Breaking Wave is an imposing sculpture crafted entirely from reclaimed driftwood collected along the West Coast, highlighting the issue of ocean pollution from industrial wood waste. This large-scale installation—16 feet high, 20 feet long, and 10 feet wide—was prefabricated in Squamish, BC, from approximately 1,500 pieces of driftwood. A dedicated team of five artists, including Ron Simmer, constructed and installed the piece at Burning Man, where it captivated a crowd of thousands. The work was ultimately set ablaze at midnight on August 29, 2012, as a symbolic gesture to both the beauty and the vulnerability of our oceans.

Dimensions: 16’ (H) x 20’ (L) x 10’ (W)
Weight: ~2 t
Budget: $11,000 (self-funded)

Musical Swings is an interactive, illuminated installation created as an honoraria project for Burning Man 2014. This piece combines the joy of playground swings with the allure of dazzling lights, featuring a 35-foot diameter octagonal structure made from braced steel scaffolding. A central chandelier adorned with four mannequins and hundreds of addressable LEDs produces rapid, color-shifting strobe effects at night, creating a captivating, rhythmic experience. Constructed with scaffolding, recycled lighting, and 16 screw anchors, Musical Swings was built in just three days in the remote desert, embodying the spirit of community, play, and innovation.

Musical Swings is an interactive, illuminated installation created as an honoraria project for Burning Man 2014. This piece combines the joy of playground swings with the allure of dazzling lights, featuring a 35-foot diameter octagonal structure made from braced steel scaffolding. A central chandelier adorned with four mannequins and hundreds of addressable LEDs produces rapid, color-shifting strobe effects at night, creating a captivating, rhythmic experience. Constructed with scaffolding, recycled lighting, and 16 screw anchors, Musical Swings was built in just three days in the remote desert, embodying the spirit of community, play, and innovation.

Musical Swings is an interactive, illuminated installation created as an honoraria project for Burning Man 2014. This piece combines the joy of playground swings with the allure of dazzling lights, featuring a 35-foot diameter octagonal structure made from braced steel scaffolding. A central chandelier adorned with four mannequins and hundreds of addressable LEDs produces rapid, color-shifting strobe effects at night, creating a captivating, rhythmic experience. Constructed with scaffolding, recycled lighting, and 16 screw anchors, Musical Swings was built in just three days in the remote desert, embodying the spirit of community, play, and innovation.

BurnerBall brings a fiery twist to the classic game of tetherball, designed for the thrill-seeking spirit of unsanctioned Burning Man gatherings. In this daring game, participants wield tennis racquets to strike a flaming kerosene-soaked toilet roll tethered to a pole. Equipped with hockey helmets, leather gloves, and non-flammable clothing, players embrace the excitement of this unique, adrenaline-charged spectacle. Despite the flames, safety remains a priority, with minimal mishaps reported and only the occasional scorched hair. Notably, BurnerBall is also accessible to wheelchair users, ensuring inclusivity in this intense, interactive experience.

BurnerBall brings a fiery twist to the classic game of tetherball, designed for the thrill-seeking spirit of unsanctioned Burning Man gatherings. In this daring game, participants wield tennis racquets to strike a flaming kerosene-soaked toilet roll tethered to a pole. Equipped with hockey helmets, leather gloves, and non-flammable clothing, players embrace the excitement of this unique, adrenaline-charged spectacle. Despite the flames, safety remains a priority, with minimal mishaps reported and only the occasional scorched hair. Notably, BurnerBall is also accessible to wheelchair users, ensuring inclusivity in this intense, interactive experience.

The Relaxation Station is a large-scale, communal installation crafted in 2013 to provide a space for rest and connection. Consisting of three 10-meter by 2-meter free-standing hammocks made from discarded fishing nets and timber, these expansive hammocks offered an inviting retreat at Burning Man's Reverbia Camp. Each hammock was illuminated with LED light arrays, creating a soothing and welcoming atmosphere at night. After its debut at Burning Man, The Relaxation Station continued to delight visitors at local BC events, including Burn in the Forest and Otherworld, for several years, solidifying its place as a cherished installation in the community.

Dimensions: 10 m x 2 m per hammock

The Tiltation of Light was an interactive four-person teeter-totter that combined play with technology. Equipped with an Arduino-controlled accelerometer, this installation produced dynamic light and sound effects that synchronized with the movement of participants as they pushed it up and down. Showcased at multiple local Burning Man events, The Tiltation of Light brought together community and creativity in a captivating, kinetic experience. Though it has now been decommissioned, its innovative design left a lasting impression.

Cost to Build: $4,000