CHARON

Artist: Peter Hudson

Status: Completed 2011

Location: Black Rock City, NV

Photo Credits: HUDZO

Links:

https://www.hudzo.com/charon/9kiwgst2l6ps8oxmng4z03rsyt5eyg

About:

A gigantic 30’ spinning wheel with posed human skeletons mounted on its inner edge, Charon is fully powered by a minimum of 12 people working in unison. Onlookers are invited to pull a series of 6 ropes which cause the wheel to rotate progressively faster. When the rope pullers are coordinated enough to get the wheel spinning at the correct speed, a strobe is activated, revealing the skeletons’ animation. The animation tells the story of Charon, the mythological gondolier and ferryman of Hades who carried the souls of the recently departed across the river styx, the last right of passage on the way to the afterlife. This piece debuted at Burning Man, 2011.