Charlie Smith and Jaime Ladet, based in Atlanta GA, have been collaborating and touring together since March of 2004. They spent that spring and summer sharing four different fire caldrons at nine different events within the Burning Man regional network. The touring and sharing of these caldrons stimulated an inspiring commonality and friendship between the regional networks across the country. This tour led Charlie and Jaime to create a collaboration called Synapses. A six part, large-scale burning art project for Burning Man 2005. Synapses is a series of collaborative, community built and cared for fire caldrons. Sculptural elements were built in workshops held in New York NY, Atlanta GA, Austin TX, Los Angeles CA, San Francisco CA and Seattle WA by people of all levels of experience. After Burning Man 2005 each cauldron returned to the community that built it. In 2007 Charlie and Jaime used this model to create an international art experience in South Africa called Triple Bypass. This three part wood burning passageway warmed the skies at the regional event Africa Burns.

Charlie has been creating art and building sculpture since childhood. He has a BFA from the Atlanta College of Art . He has been involved in the creation of cutting edge art shows and projects for over 24 years. Charlie's ultimate vision is to create community built sculpture and art for the community by the community. He has been exploring and developing art in the national Burning Man community since 1998. In 2002, The Nausts of the Encompassment were brought to the playa as a symbol of the four directions. On the night of the burn, people from four different regions pushed them around the inner circle as a symbol of communal strength and intent. Since their creation, the Nausts have been showcased at regional events across the country. Charlie has released, moved, and gifted fire caldrons to regional communities for the last six years.  

Jaime is an artist working in a variety of mediums including performance, fire arts, photography, sculpture, and painting. She has a BA in Theater Design & Production from the University of North Carolina @ Asheville. Jaime has been involved in fire arts and performance since 1995 when she was kidnapped by a group of fire clowns in the mountains of North Carolina. She has been performing, teaching, and collaborating with other performance and fire artists in her community, nationally, and abroad. Jaime is a documentary and fine arts photographer exhibiting her work in galleries and private collections since 1999.