Above & Below is a deeply personal piece, a sculptural self-portrait of the artist. It imagines the life of an inventor and maker who creates a magnificent and otherworldly shelter for himself and his daughter.
The relationship portrayed in the narrative mirrors Lead Artist Sean Orlando’s own experience of building a world rooted in wonder, storytelling, and community for his daughter to grow in and be held by.
The installation reflects a world nurtured by curiosity and care, an environment rich with art, invention, and play. It draws from a life and career devoted to building imaginative spaces, where interactivity, immersiveness, and a sense of discovery are always at the center. Above & Below is a place where art is a lived value, and community creativity is the built foundation of all of our experiences.
Interested in helping this come to life? Links to donate and volunteer in bio.
#burningman #burningman2026 #bigart
Last night we gathered to kick off Above & Below! Artists, builders, longtime collaborators, and new friends all showed up, excited to make something magical together - it was really lovely!
This project is a big one. This world we’re building will take a lot of hands, a lot of skills, and a lot of love to bring to life.
If it speaks to you, we’d love to have you be part of it! 🔥 donate to help fund the build + bring it to the playa 🔥
🛠 volunteer and come build with us 🛠
Links in bio to get involved. Let’s see what we can make together!
We’re officially bringing Above & Below to life this Tuesday!
✨ Join us for our project kickoff ✨
Donkey & Goat Winery
1340 Fifth St, Berkeley, CA
Tuesday, April 14th at 7pm
Come gather with friends, collaborators, and builders as we unveil the vision, walk through what’s ahead, and begin building the community that will make this piece real.
From the shop to the playa, we’re looking for support of all kinds:
🔧 Fabrication (metal + wood)
🎨 Scenic & aesthetic build
📣 Fundraising & publicity
🏕 Camp support & logistics
…and more
Whether you’re ready to jump in, curious to learn more, or just want to be part of the energy, join us!
👉 RSVP at Partiful link if possible (link in @above_and_below_beanstalk profile)
Let’s build something unforgettable. See you there!
This immersive sculpture by Sean Orlando, created in partnership with the Five Ton Crane Arts Collective, has been selected as an official Burning Man 2026 Honoraria project. A house below, a house above, connected by a climbable beanstalk. Headed to the playa in 2026!
It’s official. Above & Below has been selected as a Burning Man Honoraria installation!
Created by Sean Orlando with fabrication by Engineered Artworks and produced in partnership with Five Ton Crane, this new large-scale work continues a long exploration of immersive, story-driven environments -- spaces built for curiosity, connection, and wonder.
Rising 40 feet above the playa, the piece will connect two worlds: a dreamlike home on the ground and a luminous cottage in the sky.
More details to come, but for now, we are delighted to be bringing this bit of magic to the playa this year!
#burningman #burningmanhonoraria #burningman2026 #largescaleart #largescalesculpture
@seanorlandoartist@fivetoncrane@engineered_artworks@burningman
Behind every big artwork is a team that believes in artists, collaboration, and community. Five Ton Crane is guided by people who bring deep experience in arts management, fabrication, and who have helped turn many creative dreams into reality!
Meet them!
✨Lisa Burger ✨
Arts nonprofit leader, attorney, and advocate. As Executive Director of Independent Arts & Media, Lisa brings more than a decade of expertise in nonprofit formation, operations, and arts management. She cares a lot!
⚡️Mike Chiappetta⚡️
Longtime Five Ton Crane member and creative force behind projects like Naga and the Captainess, La Victrola, and The Capitol Theatre. Mike blends 40 years of business leadership with hands-on fabrication insight to help artists succeed. When he is not impersonating an octopus, Mike is still using all 8 tentacles to get things done
🔥Peter Platzgummer 🔥
Burning Man Project staffer with experience leading complex projects around the world. Peter ensures that our big ideas are supported by strong planning, organization, and impact measurement, and does it with a perfect manicure.
Together, they’re helping build the next phase of Five Ton Crane–a sustainable, thriving nonprofit that empowers artists and strengthens community through public art.
Support large-scale art! fivetoncrane.org/donate
@zgummer@the_octogent@froggielb
Supported this year by Five Ton Crane, @compost_playground led by @r88d is a sculpture that turns the shapes of discarded fruits and vegetables into spaces for climbing, shelter, and play. It’s a love letter to sustainability, a celebration of Black/BIPOC-led creativity, and a reminder that big art takes a village: mentors, friends, makers, funders, and the communities that gather around the build.
If you believe in art that delights and brings people together, please consider supporting 5TC’s year-end campaign so more projects like this can come to life.
💛 Donate: /donate/
@eventhorizonled is one of the large-scale artworks supported by Five Ton Crane this year. Created by @bencbartlett this 30-foot-tall, audio-reactive kinetic sculpture lit up Burning Man 2025. Ben describes the piece as “a meditation on the beauty of the Universe… the chaos and order that shape everything.” The spinning rings symbolize the motion of the cosmos; the still center represents the singularity, the calm at the heart of the storm. Event Horizon is exactly the kind of ambitious, thoughtful work that 5TC exists to support!
If you want to help bring more wonder-filled please consider supporting Five Ton Crane’s year-end campaign.
💛 Donate: /donate
📸: @autobiographica
Meet Haley Who, puppeteer and our first Five Ton Crane Artist-in-Residence. With 6 months of studio space and mentorship, Haley brought new life to kinetic storytelling. Your donation helps support the next resident artist in 2026!
💛 Donate: /donate/
Big news: Five Ton Crane is now an official 501c3 nonprofit! Your support helped turn a dream into a lasting creative force. And we are ready to do more. Every donation helps support artists, fund mentorships, and make monumental public art possible.
Consider a donation to make art happen! fivetoncrane.org/donate
Photo by @beccahenryphotography
Five Ton Crane has helped raise over $400,000 for artists creating large-scale public art. Your donations = larger-than-life dragons, LED gyroscopic dance floors, compost playgrounds, and grilled cheese for all! Recent partners include:
@naga_and_the_captainess@dustcitydiner@eventhorizonled@compost_playground
Let's keep the momentum going. Donate today to make art happen!
fivetoncrane.org/donate
Consider an end-of-year donation to make big, bold art possible.
Five Ton Crane supports artists-led projects, offers access to workspace, and host community events and workshops that fuel creativity and our local community.
fivetoncrane.org/donate
The Capitol Theater is officially “Installed” at the Oakland Art Museum. Come check out the exhibit “The Art of Burning Man”! #fivetoncrane #fivetoncraneartsgroup #fivetoncraneartscollective #omca
