The 11th annual Coachella Festival took place over the weekend in Southern California, featuring art, music and possibly the most unique California solar installation to date: a giant origami-style crane.

Dubbed Ascension, the outdoor structure was the work of the Crimson Collective, a Los Angeles-based group of artists, architects and designers. The crane — which was 45-feet high and had a 150-foot wingspan – made full use of the blistering Southern California sun, providing shade for festival goers during the day and, with the help of two solar panels and batteries, powering lights once the sun went down.

The piece of art depicts the crane at its very first moments of flight. The group says they chose the animal because it is widely known as a symbol of peace and prosperity, a theme attached to the Coachella festival ever since Pearl Jam rocked a free concert at the Empire Polo Club as part of a boycott of Tickmaster. What resulted was the Coachella festival, which officially began in 1999.

The crane was an addition to the festival that has been gaining popularity and visitors each year since the inaugural festival. Coachella 2010 featured independent art exhibits and 135 bands of all different genres.

The solar art installation worked as planned throughout the entire weekend. It housed over 1,000 people trying to catch a break from the heat. As the brightest and most eye-catching structure at the festival, the crane even acted as a meeting place in the crowded area.