Burning Man. Is it a festival? A Pagan rite? An art event? Trying to define the annual Burning Man gathering is like trying to describe what an art festival designed around a bonfire looks like.
Burning Man, which appears to have started informally in 1986 and now draws thousands from around the world, is a temporary community in a remote Nevada Desert where participants combine artistic and personal freedom. In short: it's an intriguing way to step out of one's normal lifestyle for up to eight days.
If you want to see for yourself, read the Burning Blog, which describes what is happening at this year's Burning Man festival.
In a recent Rolling Stone magazine cover story, American Idol runner-up Adam Lambert said he was inspired to audition for the singing competition after he had a "psychedelic experience" while attending the Burning Man festival. Was he one of the 48,000 who went to Burning Man in 2008 for a "timeout" from their normal lives?
Burning Man is a ?
Molly Steenson, a participant and one-time web team member for the Burning Man website, has a wonderful description of this experience. "You belong here and you participate....You're there to breathe art..... Since nobody at Burning Man is a spectator, you're here to build your own new world....You're here to celebrate.
On Saturday night, we'll burn the Man. As the procession starts, the circle forms, and the man ignites, you experience something personal, something new to yourself, something you've never felt before. It's an epiphany, it's primal, it's newborn....When you depart from Burning Man, you leave no trace. “ For the complete essay, click on What is Burning Man? by Molly Steenson.
Burning Man’s 2009 Theme is “Evolution”
As described on the Burning Man website, the theme for 2009 is “The Burning Man will rise above a 'tangled bank' consisting of irregular wooden triangles. No two elements of this organic composition will be quite the same; together they’ll create what’s best described as a chaotic truss. At night the tangled bank will come alive with luminous life forms scratching, crawling and slithering their way through it. This space will also house a pond known as the Gene Pool. Strange Ur-creatures will peep outward from the surface of this primal soup. The central tree supporting Burning Man, beribboned with a double helix, will exist in flux: switching on and switching off, changing colors unexpectedly.”
About.com's Reno/Tahoe Guide is a 5X Burner
Standley White, About.com's guide to the Reno/Tahoe area, has been to Burning Man five times. Here's a link to his piece suggesting where to get Burning Man supplies in Reno. Here is Standley's link to lots of pictures which show the unique aspects of Burning Man.
Burning Man 2009 Is Where and When?
The 2009 Burning Man gathering is August 31- September 27 at Black Rock City’s Black Rock Desert. Although everyone has been urged to get their tickets in advance, this year tickets will be sold at Burning Man.
History of Burning Man
Burning Man began as a small gathering on a San Francisco beach. In 2008, more than 48,000 people showed up for the Burning Man gathering in Nevada’s Black Rock Desert, where for one week participants are removed from their ordinary lives and challenged to express themselves and create art.
Images of Burning Man Gatherings
To see photos of the art created at Burning Man visit
images.
First-Timers Guide to Burning Man
For more information about attending Burning Man visit
First-Timers Guide to Burning Man.
Burning Man Ticket Information
For details about tickets for Burning Man visit
Burning Man.
Burning Man Home Page
To learn more about this unique gathering visit
Burning Man.
