We are done!
Well almost, but we still have some details to finish before we head out to Burning Man.
Lots of late nights with little or no sleep.
Wired Article about the Snail!
Jon Sarriugarte, a blacksmith and fire artist, makes adjustments to the flame-emitting feelers on the front of The Golden Mean, his snail-shaped art car.
Story and photos by Emily Lang
OAKLAND, California — In a project that would make Franz Kafka grin, a 40-year-old bug has metamorphosed into a snail. The resulting creation, an art car called The Golden Mean, is a golden gastropod that glows in the dark and shoots rings of fire from its feelers. It also seats six comfortably.
Blacksmith Jon Sarriugarte, who fabricates custom home furnishings, worked with his wife, Kyrsten Mate, to transform a 1966 VW Bug into the rolling piece of art. The Golden Mean is making its debut at the Burning Man art festival this year.
Mate says she literally dreamed up the concept.
“I woke up and said, ‘We have to build this giant snail,'” she said. “It totally wasn’t planned. This whole project has been weird coincidences and math.”
The visually stunning vehicle takes its name from the golden ratio, a mathematical proportion that’s said to produce aesthetically pleasing art and architecture. The spiral in the snail’s shell is shockingly close to the ratio. Other inspirations for the project include the giant pink snail from Doctor Dolittle, giant mechanical elephant puppets by Royal de Luxe and Jules Verne’s imaginative creations.
Here’s a peek at last-minute preparations that took place in Sarriugarte’s Form & Reform shop before Golden Mean headed off for its date with the playa.
the Golden Patina
With the head now done it’s time to add a patina!
I posted more pictures here
When I have more time I’ll post about how we did the patina.
before (I hated to change it!)
During
After. Wow!
a head teaser
Jon was up until 6AM. Yes 6AM after we started work at 9:30AM. We’re exhausted. Racing the snail (!) to the finish line. Here’s a teaser of the head.
- moon over snail
Slowly moving along
The final week days are upon us and things are looking so good. Lauren says we now just have to get it done regardless of how. Time for me to let go of all the details and just let this amazing crew do what they have done so well these past months. I can’t imagine how I’m going to repay you all!
Snail Ale (yes we even have home brew thanks to Keith and Merrilee!)
KSNL (K Snail radio at 95.1 again thanks to Keith and Merrilee!)
The late night crew. We had over 12 people Sat. and got so much done!
Over 50 panels in all and only 7 more to do! I’ll bet Hino has them all on by the time we wake up on Monday.
Lauren with the hardwood dash utilizing actual simulated virtual wireless technology from the Oil Punk era (note gauge at top).
To Do:
Fire Effects, Head lights, Straps for head, 7 panels, trim on top panels, Patina the entire shell in coppery bronze, paint, install wiring harness, install floor, install seats, reassemble fenders after paint, hubcaps, sound system, light effects, under body lights, curtains, have a beer, load.
Yes, we need help.
Golden Mean gets a shell
It’s a wonderful thing to work on a project that amazes the builders. Every time I walk back with a new part to add I have to stop in fascination at what we have done. The sum of small details adds life to cold steel.
The Golden Mean is looking Great!
Trying out the lighting on the inside of the shell
The Shell Grows Day by Day
We had to add a split rear VW Window!
The snails body emerges
Lauren lays out the wiring
Snail Update AKA “The Golden Mean”
The work is progressing well and we are very excited to finish the project. Every day I’m amazed at the crews workaholic frenzy to get this beautiful machine done. Equal parts art, hot rod, BM, craft, and technology; this project has wowed everyone who has seen it so far and we’re not even done!
more about the Golden Mean
Jon, Pavel, Kyrsten, and Lauren.
Kyrsten installing the fire wall.
Finished spiral with the start of the skin.
It lives!
Wow. Update.
Holly and Laura prepped endless numbers of panels to make the shell.
Kyrsten patterned more panels and polished rivet after rivet.
Nathan and Alex both worked on the top palaquin platform.
And Jon and Lauren finally finished installing the airbags and got the mechanical systems all worked out.
So we went for a ride!
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- Nathan, Lauren, Laura, and Kyrsten
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- Laura prepping the shell panels
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- Polishing rivets
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- The first time out of the shop!
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- Keith hanging off the back
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- West O.
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- Wow, it looks like such a hot rod
Snail Update
We have put so many hours in now. we noticed the rear end is getting closer to the ground and now we have had to add air bags. here are some pictures from last night of where we are now.
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- rear seat, shell looks good
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- We added a top platform, and you can see the start of the head
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- Late and tired!
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- seats are in
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- Pedals are done
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- Lauren checcking the new mounts she made
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- New air bags
Big Thanks For Supporting Todd!
Todd’s benefit was very successful. The group raised over $35,000 which will make bring Todd home this week possible.
I want to thank my gear sponsors:
Alan Anzalone, Melanie Shapiro, Joe Koches, Fritz Hagitz, Christopher Brooks, Jim Austin, Jason McClean, Rich & Kim and everyone that has bought a drink at the Boiler Bar Over the last year!
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- Zolie Mae
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- Zolie and Paxton in the Bike Rack
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- The Gear Wall
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- “wow that’s a lot a money!”
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- Tansy and the Snakes
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- Kyrsten Dancing on glass
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- Done!
Wall of Gears from Scott Beale on Vimeo.
