Sparking Change
Whimsical installation art, mutant vehicles and fiery dance performances will be right out your car window as Sacramento Valley residents visit the Mine Shaft in Rancho Cordova for our first ever “Summer Spark drive-thru”.
“This is our attempt to give guests an amazing experience — inspired by Burning Man — without leaving their vehicle. The pandemic has been rough on many people but this new take on one of our outdoor events is sure to dazzle the senses and help our community heal through art”
Ed Fletcher, president of Sacramento Valley Spark
The multi-sensory art experience offers a drive-thru format, strict physical distancing and mask use to minimize health risks. We ask that all guests not leave their vehicles once inside the experience to ensure the safety of event guests and our volunteers.
Food Trucks
Dinner Options
The event will offer a variety of dinner options that can be ordered virtually by clicking one of the links below. At the event gate you’ll be given an attendee number that will be written on your car windshield. Simply add this number to the front of your name when placing your order so that the food truck vendors will know which car to deliver your food to. Our vendors include:
- Azteca Street Tacos (Friday & Saturday night)
- Drewski’s Hot Rod (Friday night only)
- The Lumpia Truck (Saturday night only)
Dessert Options
For those wanting something on the sweeter side we offer Mely’s Churros on both Friday and Saturday night. The ordering process is slightly different for them. Simply call in your order to either (916)704-1289 or (209)300-9000 and Mely’s staff will take your order and payment over the phone as well as ask for your attendee car number. Mely’s will then text you when your order is ready for delivery. Easy as 1, 2, 3!
Event Merchandise
To help the party live on – don’t forget to purchase some cool merchandise to commemorate the event. You can either purchase online by clicking below or pay with cash at the event (please have the exact amount for cash purchases to limit exposure for staff and attendees). All purchased items will be delivered to your car directly from the House of Swag. You must show your receipt to receive your goods.
Artist Roadmap
To help attendees navigate easily through the outdoor space we have provided a listing of the various art in the order they are presented on your drive as well as artist information for each piece.
Circle of Friends by Chris Wiggins
Circle of Friends project was originally conceived over 15 years ago by Chris Wiggins and finally became a reality in 2018 as a collaborative project by Circle of Friends camp. The full project called for 6 ea 20’ tall sculptures linked arm to arm in circle of approximately 40’ diameter. Fully engineered in 3/8” aluminum, the main parts of the sculpture were cut at the Reno Generator with their C&C Router. Then we had a custom glass heart crafted by Peter Hazell. In 2018 we did a proof of concept piece at just under 12’ tall. For 2019 BM, we added a live heart-rate monitor that lights up the glass heart! It was created for Burning Man 2018 as an honorarium piece and COF did an encore appearance in 2019.
For more information you can visit the artist on Facebook.
Mural Expressions by the ARTner Collaborative
“WXM COMMUNITY CONNECTORS”
Prepared for the proposed WX Mural Museum under the I-80/US 50 freeway. The proposed project foundation along with the small scale models being shown are in place ready to express the 6 artists visual stories for the new face of Sacramento. Showcasing (1) equal representation, (2) togetherness unification and (3) community strength identity for our entire region.
To learn more about the project and artists involved please visit Mural Expressions or the ARTner’s site to learn about their mission.
To Bee or Not To Bee by the team at Mr. & Mrs. Ferguson Art
The honey bee is big. Compare yourself to this sculpture yes, but so is the contribution that bees have to the world’s food supply. Don’t be intimidated. It has long hair, curved limbs, penetrating eyes. You’re not vulnerable and nor should a bee be vulnerable to you. The flower base was made with 33,000 glass, toy marbles. Durable and a touchstone to the memory of childhood. At night, light passes through the marbles to light the installation. The wings were built with perforated mesh steel and reinforced with tubing to simulate the veins.
The teams goal is to make art installations a visual trick that on examination, become a tactile experience. Touch is a sense often overlooked in a world of visual and audible stimulation. We have learned that visitors of art become participants when they stay longer with the art and explore it. Bee or Not to Bee’s use of broom bristles and marbles deliveres a unique tactile experience for all to enjoy.
You can learn more about the team and their work here.
Eye of Providence by Chuck Sommerville & Camp Illuminaughty
The 8 foot Eye of Providence was originally built for Burning Man 2018. The ball was built as an upgrade to the 5 foot ball raised on our 40 foot tower in 2017. In 2018, it suffered a tragic accident, so was not able to make it safely up the tower, but it did proudly show as a city landmark in 2019.
