The effigy will be three-side, 16’x16’x16′. A participant will not know what the complete effigy is until walking all the way around because you would not be able to see the facades at the same time.

The appearance depends on the approach. Each of the 3 sides of the structure will present a different take on Reno “culture”. The first side is the facade of the Washoe County court house, the second, that of a Wedding Chapel, and the third of a brothel (Legal, of course, since we’re in Pershing County). During the interactivity times the Court House and Wedding Chapel will be staffed, and at night, who knows what may happen?

Side one is a wedding chapel facade with all the glitz of cupid, hearts, and a steeple. The facade will represent the outside of a real wedding chapel, with some pews where a participant could have a real wedding or one handled by Elvis that is only good for the time on the playa. Up the steps there will be an alter. At the chapel a person may get “playa” married, where the wedding is only for the duration of the event, or actually have a ceremony performed by a licensed marriage practitioner, including clergy or other civil commissioner. There will be certificates issued that the couple may choose to burn the night of the CORE burn. Any type of ceremony may be held at the chapel. Lighting will be cheery, bright and festive.

Side two will be the facade of the courthouse with the elaborate pillars and dome. Up these steps will be the “bar” that only attorneys may pass and a bench for the judge. A participant could get a divorce (not a real one) from the presiding judge. The other corner will be dedicated to the courthouse where a couple may get “playa” divorced -so they can then get playa married, or not. This corner, inside and out, will have the standard pillar construction of a courthouse. A judge will perform these divorces, or possibly other legal issues that arise, such as water disputes. A divorce degree will be issued and may be burned the night of the CORE burn. Lighting will be industrial feeling.

Side three will be the facade of the “The World Famous” Sparkle Pony Ranch, Le. brothel. This will incorporate the “red-light” district and saloon that is usually considered part of the brothel. There will be a ladder into the back area that will be a shadowbox where participants may enact various dances around the dance pole or other activities. Lighting will be muted red.

By going through anyone of the doors, via the chapel, courthouse, or brothel, there will a ladder going to mid-floor platform that is shadowbox platform. A light will be on the other side to provide the lighting for the shadow effect. This platform will be at 9 feet.

At each corner of the triangle there will be ladders up to the open-air second story deck to be used as an observation area over the chapel, courthouse and brothel. This open air platform will be a great place for participants to observe the event and view the metal art people on display. Proposed flame effects will be placed safely and within regulations at each corner of the effigy. This platform will be at 13 feet with a 3 foot wall.

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Sound

There will be music, fire and sound effects, and a light display. The music will that ofany wedding chapel with fireworks sounds when a wedding is performed. There will also be sound effects when a divorce is granted and when someone enters the brothel. The music for the brothel will be seductive and suggestive. If someone wishes to have a wedding and provide their own music, there will be provisions for that.

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Lighting

The lighting will be extensive to show the glitz and glamour of a Reno chapel and red-light district. The court house will be lit regally. All parts will be lit with either LED’s, neon or spot lights. Lighting for this project is paramount and the largest component of the budget. Every part of the structure will be lit. We learned from last year that what we thought was a lot of lighting was not in actuality enough. We want to ensure safety with the lighting and light all guide wires. The perimeter will be lit with spot lights that will change to add a cool affect on the structure.

The Court House Facade will be illuminated in Court House fashion. Spotlights and subdued street lighting.The wedding Chapel will be done up in Gaudy Wedding Chapel Fashion, with lots of blinky EI Wire to simulate neon, Signage, etc. The Brothel: Think red. And spotlights. And lots of rope light. And a Bar. And a shadow box for “fun activities” of participant choice. Shadow puppets, we’re sure.

Last year we had the solar power provided, however, we had a contingency plan for a generator to light the effigy if something happened. That will be the same of this year. We will attempt to keep the power usage down and whenever possible use solar.

The engineering design for the lights and sound will utilize the most efficient and “green” method to reduce our carbon footprint, especially when we need a multitude of lights and bells and whistles.

iThere will be music, fire and sound effects, and a light display. The music will

that ofany wedding chapel with fireworks sounds when a wedding is performed. There will also be sound effects when a divorce is granted and when someone enters the brothel. The music for the brothel will be seductive and suggestive. If someone wishes to have a wedding and provide their own music, there will be provisions for that.

The theme for-the Reno CORE 2013 project is The Good, The Bad, and The Naughty. What captures Reno more in the popular imagination than a wedding chapel, courthouse, and brothel? Reno was the home of quickie marriages and divorces, and legalized brothels in the United States.

When the Comstock Lode had played out at the end of the 19th century, Nevada needed new sources of income. For more than half of the 20th century, Reno was Nevada’s sin city and the divorce capital of the world. Journalists and gossip columnists called it the “Great Divide,” a destination for divorce seekers who wanted to take “the cure,” and get “Reno-vated.” In 1931, the

Nevada legislature passed the most lenient divorce law in the country. This bold move carried the Silver State through the Depression with more than 30,000 divorces granted at the Washoe County court house. It also created a market for quickie marriages, which spawned a slew of wedding chapels a short distance from the courthouse. Our effigy pays homage to that history. (Adapted from http://www.onlinenevada.org/reno:_twentieth_century_divorce_capital)

The first third of the Reno effigy is a Wedding Chapel. Participants will have real and “playa weddings” performed at period-looking chapel. We plan to schedule participants who can perform Nevada wedding ceremonies, and others to perform ceremonies for participants who want to be bonded for the duration of the event.

The second third of the effigy is the courthouse. A “judge” will preside over playa divorces, and perhaps other disputes as they come before the court. During the Reno divorce and wedding heydays, which lasted until the late 1950s, women were known to throw their wedding bands from a bridge into the Truckee River after leaving the Washoe courthouse. Thus, with having a period courthouse, complete with a judge’s bench and judge, a participant could get playa-divorced and then playa-married in one location.

The final third of the effigy will be a tacky, 1950’s-era brothel reception area. Brothels remain an icon of people’s perception of Nevada. In 1971, the legislature prohibited brothels in counties above a I certain population threshold. The two areas this applied to are Reno and Las Vegas, but as luck I would have it, Reno is one freeway exit from the next county, where brothels are allowed. Our design includes a dance pole for participants use, with a shadow-box area for participants to project whatever activities they want their audience to believe

We plan to reach out to local artists to create “people” (mostly made of metal) to sit in the courthouse benches, the chapel pews, and the brothel chairs