Support the Artist who Built Farmer the Rigger

Zulu was recently one of the selected artists to receive the Honorarium Grant 2023 from Burning Man to build his sculpture, Farmer the Rigger. It features an Afrocentric metal mask suspended in the air by ship anchor chain arms, anchored to the ground by two massive metal fists. The sculpture is a tribute to the working class and skilled laborers, symbolizing the culmination of countless hours dedicated to perfecting one's craft, and is a self-portrait of the Artist himself.

"I broke my hand while working on Farmer The Rigger. The timing could not be worse. I have to be in a cast for the next four weeks. This means I cannot physically work on my sculpture. We have lost a few crucial days of productivity. But I can lead the team on what needs to be done to get it to and from Burning Man, as well as ensuring the team's spirits are high and motivated.

The sculpture is scheduled for pickup/transport from Petaluma to Black Rock City, Nevada on August 18, so the absolute last day for completion is on the 17th of August.

This piece is quite literally a manifestation and representation of the hours and energy, Zulu Heru and the other artists who have dedicated themselves to following their passions and what brings them deep fulfillment. A tangible and physical creation birthed from the deep trust it takes to follow one's dreams and desires in a world where this is seldom supported. The world has taught us to do what we must do to provide for ourselves and our families whether it brings gratification or not, these artists have taken the road less traveled of dedicating time and energy to something that brings great achievement and joy and purpose.

For this campaign to be successful, our focus is on the below:

Volunteers with specific skills:

Metal workers that can cut/ grind, weld, and shape sheet metal and pencil rod

Fluffers to help get meals, and drinks for the crew

We also need to raise more $$$ for the following items:

Metal structural support beams - to safeguard the people and art installation from high wind loads

Flatbed trailer - to haul elements of the art piece onto Playa

2000lb counter-weight - to prevent the art installation from tipping over

Structure components to strengthen the footprint of the art-piece

Benches - for a resting area that doubles up as storage space

A firepit

Camp-due contributions

No donation is ever too small - We will appreciate your time coming out to help us build in this final week, your monetary donations, your sharing of our posts with your friends and social media. By contributing to this campaign, you are not only supporting an exceptional artist but also championing the value of creativity, dedication, and art.

Thank you and hope you come by and visit us on the Playa