Burning Man Category Archive
There are 10 entries in this category.
The Lights Have Been Switched Off
Wednesday, December 14, 2005 2 comments (latest by Andrew)
(Photo by Kevin McCormick, used without permission)
Tensor is one of my favorite art installations in Black Rock City. A ten foot wide, eight foot tall wall full of 64,800 LED lights choreographed into swirling patterns and colors, I could never ride by at night on the Esplanade without stopping to watch it for a while.
A friend instant messaged me yesterday morning to let me know the artist Kevin McCormick who created Tensor, had died.
The 29-year-old, who was openly gay, had died of a heart attack during sex. Two of the men who shared the warehouse space told police he had taken ecstasy - his drug of choice, according to several friends - a few hours earlier.
As I read the story, elements of his life reminded me of myself and in a way I even found my self a bit envious... or maybe a better term is admiring, that he pushed his limits and boundaries in a way I've never dared. It would be easier to simply think to myself at least I will live to see 30, but longevity is hardly a measure of ones life.
I once spent half an hour watching both Tensor and the way the light danced across the faces of everyone else gathered to watch it. If short, his life was well spent inspiring others.
Share the Wealth
Wednesday, February 2, 2005 3 comments (latest by Clever Monkey)
Leaving the house this morning, I saw an unexpected face looking up at me from the cover of the newspaper. I had to stop then and there to read the article.
David Best has been building an art installation in San Rafael, a smaller scale version of the temples he builds each year at Burning Man as a gift to the community.
Sadly, some in San Rafael think this is a bad thing. The fear is the structure, called the Chapel of the Day Laborer, will bring an element of Burning Man to their town. I don't think you can argue with that, but what is the element of Burning Man they think it will bring? From the article...
"We don't have a car to go to church," the young mother said. "We need a place to pray." That is exactly what Best was hoping for and why he picked a place that would have an impact on the community. "This is where people come to buy groceries and make phone calls. It's a hub, and a place where someone can go and sit and cry about not being with family," Best said.
Exactly the kind of Burning Man craziness that should be kept out in the desert, don't you think?
JL421 Badonkadonk
Tuesday, January 18, 2005 -12 comments
Mail order art cars? From Boing Boing comes news of the JL421 Badonkadonk.
I guess it was only a matter of time, but it gives me an idea for Burning Man theme camp: Black Rock City doesn't have a car dealership yet.