1000 Hands is a colossal fabric artwork welcoming all of Austin to participate in its craft & inviting the world to fund its creation.

1000 HANDS

Destined for Burning Man 2023, “1000 Hands” is a 50 ft tall collectively-made tapestry built as a monument to the power of creativity and community. It depicts an abstract fiery landscape by day and a serene mountain scene by night, weaving together our climate fears and hopes for the future.

Art Island and Wevolve Labs are excited to invite involvement in the artwork's creation over the course of 10+ workshops and open work sessions this summer, including pop ups with Creative Action, The Contemporary, and Flipside. The piece is a Burning Man Honorarium Grant recipient and will be exhibited in The Black Rock Desert in August.

...AND THIS IS PRETTY COOL

The work is shaped by forces of Nature and Human Nature. Participants are invited to swing and sway from the base of the tapestry, experiencing "the weight of the world on their shoulders,” while witnessing the ripple effect of their actions across the entire tapestry. In this way, participants become an integral part of the artwork, co-creators of this masterpiece that reflects the potential we all have to affect change through our actions.

COMMUNITY IMPACT

As the name “1000 Hands” suggests, this artwork will be co-created by the involvement of over 500 participants whose hands weave a community as we build our art. Our home base will the Lloyd The Warehouse in North Austin, and we already have community involvement sessions planned with The Contemporary Austin at Laguna Gloria, and Creative Action. Our final tapestry stands as a testament to the transformative power of art and creativity, reminding us that together, we can create something truly magnificent.

WHO ARE WE?

The project is a collaboration between Maria Gotay and Nic DeBruyne of Art Island and Wevolve Labs, art collectives based in Austin, TX. Combining their love for interactive art experiences, community, and earth-shaping messaging, they’re building a movement in Austin toward unique art projects and practices.

Combining Nic's previous experience delivering Honorarium artwork (Archaeopteryx, 2019) and our previous collaboration building a one-of-a-kind art raft (The Spindrifter, pictured above, in 2022) that floated in Lady Bird Lake in 2022, we feel uniquely qualified to deliver something as magnificent as 1000 hands in 2023.

AND...WE NEED YOUR HELP

‘1000 Hands’, is fortunate to be largely funded by Burning Man Project through an Honorarium grant, and we are seeking funds to complete our project, transport it to the Playa, and help pave a legacy for its future exhibition. More specifically, we are focusing on:

Creation of the monumental ‘1000 Hands’ piece
Inclusive community integration into the fabrication
Assistance with travel costs to exhibit the piece
Help develop a legacy for its preservation and future exhibition

The best way to help make the 1000 Hands possible is by donating whatever you can afford - any value is truly welcome!

What you'll get in addition to helping the project

We’ve got some incredible rewards, and collector's items, listed below:

10+- Thank you postcard
$20+ - Mailed sticker & postcard

1000 Hands

Burning Man 2023 Honorarium Piece

Team Members