It has 60 sides, with 49 pixels on each side. It is driven with 2400 watts at 12V, The software, written in a game development tool called Unity, maps the animations in 3D, generating the content in real time.
You can learn more about the artist here as well as visit the Camp Illuminaughty site here.
Thru by Daniel Tran
Momentary Installation via adaptive re-use of HDPE Irrigation Tubing and Remnant Plastic
You can visit the artist on Instagram
Reaching Through by Jessica Levine
Reaching Through is an eleven ft tall steel kinetic light sculpture consisting of five tube-like structures that flow up towards the sky in forms resembling coral or plants. It is made kinetic by the use of suspension springs salvaged from retired trucks. The suspension springs are placed about half way up each of the tubular structures, allowing the top pieces of the sculpture to sway and move in the wind or when touched by people. The natural forms rise up from the ground, reaching through, and swaying in the wind. This piece is about the organized functionality of living organisms, in contrast with the disorganization and sometimes seemingly chaotic physical world considered to be reality. It was created for Burning Man 2017 as an honorarium piece.
You can learn more about the artist here or visit them on Instagram.
Evolution by Kayla Luna
These are the artist’s visual experiences that she wants to share with her audience that helped her through her journey of evolving. Please enjoy the “mind manifesting” art.
You can learn more about the artist and her work on Instagram.
Quadrapod by Scott Parenteau
You can learn more about the artist and their work on Instagram.
Motherhood by Melissa Uroff
Motherhood is composed of neon lights, wood, acrylic, cello, wire and fake flowers. Melissa is a California based artist and photographer. As a photographer, she works in alternative, historical and experimental processes including cyanotypes, gum printing, polaroid transfers and traditional darkroom techniques. She loves to mix mediums and often create installations, work in printmaking, painting, drawing, electronic art, neon tube bending, collage, and assemblage. Melissa has several public art pieces on display throughout CA, which include large-scale murals along with free-standing art pieces.
You can learn more about the artist and her work here or visit her on Instagram.
Tell-lie-Vision by Jaymie Braun
Come watch what’s on the TV, what do you see in this typical American living room? The television became a part of every household less than one generation ago, this installation asks the viewer to consider how this powerful box has shaped our lives.
You can learn more about the artist on Facebook or on their website here.
Sonic Brainwash by Sean Stillwell, Lucaso & Eliza Maroney & Alexa Jesse
Vehicle passengers receive a healing, grounding tune up while driving through a portal, car wash type experience called the “Sonic Brainwash”. On either side of the vehicle, Cosmic Service Attendants engage car passengers from a distance with music, art, and healing vibrations. Receive a moment of zen upon exiting the event with this mini-decompression.
You can learn more about Alexa Jesse here, Sean Stillwell here and Lucaso Maroney here
Art Cars
And keep an eye out for some of the amazing Burning Man mutant vehicles that will be moving about the two day event!
Playatech Flaming Castle
by Arthur & Kathy Zwern, aka Sunshine & Glimmer
The Playatech Flaming Castle is a mutant vehicle created to drive the Playatech vibe everywhere at Burning Man, with easy access for touring the physically challenged. Built on the chassis of a chopped 1990 Volvo sedan with a steel armature added, the Castle itself was constructed in 2016. It features Playatech’s signature slotted plywood style, delightfully soft fluffy seating, and faux flame effects. Playatech was established in 2005 as a spoof company, and is now the world’s leading source for DIY festival furnishings, with all proceeds benefitting the arts – our designs are easy to construct, rapidly-deployable, planet-friendly, and ship flat-pack because the only material used is plywood with no fasteners needed.
You can learn more about the artists here.
Taking Back the Tea Party by Louis Ceci
Welcome to the world of Alice in Wonderland where tea on-the-go is all the rage!
Our Community Partners
Summer Spark 2020 is supported by the City of Rancho Cordova’s Community Enhancement Fund, which uses a voter-approved assessment to fund enrichment programs throughout the city.
Additional thanks to the Cordova Community Council, the nonprofit city booster organization which owns the Mine Shaft site. Sacramento Valley Spark is seeking to work with the City of Rancho Cordova and the Cordova Community Council to create a one-year outdoor Sacramento Playa Art Park at the Mine Shaft site.
Thank you to our sponsor Advantage Presentation Services, Inc. for their donation of lighting and projection services to create a spectacular event.