Hey Art Lovers, it’s your beloved community of artists!
We had a great year so far full of new art, touring existing artworks, hands-on workshops, and memorable community events. Our big project of the year, Namaskaram, joined our list of giants: Rainbow Bridge, Phoenicopterus Rex (Flamingo), Cone Down, and more. As you may know, we make these epic art installations on a shoestring budget. And now, we need your help to run our organization to keep building bold, bright, community-centric art that brings people together.
Looking Up Arts Foundation (501(c)(3)) is officially launching our annual end-of-year fundraiser!
While our project-specific campaigns help bring individual artworks to life, this fundraiser is the fuel that keeps the whole organization running: our workshop rent, tools, insurance, hardware, safety equipment, and training materials—the things that let us dream big all year long.
Your tax-deductible donation helps us maintain an accessible workspace, teach volunteers new skills, and create joyful public art for communities near and far.
When you support us you can select a perk or grant a wish for us!
What we made this year with your support:
🙏 Built Namaskaram
Our biggest project of the year, Namaskaram, is an elegant, 16-foot-tall sculpture of a bowed head and 9-foot-tall folded hands, in a gesture of reverence and welcome. Drawing on the traditional Indian greeting, this sculpture served as a beacon of celebration and inclusion at a major crossroads in Black Rock City. This project reached tens of thousands of viewers and brought together an incredible volunteer crew of welders, woodworkers, LED programmers, and first-time builders.
🎨 Led a geometric lantern making workshop for 15 High School Students
In this workshop we introduced teens to vector based graphic design, hands-on fabrication, and collaborative building. By the end of the week, the students were really proud of their creations, and loved seeing their designs come to life. We're excited to be hosting a new group of high school students again in April 2026!
🏮 Created lanterns for the JCC Palo Alto's Annual Fundraiser
Custom illuminated work s of geometry that brought warmth, color, and celebration to this JCC's major community event of the year.
🌟 Installed a permanent public art installation in Jackson, TN
We created a functional, site-specific art installation that was an instant hit with the people who call Jackson their home. This expanded our geographic reach, bringing year-round magic to a new community.
✨ Brought our Interlace to Priceless Festival
Our interactive hyperboloid sculpture lit up the festival, engaging attendees with movement-responsive LEDs and dynamic geometry. This was super fun, enjoyed by adults and children alike.
Why We Need Your Help
When our operating costs are covered, we can pour more resources into creating incredible art for future exhibitions, festivals, and public installations. Here’s what your donation supports:
Our Annual Operating Costs (~$12,000) Include:
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Workshop rent at Upside Artspace
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Storage for our large-scale artworks
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Tools + equipment upgrades and repairs
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Insurance for our team, volunteers, and installations
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Materials for workshops and small projects
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Software, website, and design tools
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Required nonprofit filings, fees, and taxes
These unglamorous but essential expenses are what allow us to be a thriving creative hub for artists, engineers, students, and volunteers.
Our Community of Makers
We pride ourselves on teaching skills, opening doors, and creating opportunities for hands-on creativity. This year we:
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Welcomed dozens of new volunteers
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Taught skills in metalworking, woodworking, and LED engineering
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Helped beginners become builders and builders become leaders
“I learned more in one weekend with Looking Up Arts than I had in months on my own. They make big art feel accessible.” – Volunteer
“It’s a rare community where artists, engineers, and total beginners work side-by-side and actually make something monumental.” – Volunteer
Ways You Can Support
Donate
Every dollar helps us create more art, teach more people, and keep our community thriving. If you want to donate in another method, please visit www.lookingup.art/donate
Volunteer
If donating money isn’t possible, your time and skills are just as valuable. Fill out the Volunteer Interest Form to join our upcoming projects.
Provide Space
We’re always looking for inexpensive storage for multiple 40’ shipping containers within 250 miles of San Francisco. Know someone with extra space or a storage business you think highly of? We'd love an introduction.
