the birds flying on the side WOW

[katinasvenska]

good work

[Deborahellisbenson]

My favorite thing to do every night at this installation was to yell at all the rope pullers to pull harder and not be such wusses. Tee Hee. xoxoxo Trinity

[zumbablue]

loved this piece....

i have some stop motion of this just a bit but i will post in my video soooooon!

thanks for the memories

[ADZILLA987]

Is it like spinning and like with a stobelight it creates that effect?!

Pure Genius!!!

[seannarae]

i heard... the bell rang out for every 5280ft the massive wheel would have traveled had it been unhinged and rolling over open Playa

[puccapants]

I saw that it was amzing...

[hilarie410]

Did he do the one for Blue Man Group?

[TheKristinaferry]

I love it.

[AndrewBarrett254]

Peter- thank you for an awe inspiring piece of art this year.

[elleAnnF]

@petephuduh PETER! This was one of our favorite pieces! We kicked ourselves all the way back to LA for not seeing it in the evening. So glad to have found this video. Absolutely stunning!

[Punkergirl550]

My boyfriend helped build this

[robgoose]

Bravo! @petephuduh This was a mind-blowing piece to see in person, especially after seeing it first during the day and then scoping it out at night for the full effect. Hope to see more of your work at BM for years to come.

[sikanasana]

This is amazing. I saw it at burning man and it was soooo hard to get going. It's good to see it like it's supposed to be seen. We just got a very, very short glimpse at the time and I never noticed the beautiful birds either. This isn't self-promotion, it's sharing in the Burning Man style. Thank you so much.

[BSidnyrB]

Sooooooo COOOOOOL! I would love to see this in real life!!! I wish I could go to burning man but I lack the ££££ to get there! :( One Day!! Ace art work!x

[oonaphoebe]

Thanks for this video and thank you Peter Hudson for always bringing so much hard work and beauty to the playa each year.

[ashmandu1982]

Hamazing piece. Well done mister.

[o0obioluminescent]

HOly shit! You can hear me talking about how there are hands on the other side!!!! HAHAHA! Awesome!!! My mom aunt  and I agree that this was our FAVOURITE art piece

[djlindaleigh]

I love this!

[samiamfoto]

the river Styx....on the other side instead of doves there were hands reaching up and down.

[samiamfoto]

the river Styx....

[Erno154]

Great video of the best piece out there in 2011. Thank you.

[AuntieEmProds]

Another awesome zoetrope, Peter! Much thanks!

[MichaelLokey]

Peter what a great contribution.

[02cocobun]

This was one of coolest art installations on the 2011 BM. Mesmerizing. Long live Charon, and please bring it back next year!

[irishgrl]

I love this! I appreciate the attention to detail, like the flying birds on the one side and the reaching hands on the other, totally awesome!

[tamimcallister1]

Thanks for posting this. It was definitely one of the best pieces out there and I never actually got to see it in full motion.

[DakiniBorealis]

I love that it is interactive, I heard using the power of 12 people pulling ropes (?)!

[otterboi26]

Absolutely beautiful!!!!! Almost brought tears to my eyes, great video as well :)

[pdxvintagette]

This was my first burn, I was was positively amazed by this piece. Thanks for your wonderful art,Peter!!

[oefel]

imagine that on acid

[pippaknuckle]

How do they get so much electricity in the desert?

[littlebeast]

@pippaknuckle Solar power...

[otterboi26]

@pippaknuckle batteries, generators and a bit of elbow grease

[kbgymnast87]

Thanks for posting this! The piece was broken when I visited it :(

[MollieStar]

That thing was so freakin amazing! Def a favorite of all time :) Thank you Peter!

[ClueSign]

Magnificent -- looked great when static in the broad daylight -- Pirates of the Caribbean on acid. At night, absolutely heroic -- deeply moving and effective on the level of art and metaphysics. A complete success.

[khaosdivine]

This is the most wonderful piece!! I love it. Thank you for all the work and creating this interactive piece - Inspired :D

[propjam2]

that is genius! 

[gregmolk]

This was my favorite art installation! Great job!!!

[fetching]

Will this be at decompression this year?

[hilgert555]

mesmerizingly beautiful



[Dollypopy]

aaaah Man i missed it... every time i would try and go i'd get distracted w something else.. thank you so much for posting this :)

[fratfeet]

Peter,

When I talk to people about what Burning Man is, I immediately show them your work on youtube. The first time I saw the "Swimmers", I was blown away. I peddled that bike because I enjoyed watching people's reactions as they approached the structure from the blackness of the playa. I could not make it this year due to a hiking accident and have to rely on youtube clips. Your work always puts a smile on my face. I live in Oakland and hope to meet you sometime soon. Congrats! Kevin

[fratfeet]

Peter,

When I talk to people about what Burning Man is, I immediately show them your work on youtube. The first time I saw the "Swimmers", I was blown away. I peddled that bike because I enjoyed watching people's reactions as they approached the structure from the blackness of the playa. I could not make it this year due to a hiking accident and have to rely on youtube clips. Your work always puts a smile on my face. I live in Oakland and hope to meet you sometime soon. Congrats! Kevin

[ovhnfinity]

AMAZING!!! Best on the playa hands down.

