The Apis Inlusio (Latin 'Illusion of a Bee') is a large, fantastic, stylized bumblebee art car constructed by the Beecharge camp during Burning Man 2013. It features an elegant, organically shaped skeleton of curved, spiraled steel tubing, alternating yellow and black shade cloth panels, a menacing bee head/face, illuminated double wings, leg/ladder side entrances, a stinger/tail ladder at the rear, large led panels for the eyes, and fireball-launching antennae. The interior can accomodate up to thirty people and features a large open space for dancing or scoping the Playa, a cushioned and carpeted space for lounging, an open rear deck, and an elevated driver's platform offering an exceptional view of the Playa and the car's path. At night, the yellow head and panels are illuminated from the inside with golden/yellow light, turning the Apis into a magical, glowing illusion, indeed. The Apis also features a crispy, club-quality sound system concealed beneath the lower side panels. The Apis was conceived and designed by Aaron Cutchin, and built by the tireless, intense devotion of many of the Beecharge crew and friends during the spring and summer of 2013. It was constructed at NIMBY, one of the main facilities in the Bay Area for building art cars and other projects for Burning Man.
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"Apis Inlusio" The Beecharge Art Car, by Aaron Cutchin

Photo by: Terry Bowker

Year: 2013

Image Caption: 

The Apis Inlusio (Latin 'Illusion of a Bee') is a large, fantastic, stylized bumblebee art car constructed by the Beecharge camp during Burning Man 2013. It features an elegant, organically shaped skeleton of curved, spiraled steel tubing, alternating yellow and black shade cloth panels, a menacing bee head/face, illuminated double wings, leg/ladder side entrances, a stinger/tail ladder at the rear, large led panels for the eyes, and fireball-launching antennae. The interior can accomodate up to thirty people and features a large open space for dancing or scoping the Playa, a cushioned and carpeted space for lounging, an open rear deck, and an elevated driver's platform offering an exceptional view of the Playa and the car's path. At night, the yellow head and panels are illuminated from the inside with golden/yellow light, turning the Apis into a magical, glowing illusion, indeed. The Apis also features a crispy, club-quality sound system concealed beneath the lower side panels. The Apis was conceived and designed by Aaron Cutchin, and built by the tireless, intense devotion of many of the Beecharge crew and friends during the spring and summer of 2013. It was constructed at NIMBY, one of the main facilities in the Bay Area for building art cars and other projects for Burning Man.

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