Marco Cochrane’s 45-foot-tall sculpture
empowers and inspires
creativity in San Francisco
R-Evolution Comes to Union Square
The Union Square Alliance, The Sijbrandij Foundation, and Building 180 are thrilled to announce the arrival of Marco Cochrane’s R-Evolution, a stunning 45-foot-tall sculpture symbolizing feminine strength and empowerment. Originally created as part of a triptych for Burning Man in 2015, R-Evolution will be on display in Union Square Park in February 2025.
R-Evolution is the third and final sculpture in the series of three monumental sculptures, The Bliss Project, by Marco Cochrane of a woman, Deja Solis, expressing her humanity. At 48-feet tall, R-Evolution was debuted at Burning Man 2015.
R-Evolution was sculpted by hand by Marco using classical sculpting techniques starting with a ¾ life-size clay original. Using a Pantograph – a medieval-era enlargement tool – Marco sculpted a 15-foot clay version, and then using the Pantograph, tripled the sculpture again to her final metal form. The completed 48-foot sculpture is made of steel rod and tubing, utilizing two layers of geodesic triangles (necessitating 55,000 welds) covered by a stainless-steel mesh.
Marco Cochrane was born to American artists in Venice, Italy in 1962 and raised in Northern California in the midst of the political and cultural movement of those times. As a result, Marco learned respect for oneness, balance and the imperative to make the world a better place. In particular, he identified with the female struggle with oppression and saw feminine energy and power as critical to the world’s balance. In his 20s, on a dare, he explored sculpting and discovered both his ability to capture human emotion and energy and the power of art to amplify.
Self-taught, for more than 20 years Marco sculpted in clay and cast in bronze, primarily women who chose their own poses, their own expressions. In 2007 he attended the Burning Man Festival and was inspired to take his art and his message in a new direction, he just did not yet know how. In 2009 he returned, and it was then he realized how he could enlarge his sculptures to monumental proportions while maintaining their integrity, thus magnifying their impact.
Marco believes that the time we have to solve the problems that threaten our existence on this planet is running out, and that the key to finding real lasting solutions is bringing feminine energy into balance with male energy: a global shift, already underway.
Join us for the official unveiling of R-Evolution on Thursday, February 6, from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. in Union Square Park. The celebration will feature a vibrant mix of Burning Man-inspired music, live DJ performances, photo opportunities with the sculpture, a full bar, and a food truck. This free event aligns with Downtown First Thursdays and Into the Streets, culminating in an exciting march led by a lively band at 7:30 p.m., guiding us to an exclusive after-party at Downtown First Thursdays. Music and Event Coordination by Opulent Temple.