THANK YOU
We truly couldn’t do any of this without you. Your donation is more than financial support, it’s a sign that people believe in what we’re creating. It keeps us inspired, keeps us building, and keeps art accessible to everyone.
About Looking Up Arts Foundation
Looking Up Arts is a San Francisco–based arts and technology nonprofit dedicated to creating interactive, immersive, community-centric art. Our work celebrates the bright, the bold, and the extraordinary, blending engineering, design, fabrication, and play. We provide a collaborative space where artists, volunteers, students, and makers of all backgrounds learn, create, and bring large-scale artworks to life.
We're happy to offer swag from Namaskaram as thanks for your generous donation!
Perks
Add a fun shimmer to your life with our Namaskaram holographic sticker design by Josh and Sri. This durable vinyl sticker features a radiant version of the sculpture’s motif inspired by muggulu, also known as rangoli in some parts of India. Srikanth's childhood was filled with muggulu patterns, where he bonded with his mother and cousins over the art practice. Perfect for laptops, water bottles, or anywhere you want a reminder of reverence and beauty.
$20 brings home a meter long addressable LED strip, which are an essential part of our artworks
Add a pop of color and tradition to your style with this casual Bindi Sticker Set, a beautiful expression of Indian adornment and cultural heritage. These bindis are meant for everyone and can be used in any context. Each set includes a curated assortment of vibrant, decorative bindis in a variety of shapes, colors, and designs—from classic red dots to jeweled patterns. Collected in India by Sri's mom, each pack reflects the joyful spirit of Namaskaram and the celebration of shared beauty across cultures.
Carry the spirit of Namaskaram with our custom-designed enamel pin featuring the motif of the project. A wearable connection to the project and the everyday Indian street art form, muggulu (also known as rangoli).
$50 helps us cover the cost of one of our monthly subscriptions such as Adobe Creative Cloud, Lucidchart and RealVNC
Show off your inner light with a soft and stylish Namaskaram shirt. Featuring elegant linework of the artwork's motif, these are perfect for lounging, gifting, or returning to the dust in style. Choose your color (black, blue or gray) and your style of shirt: T-shirt, V-Neck, or Tank. Unisex and Women's styles available.
$100 brings the whole crew together for a meal in the workshop, fresh fuel for a lot of hard work
Cozy up in our soft, high-quality zip-up or pullover hoodie. You choose the color! Poly-cotton blend, machine washable. The front will feature the artwork's logo and the back has have a graphic of the sculpture design. Available in black or blue.
$300 support us to teach volunteers on how to weld or use CNC, which often inspire them to take upon their own projects
Choose from a selection of high-resolution night photos of Namaskaram in full glow, printed on luminous aluminum for vivid contrast. Float-mounted and ready to hang—a centerpiece for your home or studio
This set of four chai cups (~6oz each) is handcrafted by one of our beloved project volunteers, Mingjing — each one unique, lovingly shaped, and glazed by hand. Inspired by the comforting ritual of sharing chai, these cups celebrate community, warmth, and presence. Designed with patterns and iconography that Srikanth grew up with, they will feature muggulu near the rim and a cultural icon centered below. They are meant for everyday use or special gatherings; they are perfect for sharing a quiet moment, a deep conversation, or a sweet sip of spiced tea. No two sets are exactly alike — small variations in shape and glaze tell the story of their maker and the care behind each piece. Microwave ok, hand wash only. No use in ovens. As a backer at this tier, you're not just supporting Namaskaram — you're becoming part of the extended circle of creation. The image is just for a reference. www.essenceengineering.com
$500 helps us cover workshop rent for a month during a decent sized project, which is plenty of time for designing and prototyping
$600 helps us cover two months of insurance protecting both our organization and volunteers
$1000 donations can fully cover the storage costs for Rainbow Bridge, Cone Down, and Spider Trap for a month
This custom-designed Namaskaram LED Neon Sign captures the spirit of the sculpture in an eye-catching, modern form. With its soft pink and purple hues, this sign celebrates the timeless Indian gesture. You get to pick the color of the lights. Perfect for meditation spaces, living rooms, entryways, or studios, the sign brings peaceful energy and vibrant beauty wherever it hangs. The sign is approximately 30 inches tall and includes mounting hardware and a power source.
