Since the early part of 2002 I have been collecting bottle caps - metal caps (also known as crown caps) and plastic caps.  It came to me one day that the caps, which I normally would throw away when I recycled the glass or plastic bottles that they came from, deserved a better fate than the landfill.  What that ultimate purpose was, however, I had yet to determine.

As an artist, working mainly in three-dimensions, I have always had a fondness for discarded materials.  Not only is it better for the environment it is also practical.  Reusing materials is so much less expensive than buying new.  But what really draws me to working with these materials is the fact that there are certain limitations to what I can make, limitations that come from the material itself.  It forces me to be creative and work only with what I have.  Oftentimes, as I create I let the form become what it will, letting it present itself to me as I go along.  I generally do not have a pre-determined plan; I just let the materials guide me.  To me, this is an invigorating, challenging and extremely rewarding experience.

I knew that one day an idea would present itself to me and I would use the caps as part of my artwork.  Two years ago a sculpture came to my mind and with it I realized that I needed to recruit others in my collection of caps, as I would need many more caps than I had at the time.  That was when I really started to develop a close relationship with my bottle cap collection.  The caps remind me of people, places and times – positive experiences in my life.  In addition, some of the caps are very aesthetically pleasing; they are almost like little works of art.  I really enjoy looking at my collection.

Since the caps come from friends and family as well as from myself I feel that each one has its own soul.  Many people ask me why I do not just go to bars and ask the employees to save me bottle caps.  I could very easily do that but the experience would be so impersonal.  I like knowing where my bottle caps come from.  I also appreciate the fact that by saving their bottle caps for me people are given the opportunity to become aware of the value in something previously viewed as trash.

The first sculpture I had in mind was not, however, the Bottle Cap Tree.  I was never quite able to make that original idea work.  I think that is because the caps knew they were ultimately meant for something else.  Yet, I never stopped collecting.  I knew that the caps' true purpose would eventually appear.  When I first heard about this year’s Burning Man theme (The Green Man) and of the "Mangrove" of trees that would surround the Green Pavilion, it was very clear to me that my bottle caps needed to somehow be a part of that.

I must make it clear that I am a Burning Man Virgin, though I have known about Burning Man for many years.  I have been curious in the past about attending but never before felt a driving purpose.  However, I have come to realize that this is the year that I must attend, not only because of my growing interest in “green” principles and practices but because I feel a deep need to “plant” a tree in the desert.

Project Proposal

My goal is to create a tree made entirely from recycled metal and other building materials that I will then cover in bottle caps.  Approximate dimensions are 10’6”H x 4’W x 4’D.  I intend to keep my over-all costs as low as possible by utilizing as much hardware and materials already in my possession or received as donations.  In this manner I am forced to rely on my creativity in order to make a structure from limited resources, which, as I stated in my introduction, is something I really enjoy.  I will, however, purchase any materials needed to make the structure stable and able to withstand the forces of nature present on the playa.

The trunk and branches will be made from old duct (HVAC) and other recycled building materials. It will consist of three parts that are bolted together. Tree blossoms (see image below) made from bottle caps will be attached to various parts of the trees.  The tree will have lights wrapping around the truck and branches in the manner of vines. The exterior will be covered, as mentioned above, with bottle caps, mostly crown caps that are adhered using clear silicone caulk.

The design created by the bottle caps will not be entirely decorative.  There will be a pattern that guides the placement of each cap.  I believe there exists a balance between order and chaos that is inherent in the universe, our world, and nature.  I believe, also, in an “underlying system” that is at the core of our existence.  Much of my art for the past three years has been about exploring and trying to tap into this underlying system.  To do that I developed a system of number sets that I use to create the basic building plan for many of my sculptures.  This system of numbers has created for me very amazing forms and I believe that these forms come from an unseen world that I am tapping into when I create my art.  (For more information about this body of work, check out Permutations.)  I believe that the tree I will create originates from this unseen world.  As such, I will use this system of numbers to determine the placement of the bottle caps on the trunk of the tree.  I am very excited to share my discovery of this tree with others.

Below is an estimation of how I think the tree will look.  I feel that working with recycled materials requires a certain amount of “go with the flow” and therefore I cannot render exactly what the final outcome will be.  But then that is the really exciting part of the creation; letting the art evolve and eventually reveal itself to me.

Ultimately I see this tree as being a small part of a larger whole – the Mangrove.  It will provide visual stimulation by the mere presence of thousands of recycled bottle caps.  I hope also, that it will inspire others to think differently about the things they idly throw away.  Small things discarded over time really can add up.  Something as seemingly insignificant as a bottle cap can have a second life.  It does not need to be so easily forgotten.

My project team consists of four additional people who will be on hand to assist in the tree’s installation and de-installation.  I believe there to be minimal affect to the playa as all that should be required is stakes embedded in the ground to secure the tree.  We will leave no trace after the tree is deconstructed.  The Bottle Cap Tree will be re-planted after Burning Man 2007.

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