Slowly but surely the Space Whale is taking place at The Generator in Sparks. And when you picture it picture this...a steel-framed mother Humpback Whale with a calf created from 50,000 pounds of steel and 250,000 pieces of stained glass. It will be lit up from the inside and it will speak to everyone who sees it.
Artists hope that it suggests a new way of seeing the connection between our environment on earth and the connection we have with creatures and the stars.
"We want to inspire people to consider the physics of earth and the part we play in the universe," says Matt Schultz, the main artist on the project and the man who manages The Generator.Â
"It has been amazing to see this come from an idea to a sketch to a model of the sculpture. And now to see it coming to life at the scale and power that we wanted is amazing!" said Kelsey Owens, a welder and artist working on the project every day.
"It's great to see that we can bring together a group of regular people who want to see this happen and create something that we sure hope will be around for generations to come," Schultz says.Â
Funding has been an issue. And when electronic DJ "Skrillex" heard of the project he wanted to help. So he's coming to Reno Friday to hold a benefit concert. They've already sold 5,000 of the 6,500 tickets available. and get this, Skrillex is donating all proceeds to the Space Whale Project.
"It's amazing to see that. I've never seen anyone of that magnitude donate all proceeds to something like this....and I've been a promoter for 15 years now."
"This will be the biggest fundraiser we've ever had for Burning man," Schultz said. "And I think it will be the biggest party Reno's seen in awhile "Â
It's at the Reno Events Center, Friday night. Doors open at 6 pm.Â
