What is it made of?

The thirty-seven panels of Plastic Chapel are made of recycled plastic, glued to flat extruded steel mesh, welded to one-inch square steel frames. The panels are then hung on a strut system attached to the construction scaffolding. The stage floor is fabricated from flat steel mesh to allow for lighting and special effects from underneath. Simulated star pinlights in the stage backdrop are provided through hundreds of feet of random-diameter fiber-optic cable, stretched to an oscillating illuminator.

How long did it take to build?

The actual construction of the Chapel took a group of six people about three months working about 40-50 hours per week each, with about a dozen others putting in various amounts of labor over the same period. Collection of the plastic and initial design began approximately three months before construction commenced. The twelve windows on the Chapel were constructed over a period of ten years.

Where did the idea come from?

Sculptor Finley Fryer had long thought of a housing for a series of windows he had built from stained glass, plastic, silicone, and synthetic resin. A trip to the U.K.'s Channel Islands inspired him to create a chapel-like setting for them. Around the same time, Dunsmuir local arts group SMP was planning a stage for Burning Man '98. Fryer proposed his concept to the group and the planning process for Plastic Chapel began.

How much does it weigh?

Each of the 37 panels weighs approximately 150 to 200 pounds. Including the support structure, stage, stairs and struts to hang the panels from, the total weight is estimated to be six to eight tons.

How many tubes of adhesive caulk were used?

Approximately 1,800 tubes of clear siliconized latex caulk were used in the construction of Plastic Chapel.

What happens to Plastic Chapel after an event?

Plastic Chapel is broken down, shipped to its storage trailer for safekeeping, and kept there until its next installation.