At month end, the Black Rock Desert north of Reno, Nevada will explode with art and expression as the ephemeral Black Rock City rises for seven days, burns the towering Man and then disappears for another year. This is the folk legendary Burning Man Project; not simply a Festival, Ritual Gathering, Sculptural Installation exhibition- but is also a fully operational city of thousands who commune and integrate with the arts. From August 25 through September 1st, Black Rock City will host every form of visual and performance art presented and participated in by a joyous, uninhibited gathering of almost 50,000 people. It is the radical self-expression capitol of Nevada, the most significant art and cultural event of the summer and an epiphany for most who attend.
There are thousands of pages and photos available for reading and viewing on the Burning Man website and links- so much so that I must radically abbreviate. The Burning Man Survival Guide is a must read though if you plan to attend. ”The desert is a place worlds away from that to which most of us are accustomed and is governed by physical laws that cannot be ignored. You are responsible for your own survival, safety and comfort”. You must bring everything you will need and take everything away when you leave.
Burning Man is a community which excludes no one, but is not for everyone. Founded
on the principles of unconditional giving, radical self-reliance and self-expression, participation both in the arts, civic and communal efforts and above all, respect for the environment, Black Rock Citizenship also requires preparation for all that the high desert demands. The hot, dry, cold, wet and dusty environs are a wardrobe challenge where less is usually more, but nights are chilly at 4000 ft., so bring some warm clothes too. Also bring goggles, a big canteen (1.5 gallons per day/person) and plenty of sunscreen. If you plan to sleep, bring earplugs. Noise Control maintains the quiet from 1 to 7 AM, but just in case…
The Café, where coffee, tea and other non-alcohol drinks are sold and the Arctica ice center manned by BM volunteers, are the only commercial enterprises at Burning Man and only exception to the 3rd Commandment: thou shalt not buy or sell. You may give freely (except for food, which requires a Nevada Health Permit), and giving someone anything harmful, such as a live grenade, is beyond safety bounds, otherwise gifts are given and received unconditionally and are key to the Burning Man experience.
The 1st Commandment, No Cruising, will blow the doors off many readers expecting to
parade their street rods and dune buggies. There are no motorcycles, Vespas, ATV's or Golf Carts either. If you have a radical, but safe redo of your vehicle as an art statement, you can register your ride with the Department of Mutant Vehicles and parade at 5MPH around the town, ever mindful of pedestrians and bicycles which both have right of way over motor vehicles. Bicycles are the scenic way to get around the playa. Be advised that rain sometimes halts all transportation; usually briefly, and on occasion dust and moisture combine to rain mud. Like a bicycle, a good pair of goggles and dust mask are indispensable for the weeklong camp out. Dust storms can be frequent.
Leave the gun and dog home. Owners cannot prepare for the comfort and safety of their pets in the Black Rock Desert environment. The fire, noise and spectacle of the Burning Man experience are overwhelming enough for humans. Considering the safety
of thousands attending, any and all forms of guns; including pellet, BB and paint ball guns are forbidden in the city.
Fire abounds at Burning Man. Special platforms are built to protect the playa from burn scars created by burning art and burnable trash, but each citizen is liable for the safety of their fire expressions both to their fellows and the playa itself and is responsible for removing all created ash and debris from the city. Porta-Jons are provided, but you haul your own trash and grey water. Fireworks, rockets and other pyrotechnic displays are provided by the event hosts and overseen by professional technicians, Fire Department personnel, and BLM Rangers, so leave your personal stash of Cherry Bombs and M80's at home. Dozens of volunteers will labor for weeks after the event to clean up the burned remains, so don't leave any MOOP (Matter Out Of Place). Fundamental to both principle and commandment, Burning Rock City like the mythical Brigadoon leaves no trace of its existence and expects the same of its citizens.
That's enough about basic safety and civic responsibility, Burning Man is about Art. Dedicated to radical self-reliance and radical self-expression, innovative sculpture, theme camps, artfully designed vehicles and costumes galore, Burning Man is foremost a participatory experience. Massive sculptural installations become schoolyard jungle gyms for exploring climbers, invite entrance for thoughtful meditation or provide awesome visual experiences. Unlike traditional museum exhibitions, attendees are encouraged to explore and interact with the art; to touch, climb, enter and dance with art and artist; even to helping with the building and activation of some works. This year's theme concerns nationality, identity and the nature of patriotism-what we can dream America to be.
Dances and impromptu concerts, workshops of every imaginable type and myriad things to do and see fill the city with activity from 7 AM to 1AM every day. There are even daily Al-Anon and 12 Step meetings for recovering alcoholics and addicts. To truly live the Burning Man experience, participation is mandatory. The population of Black Rock City is a mix of all ages, cultural and socio-economic backgrounds. Last year's eclectic group was described by Christine “Gato” Imfeld in her Playa Tale “Some things to Not Forget”. “Ravers, artists, nudists, ninjas, pirates, criers, speakers, dreamers (dream on you fucking dreamers), spinners, burners, freakers, sneakers, singers, dancers, floating streakers…and a whole lot of techno on great big bass-ass speakers will all find their way.”
On the final night, The Man Burns in pyrotechnic splendor. Some say he burns as an expression of the temporal nature of art and life or the burning away of a year's worth of worldly and personal woes and ills, but he burns too for your yet to be discovered reason.
End Note:
No tickets will be sold at the gate, so if you wish to go, get on line to burningman.com.
The event officially opens at 12:01 AM, August 25th. No general entry will be allowed before this time. A ticket now costs $295., but the life changing experience is priceless.
