Are you a fan of cuddling? What if I were to tell you there was an art exhibition where you can cuddle all you want…with thousands of stuffed animals strewn in a 60×60 square foot pool structure?
Better known as The Cuddle Puddle Mission, creator Ari Kalfayan has a particularly warm and fuzzy vision. Already having completed one “cuddle puddle” before, the 20×40 pool filled with stuffed animals (not just Teddy bears), which was exhibited at Burning Man in 2014.
This entirely original installation brings its viewers together, allowing them to interact with stuffed animals and each other. The Cuddle Puddle Mission is a part of Disco Chateau, a mini-community within the Burning Man festival. The plushy pool is the art installation but the “chateau” has much more to offer for festival-goers. They have created a lounge where visitors can relax, massage or be massaged, meditate, or attend one of the many workshops they have to offer from acro yoga to sensual bodywork. Every night the “chateau” has eloquent “French Ass Dinners” where they create gourmet feasts for anyone that wants in. Lastly, they top off the Burning experience with their very own DJs playing throughout the week.
“The Cuddle Puddle is a sacred space of comfort, intimacy, and a return to youthful innocence. The deeper you sink into the mass of stuffed animals that surround you, the greater the sense of euphoria and release of oxytocin.”
For those of you that aren’t familiar with Burning Man, it’s basically a week long outdoor art festival in Black Rock City, Nevada. Camping out in the harsh desert, artists and art enthusiasts come together from all over, live life and expose their art to the public. At the end of the week, a wooden man sculpture (last year’s was over 100 feet tall) is engulfed in flames signifying the end of a commodity-driven culture and embracing an interactive and creative form of expression.
Help make this massive fuzz-fest a reality by donating to their Kickstarter campaign and watch them create this snuggle-worthy masterpiece.
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/423438270/the-cuddle-puddle-burning-man-2015?ref=category_newest
