It has been just a few weeks since the burn of the Life Cube in Downtown Las Vegas. The embers may have cooled, but the memories of the project and the support and enthusiasm of the community, friends and family are still warming my heart.
What began as an exploratory trip to Las Vegas at the beginning of last year has resulted in a journey that I will never forget. There are so many anecdotes, photos, video, blogs, televised reports and news articles and yet they hardly begin to tell the tale! In the meantime, it is with deep gratitude that I share a small smattering with you. Attached to this letter are several links to video, and a few images to further pique your interest.
While the burn was a spectacular and moving event attended by over 10,000 people, the most meaningful part for me was the interaction with the community. Over the past three months, I spoke with over five thousand students throughout the Las Vegas valley about the dual missions of the project: 1) writing down your goals for what you want to achieve in life; and 2) connecting art and community. They responded by asking insightful questions, decorating their own cubes and canvasses, filling out thousands of “wish-sticks” with their own hopes and dreams, and bringing their families downtown to visit the Cube and attend the Burn.
Photo of The Life Cube Project in Las Vegas by Cameron Grant and The High Points, Fine Art Photography ~ www.thehighpoints.com
Ultimately, more than 40,000 wishes went up into the universe. We had 3700+ photos and videos posted to Instagram, 4500+ likes on Facebook, and even “trended” on Twitter, which they tell me is a big deal. In addition, the chance to watch and interact with hundreds of artists as they paint and performed around the Cube was a truly special opportunity.
This was a very long project. Whether you were in Las Vegas with me for part of it or cheered us on from afar, your emotional, advisory, artistic, skilled and/or financial support was integral to our success. Your encouragement has been and continues to be appreciated more than you can possibly know. Attached is this note with some photographs in PDF format.
Thank you from the bottom of my heart.
scotte
Video Links:
‘The Life Cube 2014’
Fremont East Studios
https://vimeo.com/88944146 (3 minutes)
‘The Life Cube Project Documentary’
H. Andrews Joven
https://vimeo.com/89526703 (9 minutes)
Newspaper Articles from the Las Vegas Sun:
http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2013/nov/20/joe-downtown-why-giant-burning-cube-can-change-you/
and
http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2014/feb/04/burn-downtowns-life-cube-inviting-canvas-artists/
Scott Cohen
The Life Cube Project (Life Cube LLC)
+1.917.690.7691
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/thelifecube
Website: http://www.LifeCubeProject.com
Instagram: #lifecube, #lifecubeproject
Twitter: @thelifecube
(the above was sent to friends, volunteers, supporters, artists, and craftsman on April 15, 2014)