Highlights
See all activity3Activity
Add a fun shimmer to your life with our Namaskaram holographic sticker design by Josh and Sri. This durable vinyl sticker features a radiant version of the sculpture’s motif inspired by muggulu, also known as rangoli in some parts of India. Srikanth's childhood was filled with muggulu patterns, where he bonded with his mother and cousins over the art practice. Perfect for laptops, water bottles, or anywhere you want a reminder of reverence and beauty.
$20 brings home a meter long addressable LED strip, which are an essential part of our artworks
Add a pop of color and tradition to your style with this casual Bindi Sticker Set, a beautiful expression of Indian adornment and cultural heritage. These bindis are meant for everyone and can be used in any context. Each set includes a curated assortment of vibrant, decorative bindis in a variety of shapes, colors, and designs—from classic red dots to jeweled patterns. Collected in India by Sri's mom, each pack reflects the joyful spirit of Namaskaram and the celebration of shared beauty across cultures.
Carry the spirit of Namaskaram with our custom-designed enamel pin featuring the motif of the project. A wearable connection to the project and the everyday Indian street art form, muggulu (also known as rangoli).
$50 helps us cover the cost of one of our monthly subscriptions such as Adobe Creative Cloud, Lucidchart and RealVNC
Show off your inner light with a soft and stylish Namaskaram shirt. Featuring elegant linework of the artwork's motif, these are perfect for lounging, gifting, or returning to the dust in style. Choose your color (black, blue or gray) and your style of shirt: T-shirt, V-Neck, or Tank. Unisex and Women's styles available.
$100 brings the whole crew together for a meal in the workshop, fresh fuel for a lot of hard work
Cozy up in our soft, high-quality zip-up or pullover hoodie. You choose the color! Poly-cotton blend, machine washable. The front will feature the artwork's logo and the back has have a graphic of the sculpture design. Available in black or blue.
$300 support us to teach volunteers on how to weld or use CNC, which often inspire them to take upon their own projects
Choose from a selection of high-resolution night photos of Namaskaram in full glow, printed on luminous aluminum for vivid contrast. Float-mounted and ready to hang—a centerpiece for your home or studio
This set of four chai cups (~6oz each) is handcrafted by one of our beloved project volunteers, Mingjing — each one unique, lovingly shaped, and glazed by hand. Inspired by the comforting ritual of sharing chai, these cups celebrate community, warmth, and presence. Designed with patterns and iconography that Srikanth grew up with, they will feature muggulu near the rim and a cultural icon centered below. They are meant for everyday use or special gatherings; they are perfect for sharing a quiet moment, a deep conversation, or a sweet sip of spiced tea. No two sets are exactly alike — small variations in shape and glaze tell the story of their maker and the care behind each piece. Microwave ok, hand wash only. No use in ovens. As a backer at this tier, you're not just supporting Namaskaram — you're becoming part of the extended circle of creation. The image is just for a reference. www.essenceengineering.com
$500 helps us cover workshop rent for a month during a decent sized project, which is plenty of time for designing and prototyping
$600 helps us cover two months of insurance protecting both our organization and volunteers
$1000 donations can fully cover the storage costs for Rainbow Bridge, Cone Down, and Spider Trap for a month
This custom-designed Namaskaram LED Neon Sign captures the spirit of the sculpture in an eye-catching, modern form. With its soft pink and purple hues, this sign celebrates the timeless Indian gesture. You get to pick the color of the lights. Perfect for meditation spaces, living rooms, entryways, or studios, the sign brings peaceful energy and vibrant beauty wherever it hangs. The sign is approximately 30 inches tall and includes mounting hardware and a power source.
