Purr Pods
Burning Man 2019
Concept
A friend told me if I was going to dream up a sculpture, dream big. Don't base it on my skills (or lack thereof!) or the cost to build it. Well, the first sketches were definitely dreaming big. They involved fire and towers and giant scratching posts with disco balls. Yes!!
As I sketched and schemed - and still thinking big! - I came up with the concept of the Purr Pods.
Up to 5 large feline shaped sculptures in a circle, each in a different pose with a built-in bench. They will be constructed with welded metal rod to create the contour of the animals, possibly skinned with metal mesh or ferro-cement to further enhance the shapes, or built using wood and a combination of other materials. Each piece will be illuminated with color changing LEDs and have intense “laser” eyes and fiber optic whiskers. From a distance, playa travelers only see 1 or 2 of the cats at first but, as they get closer, they will discover the colorful clowder. During the day, the sculptures can provide shade as well as a restful place to sit. By night, the glowing laser eyes promise mischief and draw participants in to explore the curves of the cats. When petted, these kitties purr!
The Purr Pods received a Black Rock City Honorarium and lounged and purred for participants at Burning Man's 2019 Metamorphoses.
Illustration by Molly Gregory
 Cut and Paste Concept |  Shaping My Idea in Chicken Wire |
|---|---|
 Cut and Paste Concept |  The Giant Vega Form |
 Shaping Vega's Paws with Chicken Wire |  Covering Vega with Drywall Papier Mâché |
 Drywall Papier Mâché is Done |  Covering Vega with Metal Rings |
 Removing Big Pieces of the Vega |  "Testing" the Weld Strength |
 Purr |  Stapling Chicken Wire to the Luna Form |
 Getting Creative in a Small Shop |  Standing on Luna to Check the Welds |
 Loading Vega onto the Truck |  The Purr Pods Heading to Burning Man |
 The Purr Pods Arrive on Playa |  Moving Luna into Position |
 Installing and Testing Lights |  Giant Tutus for Giant Cats |
 Photo by Leori Gill |  Kitty Love |
 Photo by Leori Gill |  Purr Pods Loaded and Ready to Go Home |
Purr Pods Around the World
American Museum of the House Cat, Sylva NC
One of the three of the three original Purr Pods, Scooby Doo, was donated to the American Museum of the House Cat and will soon be on purrmanent display in downtown Sylva, NC.
Scooby Doo was cleaned, sandblasted and powdercoated to get ready for his next adventure.
Nice to spend the last days with Scooby Doo before he left for North Carolina.
Scooby Doo made it to North Carolina! This is a photo from the night of delivery.
Scooby Doo was cleaned, sandblasted and powdercoated to get ready for his next adventure.
Point San Pablo Harbor, Richmond, CA
After Burning Man, Vega and Luna, the remaining two original Purr Pods, landed at Point San Pablo Harbor (PSPH), an incredible place filled with art.
PSPH became a home base for Vega and Luna as the cats ventured out and then returned.
Vega and Luna during their first residency at Point San Pablo Harbor.
Gorgeous photo by Gino Zevallo.
Luna near the shore.
Vega and Luna during their first residency at Point San Pablo Harbor.
Gallivan Center, Salt Lake City, UT
They spent six months at the Gallivan Center in downtown Salt Lake City, UT to help illuminate to the area and bring joy during the pandemic.
The Purr Pods spent the winter and early spring in Salt Lake City.
Sunny day in Downtown Salt Lake City. The Purr Pods were successfully installed!
Cats are loaded and headed back to California.
The Purr Pods spent the winter and early spring in Salt Lake City.
Ashton Court Mansion, Bristol, UK
A new Purr Pod was created and shipped to England. Bristol Boo is a purrmament resident at the incredible Ashton Count Mansion.
Tying each metal ring onto the cat form to create Bristol Boo.
Bristol Boo is the first Purr Pod I welded by myself.
Boo at Ashton Court Mansion
Tying each metal ring onto the cat form to create Bristol Boo.