Here Be Dragons

A photograph of Sara Snyder
Sara Snyder
Former Head of External Affairs & Digital Strategies
March 9, 2018

I am not sure how many museums outside of the realm of natural history regularly navigate the challenge of bringing “terrible lizards” into their galleries. But, as you have likely figured out by now, the Renwick Gallery is not your average art museum.  Case in point is our latest exhibition, opening March 30, 2018: No Spectators: The Art of Burning Man.

 

The museum team and artist working to assemble the dragon

Duane Flatmo works with the SAAM Renwick team to install his work

 

SAAM’s Renwick Gallery is closed to the public between now and March 29, in order to make way for the installation of a wild cavalcade of creations. Here you see artist Duane Flatmo working with the SAAM Renwick team to install his mutant vehicle, Tin Pan Dragon. 

Flatmo has been building kinetic sculptures since 1982, but the pedal-powered Tin Pan Dragon was the first vehicle that he brought to Burning Man, in 2008, and it paved the way for a series of even grander, more elaborate works. Tin Pan Dragon is made from recycled found objects, and weighs more than 550 pounds.

man pulling the levers of a large metallic dragon vehicle

NOTE: for reasons of safety, Renwick Gallery visitors will not be permitted to climb inside of Flatmo's Tin Pan Dragon during the run of the exhibition.  Sorry, wannabe Khaleesi!

Learn more about the artists and artworks featured in the exhibition: No Spectators: The Art of Burning Man.

Related blog post: Feel the Burn: the Art of Burning Man Comes to the Renwick in March

 

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