We’re very happy to be installed in our new double-wide container in The Shipyard. In case you haven’t heard of The Shipyard, it’s really an incredible facility run by Jim Mason and Jess Hobbs. There are huge machine tools, mini “hardware stores”, ample common areas for building large-scale sculptures, and shipping containers where resident artists can store their wares.

One of the best things about being over there is everyone’s willingness to show us around, show us the quirks and conventions of using a gigantic lathe, or help install a capacitor to get the drill press working. And that’s even after we accidentally busted up a couple projects on move-in day! It seems it’s a constant shuffle moving huge items around. Luckily there’s a forklift that could literally lift a house to manage the work.

We’re in full production for Priceless this July 4 weekend and Fire Arts Festival coming up July 9-12. At Priceless, PyroCardium will be pulsing to heartbeats in its original spiral form. Ben is creating massive colored flame effects in the river for a new project called Toxic Bloom. We’re bringing along “Sputnik”, our custom heat exchanger to power a River Hot Tub. And I’ll be teaching a Flame Tree Workshop.

“Sputnik” heat exchanger on the Ocean Beach flower bloom heating our inflatable hot tub.

Ben tests an accumulator effect for Toxic Bloom.

Flame Tree Workshop participants at Alchemy light up their creations:

photo by broxtronix

I’m teaching a Flame Tree workshop at Alchemy on Saturday, April 26 after the Fashion Show. In this 2-hour construction class, you will get to build your very own propane flame effect. It’s called a propane burner, one of the simplest to create, and produces up to about 25 flames with 4″ tails. You will be provided with all materials and tools, except your own propane which you can pick up at any hardware store.

Here are some pictures of Flame Trees that people made at our first workshop:

Skills you’ll learn include: plumbing gas lines, making a flare fitting, leak checking, hardening and drilling copper tubing. Send mail to brett at false dash profit dot com if you want to sign up. The class is $40 and includes a free Alchemy ticket.