Brand Identity, Event Design, Public Relations.
The Gateway Project was a coalition of nonprofits, community businesses and volunteers raising funds to bring interactive playa art from Burning Man to Reno for public display. I did the design and the PR for both years.
The Gala
The first year was The Gateway Project Gala at the Pioneer Center for the Performing Arts, a “Burner Formal” evening with dinner, a bike art auction, a Controlled Burn fire performance on the plaza, and an after party. Sierra Arts Foundation was the beneficiary partner. The gala funded Gary Gunderson’s sculpture Pentamonium.
I created the gala identity, a steampunk gear “G” medallion, along with the poster, tickets, event program, menu, table tops and web banner. I also designed signage for the auction’s bike art pieces by artists including Aric Shapiro, Craig Erickson and Damian Plumb.
The Park
The second year brought the Gateway Project Reception and Gateway Gathering at Artech, with Burning Man founder Michael Mikel (Danger Ranger) as honorary chair. The evening featured Controlled Burn, silk aerialists, stilt walkers, glass blowers, an Art Car Rally and a silent disco.
The goal was to raise $30,000 to bring the Reno Playa Art Park, a Burning Man Global Arts Grant project, to downtown Reno. It hit the goal. My company, Biggest Little Group, was a sponsor, and I handled the PR.
See the Reno Playa Art Park project in this portfolio.
