Join us!
The Yellowstone Burners are an all-volunteer group based in Cody, Wyoming that exclusively creates collaborative public art. The group is a registered Wyoming nonprofit and is fiscally sponsored by a 501c3 art support organization called HatchFund. This means that donations to Yellowstone Burners are tax deductible. The group's first project is an art car titled Saddle Up!. We created a version of it last year but it wasn't quite right so we are making some tweaks and changes to it so it will be ready in time for Cody's 4th of July parade and the Yellowstone Beer Fest. Everyone is welcome to join us!
Frequently Asked Questions
What is public art?
Public art is art in any form that has been planned and executed with the intention of being staged in the physical public domain, usually outside and accessible to all. Learn more here about public art.
What is collaborative art?
Collaborative art is different than traditional art in that someone in the group will come up with an idea and it is created as a group. People work together to build the piece, often dividing up ownership of different parts with guidance from the person or people who came up with the idea. Credit for the piece goes to the group rather than an individual artist.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is public art?
Public art is art in any form that has been planned and executed with the intention of being staged in the physical public domain, usually outside and accessible to all. Learn more here about public art.
What is collaborative art?
Collaborative art is different than traditional art in that someone in the group will come up with an idea and it is created as a group. People work together to build the piece, often dividing up ownership of different parts with guidance from the person or people who came up with the idea. Credit for the piece goes to the group rather than an individual artist.
What is an art car?
An art car is a vehicle that becomes a piece of art, like a parade float. Some are modified to such a degree that the base vehicle is not immediately recognizable. Some art cars are able to drive around with participants on board, others may drive to an event location but remain stationary while allowing people to climb on board. Visit photographer Scott London's page to see a wide variety of art cars.
What is fiscal sponsorship?
501c3 is a specific IRS designation for a certain kind of nonprofit that is allowed to be tax exempt. Not all nonprofits have 501c3 status. An organization that is tax exempt, however, can accept donations and the IRS allows the donor to deduct that amount from their taxes. A 501c3 nonprofit can sponsor projects that fit with their charitable mission, making that project also available for tax deductible donations. They help monitor the project and ensure that the funds are being used for the allowed charitable purposes. This arrangement is called "fiscal sponsorship" by the IRS. Please visit the National Council of Nonprofits for more information.
Who can join Yellowstone Burners?
We actively seek and encourage new people to join our group and help with creation; everyone is welcome! We may look for someone who has specific skills we need for a project, such as welding, stained glass production, or sewing but we also teach people coming in who may not have a specific skill already. We are happy to teach the entire process of creation from presenting a concept that others can understand, to creating a detailed budget, to organizing volunteers and managing a timeline to make the creation a reality. If you've never held a drill or a saw, join us and we'll teach you!
An art car is a vehicle that becomes a piece of art, like a parade float. Some are modified to such a degree that the base vehicle is not immediately recognizable. Some art cars are able to drive around with participants on board, others may drive to an event location but remain stationary while allowing people to climb on board. Visit photographer Scott London's page to see a wide variety of art cars.
What is fiscal sponsorship?
501c3 is a specific IRS designation for a certain kind of nonprofit that is allowed to be tax exempt. Not all nonprofits have 501c3 status. An organization that is tax exempt, however, can accept donations and the IRS allows the donor to deduct that amount from their taxes. A 501c3 nonprofit can sponsor projects that fit with their charitable mission, making that project also available for tax deductible donations. They help monitor the project and ensure that the funds are being used for the allowed charitable purposes. This arrangement is called "fiscal sponsorship" by the IRS. Please visit the National Council of Nonprofits for more information.
Who can join Yellowstone Burners?
We actively seek and encourage new people to join our group and help with creation; everyone is welcome! We may look for someone who has specific skills we need for a project, such as welding, stained glass production, or sewing but we also teach people coming in who may not have a specific skill already. We are happy to teach the entire process of creation from presenting a concept that others can understand, to creating a detailed budget, to organizing volunteers and managing a timeline to make the creation a reality. If you've never held a drill or a saw, join us and we'll teach you!
Who is in charge of this group?
The group’s founders are April Jones and Todd Evans who reside in Cody. April works as a massage therapist and marketing professional; Todd is an HVACR specialist. They moved to Wyoming over two years ago, having been deeply involved in creating large-scale public art for many years. They are excited to bring this style of art to their new home; Saddle Up! is meant to honor the rich history of horse and rider while providing a unique experience to all who climb on board.
Why don't you charge to enter, or sell things from your art car?
We want to provide a unique artistic experience that is a gift to our community. We feel it's important to have experiences from time-to-time that are free from commodification. Donations from our friends, family, and community businesses are their gift to us and to you. Who doesn't love receiving a gift?
What's up with the "burners" part of your name?
The group gets its name from an annual gathering in the Nevada desert called Burning Man; people who attend are called “burners”. This week-long gathering of 70,000 people showcases hundreds of pieces of large-scale collaborative public art including spectacular art cars that are modified to an extreme.
Why do you create this type of art?
We believe that these kinds of art projects are a way to build community and make connections with others that can last a lifetime, while bringing a little splash of color to our neighborhoods and a smile for our day. In short, we do it because it's fun! Join the Yellowstone Burners today or considering making a tax-deductible donation, and help us bring collaborative public art to Park County, Wyoming.
The group’s founders are April Jones and Todd Evans who reside in Cody. April works as a massage therapist and marketing professional; Todd is an HVACR specialist. They moved to Wyoming over two years ago, having been deeply involved in creating large-scale public art for many years. They are excited to bring this style of art to their new home; Saddle Up! is meant to honor the rich history of horse and rider while providing a unique experience to all who climb on board.
Why don't you charge to enter, or sell things from your art car?
We want to provide a unique artistic experience that is a gift to our community. We feel it's important to have experiences from time-to-time that are free from commodification. Donations from our friends, family, and community businesses are their gift to us and to you. Who doesn't love receiving a gift?
What's up with the "burners" part of your name?
The group gets its name from an annual gathering in the Nevada desert called Burning Man; people who attend are called “burners”. This week-long gathering of 70,000 people showcases hundreds of pieces of large-scale collaborative public art including spectacular art cars that are modified to an extreme.
Why do you create this type of art?
We believe that these kinds of art projects are a way to build community and make connections with others that can last a lifetime, while bringing a little splash of color to our neighborhoods and a smile for our day. In short, we do it because it's fun! Join the Yellowstone Burners today or considering making a tax-deductible donation, and help us bring collaborative public art to Park County, Wyoming.
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