Moon Gate Portal by Jael LaFemina and Comfort & Mystery by Julia Cortell For Burning Man 2025

Turns out our sculptures are thematically related and will be placed next to each other…so why not share transportation/on-playa resources and a crowdfund campaign to cover these costs?!  

First…..about our projects:

Moon Gate Portal

Moon Gate Portal is inspired by the classic Japanese Zen Garden entrance feature called a moon gate in reference to its circular shape. Traditionally, moon gates provide a moment of transition as one steps into another world and are also used to frame the shared landscape outside as a window into what lies beyond, bringing the vastness of nature into the context of the garden.

Aimed due East on the playa, Moon Gate Portal will achieve these goals by providing participants a chance to step into the future, changing timelines and reflecting on moving through the world, literally stepping into the framed sunrise of a new day. When viewed looking West, the Moon Gate Portal will frame the event and the sunset, encouraging contemplation and integration of the day gone by.

• Physical description

Weighing in around 6 tons and constructed entirely out of reclaimed granite sourced from New England, utilizing antique curbing from the streets of Boston and Granite boulders from New Hampshire, Moon Gate Portal will stand just under ten feet tall, with a depth of seventeen inches and spanning eighteen feet. Utilizing boulders for support and the physics of arches used for millennia, the granite will create a grounded, simple and strong presence.

• Interactivity

Moon Gate Portal will come alive through participant engagement and interactions in, around, through and on the sculpture and will be activated by walking or riding through it, including ADA accessibility, and it can be climbed (shhhhh…..)

• A little bit about Jael

Jael LaFemina is a classically trained stone mason and sculptor based in Mill Valley, California.

Working primarily in Columnar Basalt and Marble, in addition to creating zen and stone inspired spaces for clients throughout the Bay Area, Jael sculpts custom site specific sculptures,  fountains and gallery pieces. He currently sits on the Board of Directors of The Mill Valley Fall Arts Festival.

Jael has been attending and contributing to Burning Man since 2000.  His sculptures include the Inuksuk Altar in the Temple of Wholyness in 2013 and the Replay Outlet in 2017.  In addition to stone sculptures, Jael was co-lead on Plug and Play in 2016, a Friday night burn, and built and maintained two art cars. Jael also contributed originally conceived sculptures for the Black Rock Arts Foundation annual Artumnal, benefiting their mission to raise funds for grants to artists.

He is excited to return to the playa this year with Moon Gate Portal.

Comfort & Mystery

Inspired by an experience Julia had with her oldest son when he graduated from college in 2019 on the cusp of a life changing decision, Comfort & Mystery explores the end of the journey of the childhood portion of motherhood and the launch of our children into the mysteries of life...

• Physical description

Comfort & Mystery replicates the simple but comfortable park benches on Mystery Street in New Orleans where Julia and her son began their journey. Two 3-person hand made metal benches with live edge wood seats and backs by Zac Mosher in a corner formation on either side of a heat lamp modified to extend to approximately 10/12 feet tall with fanciful mosaic street signs: Comfort & Mystery. Mounted on the sign, 3 slump glass birds in flight by Bobby Sarnoff, representing Julia’s 3 sons as they are growing up and taking off.

• Interactivity

A place to rest and regroup whether day or night, with warmth when needed…. and before stepping out into the mystery of the Playa….

• A little bit about Julia

Julia Cortell is the mother of 3 boys, a monumental art facilitator/evangelist/maker, and an attorney, which comes in handy for the latter and maybe also the former… Her life on art began in 2009 when she, Marco Cochrane, Deja Solis  and the Bliss Crew, embarked on a 12-year journey resulting in Bliss Dance and Truth is Beauty- both of which she found permanent homes - as well as R-Evolution and GAIA, a sculpture she conceived of and modeled for.  Along the way Julia has advised, fundraised for and supported numerous artists as they navigate the world of creating art for Burning Man and beyond. 

What we need and how you can help!?

Both project’s builds are funded!!!  And….we still need to cover transportation and on playa costs for crew.  We also want to raise the funds to cover Moon Gate Portal’s fiscal sponsor fee for the donations that covered build costs.  We have great swag…2 stickers and two…yes two…pendants to choose from…or get them both!

Hopes and Dreams….

We are not certain, but we think we might be the first Burning Man artists to proactively raise funds jointly for joint needs/services. We hope to inspire more of the same as we all consider sustainability goals and environmental impact.

We want to acknowledge all the the donations we have received thus far and all of the work our crews have and will be doing to support our projects.  We could not do this without them and we can not do it without you!

Julia and Jael

P.S. We will be out there in deep…. enjoying the sunrises…we hope with you…and please bring coffee and bacon!