Havana Nights Cigar

Project Overview

In 2019, the Musepop team was exhibiting an interactive installation at a conference in Las Vegas. One of the Havana Nights camp leaders introduced them self and inquired about our work. We began concepting and sketching project plans for the 2020 Burning Man event. The cigar project was born, but the pandemic put a halt to our plans and progress.

In the summer of 2022, we received a message. Let's build it! We immediately got to work designing all of the unique parts and systems.

Amazingly, the project was built in less than six weeks at Musepop Studio in San Francisco. It was first installed at Burning Man in 2022, again in 2023, and the camp plans to maintain and run it at future events.

The interactive components of the installation can be controlled by anyone who rides it by pressing any of the four buttons on the cigar controller. The buttons trigger the fire system (red button), smoke / fog machine inside the cigar (white button), vibration in the two horse saddles (blue buttons).

The installation is made from a range of materials, including steel, wood, leather, custom electronics, addressable LEDs, industrial gas plumbing fixtures, tension springs, 3d print polymers and more. The project has multiple integrated systems, scores of custom parts, and various one off inventions. It was an incredible adventure bringing it to life, and as always, a massive and rewarding challenge presenting it at Burning Man.

Huge thanks to the Havana Nights camp leadership, and volunteer members for their participation and efforts to build, run, and maintain the installation.

Finally, we want to express our deep gratitude and appreciation to Burning Man and their Fire Art Safety Team (FAST) for all they do to assist fire artists and their projects. FAST provides experienced personnel, support, and detailed guidelines for ensuring the safe use of flame effects during the event. For more information on creating fire art safely, explore Burning Man's FAST resources here.