Hippathy Valentine tells us how The Giant Weta grew from a doodle on a napkin to a team of volunteers and crowdfunding to take it to Burning Man in the US. It's back in NZ where it's recently been at Kiwiburn, next stop Splore 2017.

It will be one of 15 artworks at this year's arts trail, co-curated by Anna Hanson and Ross Liew with the theme 'Strangely Familiar'.

What aspect of your creative practice gives you the biggest thrill?

The look on peoples’ faces when they play and explore your work. There’s really nothing like seeing people enjoy themselves like you had hoped they would.

Tell us a bit about your background 

I’ve worked on a number of installations in New Zealand and around the globe working in various mediums. My focus is on interactive works that are highly engaging and building community through creating art. Some of my notable works can be found here. 

When and why did The Giant Weta project start? Why a giant weta?

Around July 2015 I decided I would work on a project to take an art installation to Burning Man 2016. We asked the Auckland Burners community to submit ideas they had for a project with as little details as a doodle on a napkin and a short explanation, and that we would vote on which project we liked the most and work together to develop that idea in to a full proposal. The Giant Weta is the project that won this vote. I think the Weta won because weta are very dear to our hearts and every New Zealander has their own story about when they first saw one.

Tell us about the people and work involved in the project?

The project was built from March/April 2016 until it was shipped to the USA in July 2016 and finished off at the Generator in Reno, NV, USA. It recently returned to New Zealand and was taken to Kiwiburn.

It was built by a group of 40-50 volunteers who represent a large cross section of society, almost none of whom could weld or had worked on large scale art in their life. It was worked on for thousands of hours during their time off and on weekends.

What were the pros and cons of crowdfunding to take it to Burning Man? What’s your advice for others crowdfunding?

Crowdfunding can always be tough! I think the key is to have a large group of supporters who help you spread the word. Have a really good pitch, present all the information in an open and informative way but in an upbeat manner. Keep your funders informed and follow through with your rewards.

Once you establish a pattern of making awesome stuff it becomes easier and easier to crowdfund the money. We wouldn’t have been able to do our project without crowdfunding.

How has it been received so far - what tweaks have you made?

People have loved it! It took some education to get Americans to think it wasn’t a grasshopper (even though technically weta can be classed as one) but we got there eventually. 
We had to modify the flame effects once it arrived in New Zealand to comply with our safety standards and we also modified it’s antennae to make them easier to mount without the assistance of heavy equipment.

Why did you want it to be at Splore? 

We want to show off our work as much as possible! We’re all really proud of what a group of volunteers can achieve when they put their minds to it.

What changes have you made for it? 

As above we’ve made some medications to its antenna and flame effects. We’ll be presenting the flame effects slightly differently than usual at Splore as well.

What's your number one business tip for surviving (and thriving) in the creative industries?

I have to work a day job to be able to create the art I want, so I’m all ears on that one.

What’s your big idea for 2017?

I’m already working on a highly interactive installation piece that will be climbable and suck hours of peoples’ time as they explore it. It will be a collaborative work that will seek participants from all over the country to work in small groups to create hundreds of unique experiences that it will offer.

• Splore is on 17-19 Feb 2017 at Tapapakanga Park, Auckland