OT: Burning Man

[rugbysecondrow]

Burning man, what is it? I have seen photos and it looks like a mad max thunder-dome reenactment.

Any of you folks Burning Man attendees?

[old_fat_and_slow]

I'm not exactly sure, but I think it attracts mainly the artsy/weed-smoking/poetry-citing crowd.

Usually held out in the Cali desert somewheres. I'm not exactly sure what the objective is other than to gather in the desert, maybe sing around the campfire, get high, read some poetry, and whatever else ? ? ?

For some reason people like to pedal around on super-sh*tty bikes. I guess so after the festival is over, you just toss the bikes in the bonfire? ? ?

[bicycletricycle]

grunge people pretending to be a tribe from the crappy future with lots of fire.

[Joachim]

Will my MX Leader survive the fire?

[maunahaole]

I have never been, but I know that there is a fair amount of pyrotechnic and nudity involved, with all the attendant risks of both attached. Pretty sure that one of the few rules is that you take everything out that you brought in, the goal is to leave the lakebed pretty much as it was when the party starts, so if the bike goes on the fire, the remains do get carried out after the weekend.

[Dekonick]

I have never been, but I know that there is a fair amount of pyrotechnic and nudity involved, with all the attendant risks of both attached. Pretty sure that one of the few rules is that you take everything out that you brought in, the goal is to leave the lakebed pretty much as it was when the party starts, so if the bike goes on the fire, the remains do get carried out after the weekend.

So - bring the Calfe bamboo eh? Less to cart out?

[cmg]

one of my favorite bands plays there, the mermen. 3 day festival i think, you bring you own setup, food, water, tent, dope, blah, blah, blah. stuff gets set on fire, tribal, communal, hippieish, very little is suppose to commercialised. google it, there's video of the event. youtube is an amazing tool.

[false_Aest]

damn

its in nevada.

it's an art festival where those of us who make can show things that we're stoked on w/out worrying about its saleability and how non-artist collectors are gonna view it.

it's also a party for like-minded people.

nudity yes.
drugs yes.
art yes.
bikes yes.
semi-communal nature yes.

i think if you were to take a random sampling of artists and turn their brain functions into something visible w/out censorship . . . this would probably be pretty close.

it's definitely an awesome thing to take part in IF (and I know this is a HUGE EFFIN HUGE IF for some of you) you can let go of your preconceptions and judgements for a few days and try to understand what us artsy folk think/do and how we play.

maybe a better way to think about it is "recess for artists"

PS. As ya'll write things that are somewhat negative about the crowd that gathers, you gotta remember some of these artists help to put on shows like Cirque du Soleil, design special effects and even work out bugs in things like mass transit systems. Eccentric totally, but they're doing a lot of things the rest of the year that make your lives a lot more interesting.

[spamjoshua]

In a very harsh silt alkaline flat.

No shield from sun, no shield from the earth (good to wash in vinegar and make sure your feet dont crack, as that gets painful), occasional dust storms.

More for a "visual arts" crowd than for a music/audio population. There are nightly dance parties, DJs and electronica, but fewer live bands than I had hoped for.

It is the second largest city in Nevada for a brief period every year.

No money is allowed to exchange hands save for the organized vendors / ice purveyors.

Many nigh most, bring to share, fully stocked bars with no fee, dinners with no check, etc.

The geeks swarm, especially from the bay area, and build some pretty spectacular displays of pyrotechnics and computer technology.

Art work is everywhere. Mobile sculptures, cyber punk, steam punk, cars, games, rockets...

It is not like much else.

It is very fun.

And yes... there is plenty of nudity, and many very strung out folks, but almost everyone is watching out for everyone else.

[rugbysecondrow]

Interesting. I have a buddy who participates and he is not so much artistic as he is an outlier. That is why it seemed hard to understand what it is.

I will likely not go, but sounds interesting.

[climbgdh]

damn

its in nevada.

it's an art festival where those of us who make can show things that we're stoked on w/out worrying about its saleability and how non-artist collectors are gonna view it.

it's also a party for like-minded people.

nudity yes.
drugs yes.
art yes.
bikes yes.
semi-communal nature yes.

i think if you were to take a random sampling of artists and turn their brain functions into something visible w/out censorship . . . this would probably be pretty close.

it's definitely an awesome thing to take part in IF (and I know this is a HUGE EFFIN HUGE IF for some of you) you can let go of your preconceptions and judgements for a few days and try to understand what us artsy folk think/do and how we play.

maybe a better way to think about it is "recess for artists"

PS. As ya'll write things that are somewhat negative about the crowd that gathers, you gotta remember some of these artists help to put on shows like Cirque du Soleil, design special effects and even work out bugs in things like mass transit systems. Eccentric totally, but they're doing a lot of things the rest of the year that make your lives a lot more interesting.

i have a close friend who has gone 3 or so times..... and this is pretty much to a tee how he has described it to me. it sounds awesome ...... need to get my a$$ down there for it some year.

[Louis]

If you do go and want to hang with the cool kids I think you have to ride a Rivendell.

[toaster]

Not many forumites are likely attendees.

If someone does go, photos will have to accompany ride report.

[PoppaWheelie]

This:


It is not like much else.

It is very fun.

[Dekonick]

This is something I would love to attend. The culture that surrounds the event is at odds with my every day life - and something about that is appealing to me. My sister is a wild child - at least as far as adventuring goes... she has hiked the Inca trail alone... studied in Africa as a 4th year med student - alone... gone to South Africa... alone...

