In this weekend event, we will teach valuable metalworking skills and cultivate meaningful connections while working together on a participatory art project on an organic farm in the Driftless area. We hope to foster moments of personal growth where attendants can learn new tool skills and discover the gratification of creative collaborations. On Saturday, June 17th, Dana Albany, our featured Burning Man artist, and Dave X, the manager of the fire art safety team for Burning Man will lead a discussion about the process of creative collaboration. After their presentation, Dana will teach participants to use the plasma cutter, welder, and other metal working tools. We will practice our new skills embellishing steel fire pits, which we’ll put straight to use as we gather around a group campfire for storytelling and engaged discussion at the end of our first day. On Sunday, June 18th, we will continue teaching and practicing tool skills and collaborative design as we create and attach steel adornments to our group project, culminating in an amazing sculpture we can all stand back and be proud of. When the weekend is over, participants will be snapping photos to show their family and friends, saying, “I helped to create that”, “I welded that section” and hopefully they will have awakened their curiosity to learn, create, recycle, and collaborate more.