For years I have been itching to take on leading a Burning Man art project.

This year, I aim to make it happen.

Here is my vision for 2009 (art theme - "Evolution"):

Evolutionary Perspectives - The Time Mirror
Evolution happens unseen.

The patterns of the past shape the present, but some threads die while others thrive. It is only with the benefit of hindsight that we can even begin to understand how we arrived at the present moment, and only with that understanding we can begin to glimpse where we are heading.

But hindsight is imperfect. It is at best a blurry reflection of the past, colored by our present realities.

What if we had a magic mirror that could stop time, and rewind it?

Not to change the past, but to understand it. To gain perspective on the evolutionary forces that brought us to where we are today – with the hope of a better understanding of the future…

The Evolutionary Perspectives project will offer the citizens of Black Rock City the power to rewind time via a combination of technology, art, and magic.

In its simplest form, the project consists of a high resolution projection screen which in its default state acts as a mirror, showing a live view looking back from a camera mounted above the ornate frame.

Mounted on a pedestal a short distance in front of the screen there is a beautifully sculptured wheel, rotating slowly clockwise as time passes.

Upon arriving at the Evolutionary Perspectives installation, BRC citizens will see themselves on the screen as they curiously approach. Until someone touches the wheel, stopping it, freezing the image on the screen as if freezing time itself.

Now time itself has become interactive.

Spinning the wheel, the participant can move backward in time – watching his or her own arrival. As the wheel spins further back into time, the pace of change accelerates. Other participants come and go. The sun rises and sets. Dust storms blow past. And a city rises from the vast emptiness of a desert.

If the wheel is spun quickly, the entire history of Black Rock City can flash by in less than a minute.

If the wheel is left idle, it will start spinning clockwise again – and the passage of time will accelerate back until the mirror is once again reflecting the near present – showing the participants just moments ago what they looked like as they were looking into the past.

I am writing an art grant proposal right now - they are due by the end of the day tomorrow.

Depending on if I get selected for funding, and how much, the project can scale from being a kiosk in center camp on up to a large playa installation featuring multiple "perspectives" provided by cameras located at various locations around the city. If I get the funding, I am even contemplating a solar powered wireless remote camera mounted on the mountains overlooking Black Rock City that could give an overview of the evolution of the whole city.

If anyone feels called to be a part of this project, let me know.

Suggestions and ideas of any sort are appreciated.