Mama Karma

[trknop]

This was my favorite piece by far this year!

[lleite77]

Amazing video from the best piece out in the playa this year!!! I forgive you for the squeaking - you ravers don't have earplugs?

Glad to have been able to contribute to the piece...

[LorenAlbrecht]

lol I never saw it working properly on playa, thanks for posting this! :)

[tobydownton]

The people I was with all agreed that this was not only the best art piece at Burning Man, but was also one of the best things we had ever seen in our lives!! Peter Hudson - I bow down before you master....

[Sleepstupid]

Dear Peter,

Please invest in some grease.

Sincerely,

My Ears

[petephuduh]

@Sleepstupid sorry about the squeaking. we used copius amounts of grease on all 68 bearings and pulleys. we re-lubed all moving parts twice during the week. on saturday all of our hemp rope spares broke, kind burners donated some synthetic rope to the cause. nylon does not have the same "tooth" as manilla hemp. the squeaking you hear is the nylon rope slipping against the drive drums, not the bearings. it hurt my ears too. sorry.

[misstree23]

@petephuduh I'm just glad the nylon worked. I saw that the number of ropes was decreasing during the week, and hated to think that this piece would be taken out of commission. Working the ropes with a friend was a beautiful and visceral meditation, and the animation is amazing. Thank you.

[5WindsOfVenus]

wow

[Hypogryph66]

awesome.. just love it.....

[joselleceline]

Best of Playa, for sure. Thank you Peter Hudson and thank you Cannatari for the video. BTW, I got some great stills of the piece!

[oshen2oshen]

Peter Hudson's are always my favorites!

[Guylenedwinell]

Thank you Peter Hudson!!!! Your pieces are always one of our very favorites!

[awaterfallmovieshon]

Weird but really cool wish I could've been there to see it in it's full glory

[andymacaudio]

What and awesome piece of art. Truly amazing.

[petephuduh]

please forgive my self promotion, but this is the best video i've seen of my piece.

it is called "charon" thanks for the awesome video. please credit the artist.

peter hudson.

[cannatari]

@petephuduh

Hiya, Peter! Thank you very much for the nice compliment and the info. My apologies for not doing my research before I uploaded. I have edited the title and tag for 'ya.

Peace.

[mfellicce]

@cannatari @petephuduh thank you very much. this piece was my temple.

[bwomble14]

@cannatari @petephuduh thank you for this amazing piece, It was my favorite, and a good work out

[petephuduh]

@cannatari hey brother, congrats on the almost 80,000 hits! i've been trying to contact you through your youtube account, but i get an error message. i would like to get your permission to use some of your footage on my website. can you email me your contact info at peter@hudzo.com. thanks, hudzo

[nikki2sox]

@petephuduh Thanks again for another inspiring piece. Your art is absolutely next level work.

[mahlahh]

@petephuduh THAT IS INCREDIBLE!!!!! OMG!!! Real life live stop animation!!! BRILLIANT!!! *seriously impressed and beside myself right now*

[redwreck]

@petephuduh Peter, your art -- Swimmers in 2002? Homoroubouros (I probably screwed up the spelling) in 2007 and this in 2011 has been some of the most consistently amazing art I've seen at Burning Man and beyond. Thanks for doing what you do.

[phills007]

@petephuduh

Thank you so much for building this magnificent creation! Your mechanical wonder combines a Ferris wheel and a zoetrope into a beautifully dark meditation on loss and death. Also, thanks so much for taking the time to talk with me about the creative and engineering challenges that you had to overcome to create it. It was my first burn and I was in awe of all the amazing creative expressions I witnessed, but you sir toped them all.

[Fchino89]

@petephuduh Loved your monkeys the first year I went (07).....this one is incredible!! Love the bells tolling...what does it mean to you?

[vnesofsc]

@petephuduh you make the most memorable/loved pieces out there! :D

[austarz]

Eerrie and intoxicating. I couldn't stop watching as Burners pulled the massive ropes on each side making the skeleton's come alive.

[pachagirl79]

Favorite installation this year... I watched it go for at least fifteen rotations lol.

[shazbotolo]

TRIP U OUT!!!!!!!! Luv it!!