The Cave

The physical presence of The Cave is a worn Greek Revival gazebo approximately 25 feet in diameter with a fire pit in the center. The surfaces of The Cave are meant to be aged and worn – combined with the classical style of the architecture, making it a timeless place. Greek Revival stylistically melds the early Greek source of the allegory with an architectural style that has a long history in the US and is closely associated with ideas of national identity.

Interior Diagram	Exterior Diagram

The exterior and interior of The Cave will be two distinct experiences - the former enjoyed during the day and the latter at night. The exterior is the place of sunlight and truth: a circle of nine foot Ionic columns, topped by a two foot tall frieze, but no roof. This exterior is defined by a paraphrase from Plato, which will appear on the frieze:

“In the sunlight beyond the cave, we are initially blind, but finally see things for what they re. Returning to the darkness of the den, we will perceive the shadows only weakly and ust endure the ridicule of those who take our condition as reason not to exit.”

The frieze will also depict figures and objects from American folklore: John Henry, Pecos Bill, Marie Laveau, Calamity Jane, Brer Rabbit, Sasquach, Cayote, The Fountain of Youth, Herbie, The Enterprise, gray aliens, and more. Underneath, mounted around the columns, plaques only readable during the day will tell the true stories and etymologies of the characters depicted above.

The exterior and interior will be separated by an 8 foot tall screen running around the inner edge of the circle of columns, creating a translucent surface against which shadows will be cast by participants and shadow puppets. Three low arches cut in the screen will permit movement between exterior and interior.

The interior is the space of nighttime, fire and shadows, defined by a second paraphrase of Plato that will run along the top interior edge of the screen:

“We firmly believe truth to be the shadows cast against the walls of the cave. We confer honors among ourselves for those who are quickest to observe the passing shadows and to remark which of them went before, and which followed after, and which were together.”

The very center of the space will contain a raised (playa friendly) fire pit surrounded by benches, chairs, three shadow projectors and collections of shadow puppets of the characters that appear on the exterior frieze. The fire pit is meant to contain a small fire of only a few logs in order to maintain an intimate atmosphere where participants are not separated by a roaring hot flame.

The arrangement of the shadow projectors and fire pit will be such that the projectors cast onto areas of the screen that are strategically shaded from the firelight. Where the fire is not shaded, shadows of the participants will be cast on the screen by the fire itself.

Benches will be arranged so that anyone sitting down will be in a position to play with the shadows, and that several people will have access to each projector making, any storytelling a collaborative effort. The selection of puppets themselves is meant to encourage the fun and ridiculous – Pecos Bill is abducted by aliens, Herbie runs over Brer Rabbit, or Marie Laveau turns Sasquach into a voodoo zombie in order to take over the Enterprise. Materials will be available for participants to make their own shadow puppets as well.

Together, the exterior and interior will create the two main states defined by Plato’s allegory of The Cave – Knowledge of the true forms of folk heroes and the fictions of the stories we enjoy telling to each other.

Finally, the Cave will include a number of purely functional elements as well. Fire extinguishers and a square edge shovel for fire emergencies. Guy lines to secure the structure in the wind. A firewood storage box approximately 15 feet away from the main structure, and a generator silencer box next to the firewood storage.

Dimensions

• Main Structure: 25 feet in diameter (34 with guy wires), 11 feet tall
• Wood Storage: 4′x4′x8′ long (20’ from main structure; not shown above)
• Generator Box: 3′ cube (20′ from structure, 5′ from wood storage; not shown above)

Design Goals

• Comfortable space that does not permit the formation of an audience-performer relationship.
• Placement of shadow screens and folklore shadowpuppets to encourage play and storytelling among participants.
• Safe firepit in which the fire can only be maintained by a person managing the installation.
• Fire safety – Materials with low flammability; Easy exits; Accessible safety gear including fire extinguisher and fire blanket; Reduction/elimination of sparks coming from the fire.
• Wind safety – It needs to withstand a major dust storm.
• Deep playa appeal – it should emit a warm, inviting glow from a distance.
• Easy construction and maintenance.