Burnable Art

Flaming Art Works

So you have decided that your artwork just won’t be complete until it’s set on fire? It should go without saying that we love fire and we want to see your art burn as well! But with great fire comes great responsibility. There are a few things that you will need to keep in mind before lighting something other than a fire toy, campfire, or burn barrel up for the first time:

  • Do you have a safety plan in place for your art?
  • Do you have a cleanup plan for after its glorious destruction?
  • Is it built with approved burnable materials?
  • Do you have a plan to take it home with you in case it can’t burn?

Safety

As much as the community loves to joke about safety third, when it comes to flame effects and large art burns, you are responsible for the safety of those around you while your art is burning.

Permits will be required for anyone burning anything larger than a campfire or those who utilize flame effects that feature large bursts of fire. Anything that is using a compressed liquid fuel also falls into this category. While there is a lot of land out there, not everywhere is safe for fire so you will be working with the Ignition lead to find a time and a place for your burn. You will also be required to supply a perimeter (if needed), fire extinguishers, and a safety plan for your event.

If anyone in an official authoritative capacity tells you not to burn your art, DO NOT LIGHT UP. This is for the safety of everyone.

Cleanup

So your art piece has gone up in flames and the fire is out. This is a leave no trace event, therefore you are responsible for cleaning the area up afterwards. You will need to make sure you have a way to pack out the large unburned pieces and pick up any other objects left over (nails, bolts, screws, staples, trash). It is your responsibility to make sure the area looks as good or better as when you got there.

Approved Materials

So what can you burn? The super-duper-extensive-but-not-inclusive-list is as follows:

  • Untreated lumber
  • Natural fabrics
  • Paper
  • Non toxic paint

But what about the things you cant burn?

  • Pressure treated lumber
  • PVC
  • Plastics
  • Tires
  • Drywall
  • Rubber
  • Lead and oil based paints
  • Styrofoam
  • Other various chemicals
  • Small children

If you still have questions, email ignition@midwestburners.com to ask about anything you don’t see on these lists.

But What if I can’t burn my art after all?

Things happen. Sometimes you just can’t burn what you want to at InterFuse. We will work with you to the best of our ability to have your art piece burn, though sometimes it may take rescheduling or adjustments to make it safe. You need to make sure that you have a plan in place to take your art back home with you just in case. The cleanup crew does not want to have to clean up your unwanted art.