Fire in the Belly will consist of an 13’ tall extremely pregnant woman, flanked by two 8 x 10 pagodas decorated as a child’s nursery (hope) and a doctor’s waiting room (fear). All surfaces will be whitewashed for purity, and to accept messages from participants.

 The Mother will be constructed from horizontal cross-sections of plywood 4” apart, hung from a wooden A frame, with an angelic paper mache mask. The ply will be connected and “skinned” with ropes through holes around the perimeters of each cross section. Her hair will be the rope ends. She will wear furry boot covers!

 The pagodas will be constructed without fasteners as giant 3D slotted plywood puzzles courtesy of Playatech, with vaulted cathedral ceilings. Each will contain simple furniture and altars allowing participants to leave messages and offerings for the burn. The interiors will be themed as nursery and waiting room through painted wall and surface designs, decorative objects, hanging mobiles, and background audio.

 Through The Mother’s rope skin, we will see the embryo, pulsing with a sound and light heartbeat until it is lost. We will also see The Mother’s heart, fading simultaneously. When the embryo is lost just before Man burn, The Mother’s angelic mask will be removed, revealing a face of fear and anguish.

 On Sunday after the Man burns, the entire installation will be relocated from the playa to the Man platform to honor The Father. That night following solemn pageantry, The Mother’s womb will explode, consuming the installation. The hopes and fears of all parents will be consumed with it.

 As a tribute to the earth mother, our entire installation will be natural and burnable, leaving nothing but the burn platform and ashes.  We do this for three reasons: post-burn MOOP reduction, leave no trace symbolism, and to increase the artistic challenge. We will use slotted wood technology, wooden pegs, natural twine, leather straps and other completely burnable products.  For safety reasons, the only exceptions will be the rebar, tethers, and burn platform.  Lighting and audio equipment will be removed prior to the burn.

 This Mother’s loss is going to light you up! Please help her…