One Tin Soldier
TITLE: One tin soldier
ARTISTs: Mark Deem / Misfit Toys LLC
24 August - 1 SeptemBER 2025
The soldier
Introduction
One Tin Soldier was a monumental installation of 5 sets of giant toys covering nearly a football field of playa in Black Rock City.
Climate Approach to Project
Our policy is to reuse and upcycle as much material as possible, and to make transport of these giant sculptures as efficient as possible by combining/sharing loads, minimizing on-site construction, and most importantly, to not put art into the waste stream post-event by placing them for long term public interaction.
Carbon Emissions from Travel (tCO2e): 1.21 tCO2e
Carbon Emissions from Shipping (tCO2e): 5.31tCO2e
Carbon Emissions from Energy Use (tCO2e): 0.72 tCO2e
Emissions - Other Categories (tCO2e): 21.57
Emissions - Accuracy: Somewhat Accurate
Emissions Calculation Description & Methodology:
GCC online calculator, using reasonably accurate estimates of material weights, and including total energy usage for the build season. Not including lighting for event, as that was all solar and battery and didn't see how to add that in GCC calculator, and shop power use for 4 months far outweighed on playa solar/LED lighting.
Waste Report Description & Methodology:
The Misfit Toys, while making massive, durable pieces of art that use a large quantity of new base materials, strive to use required new materials as efficiently as possible. For example, from our 3D models, complex custom spreadsheets were created to generate cut lists for all new materials which minimized offcuts and reduced waste materials. All of the approx 1100 gallons of sawdust created was collected and spread on the studio hillside as compost and will be inoculated for mushroom harvesting in the future. Additionally we were able to reduce the need for approx 30% of required lumber by up-cycling reclaimed material (old bowling alley lanes). Offcuts of bowling alley lanes were donated to a local construction materials reuse organization for resale/reuse for other projects, so zero waste stream there. Out of approximately 40,000-50,000 lbs. of art, the waste taken to construction material recycling consisted of 4 pickup truck loads. All lighting was solar and battery which have consistently been reused and added onto and retained for future projects.
It is important to note that 75% of our carbon footprint was base build materials. So far, three of the five sets of toys either have, or are in the process of securing, permanent placement as public art in civic spaces.
Climate Actions Taken:
Up-cycled as much lumber as possible - approx 50% of the lumber used to create eight giant, wooden blocks was reclaimed bowling alley lanes.
Complex, custom-made spreadsheets, cut lists and labeling systems reduced new lumber use and minimized steel waste.
Sawdust waste was repurposed as mulch/compost in a forested area on site which will be inoculated for mushroom harvesting.
Big art requires big trucks, but load layouts were created to maximize shared use of semi-truck transport.
Lighting was all solar and battery, has been used for three seasons, and continues to be adapted and reused.
How did the project support staff to take climate action?
All of the very intricate spreadsheets for cut lists were generated internally by team members dedicated to best use of materials with a goal towards zero waste. Labeling, sorting and proper fabrication sequences were critical, but the team took to the challenge and worked toward continual improvement.
How did the project promote collective action or movement building?
The Misfit Toys IS a movement. Born in 2021, it is a self-assembled arts collective that has become a tight community, dedicated to making high quality, durable, public-facing work. When we have chosen not to pursue our work, we fold into other crews (like Naga) to help them realize their goals. Beyond the arts, the team is giving back to the community in other ways. In 2026 a Habitat for Humanities affordable housing build will occur in our tiny little home base town of Bolinas, CA. The Misfits will be banding together to put in significant volunteer hours towards this amazing project.
Exhibition credits:
Artists: The Misfit Toys, Mark Deem lead artist.
Funders: Lotus Arts, Burning Man Honorarium, and special thanks to individual donors and all of the $10-50 donations that not only fueled the bank account but by their sheer volume, fueled our souls.
A.S.S Team: Peter Platzgummer, Brodie, Katie Hazard, Mountain, Saffron
Special Mention: METAL HEATHER, without whom the Horse and Soldier would never have stood.