Alone to start, but by trip end she has always made life long friends and met 'real' people. I think many of us are trapped by our every day life and miss out on much that the world has to offer. I can totally see my sister attending burning man... as a chance to meet and greet another segment of society that is not understood - but only because 'we' are afraid to expose ourselves. The fringe of society is where some of the greatest minds will be found. Somewhere in the midst of the odd folks at burning man could be the next Mozart, Einstein, Picasso... wouldn't it be cool to meet people like that and just hang out?

Sign me up...

One day...

I'll go.

:hello:

[false_Aest]

Go before someone tries to capitalize on the whole thing and turns it into a basterdized version of itself.

You really have no excuse not to.


As my adviser in grad school once said (in the context of art), "If there's ever a question of whether or not . . . always say yes."

[bike22]

Go before someone tries to capitalize on the whole thing and turns it into a basterdized version of itself.
the festival has been run by a for-profit corporation from the get-go.

i found a figure indication $ 10 million in revenue in 2006.

though this year i believe the corporation gave way to a non-profit who will now be running it.

[MRB]

Profit is not a four letter word.
just sayin
the festival has been run by a for-profit corporation from the get-go.

i found a figure indication $ 10 million in revenue in 2006.

though this year i believe the corporation gave way to a non-profit who will now be running it.

[toaster]

This is something I would love to attend. The culture that surrounds the event is at odds with my every day life - and something about that is appealing to me. My sister is a wild child - at least as far as adventuring goes... she has hiked the Inca trail alone... studied in Africa as a 4th year med student - alone... gone to South Africa... alone...

Alone to start, but by trip end she has always made life long friends and met 'real' people. I think many of us are trapped by our every day life and miss out on much that the world has to offer. I can totally see my sister attending burning man... as a chance to meet and greet another segment of society that is not understood - but only because 'we' are afraid to expose ourselves. The fringe of society is where some of the greatest minds will be found. Somewhere in the midst of the odd folks at burning man could be the next Mozart, Einstein, Picasso... wouldn't it be cool to meet people like that and just hang out?



Sign me up...

One day...

I'll go.

:hello:

That is a great way to look at life.

[gemship]

Mozart, Einstein, Picasso... wouldn't it be cool to meet people like that and just hang out?

Sign me up...

One day...

I'll go.

:hello:


Absolutely cool to meet any of the three greats you mentioned especially Picasso even if he did treat women and his children like crap. However I don't think anybody with the insight, intellect and talent of those three hang out at Burning Man. The world is a big awesome place, I imagine Burning Man is sort of like Woodstock but on a different yet lesser level of greatness in many ways. Not really that big of a deal. Lot's of things happen there that don't fit with the mainstream for the simple fact that one would probably get arrested for doing much of it in public and that's just life in a civilized world.

[Fixed]

This is something I would love to attend. The culture that surrounds the event is at odds with my every day life - and something about that is appealing to me. My sister is a wild child - at least as far as adventuring goes... she has hiked the Inca trail alone... studied in Africa as a 4th year med student - alone... gone to South Africa... alone...

Alone to start, but by trip end she has always made life long friends and met 'real' people. I think many of us are trapped by our every day life and miss out on much that the world has to offer. I can totally see my sister attending burning man... as a chance to meet and greet another segment of society that is not understood - but only because 'we' are afraid to expose ourselves. The fringe of society is where some of the greatest minds will be found. Somewhere in the midst of the odd folks at burning man could be the next Mozart, Einstein, Picasso... wouldn't it be cool to meet people like that and just hang out?

Sign me up...

One day...

I'll go.

:hello:
hear hear
cheers

[bigbill]

I have a friend from Santa Cruz that goes most years. He is big into fire sculptures and fabricates his own stuff. The first time I visited his house for a ride weekend, the first thing I noticed was the stack of propane tanks. That always equals a good time. I've got pictures somewhere.

My BIL went to BM a few years ago and I wouldn't describe him as laid back. He didn't enjoy it but nobody really thought he would.

[cat6]

If you do go and want to hang with the cool kids I think you have to ride a Rivendell.

i'd bet dollars to donuts you wouldn't find a rivendell or any other bike worth more than $100 at burning man.

[Bud_E]

I guess some are unclear on the concept : http://www.marketwatch.com/video/asset/the-weeks-top-10-videos-on-marketwatch-2011-09-10/1E75A461-8990-46B0-8D3A-594355FC407A#!1E75A461-8990-46B0-8D3A-594355FC407A

[oliver1850]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kc2iLAubras

[rdparadise]

http://www.burningman.com/

It's an arts festival in the desert. It originally started on the beach in CA. however it grew so big they moved it to the desert. It is a week long, bring everything you need type arts event.

I've never attended. Fees are close to $300 to attend the event. Many art people come and put on all kinds of art shows, music, acting, painting, etc etc. The end is when the big man statue is burnt every year. Then the attendees clean up and take everything away as in "leave not a trace."

Check out the link. It is moving from profit to not for profit this year. The initial partners are going to split whatevers left in the organization upon breakup and that could be substantial. I believe they have a hired staff of 35-40 that work year around to organize the next year's event.

Good luck,

Bob

[Stan Lee]

It's the type of thing that everybody should experience it once, but once was enough for me.

[Cinci Jim]

Interesting read - cross overs between TED & Burning Man. I wonder where SXSW would fit in.

http://www.inc.com/articles/201103/why-ted-and-burning-man-are-similar.html

[William]

Watch the Malcolm In The Middle episode, "Burning Van", you'll learn all you need to know. :beer:




William

[bshell]

Burning Man is a different experience for every attendee, and there are people from all walks of life. It is attended by the clothed/nude, partakers/abstainers, old/young and so on. It's about what takes place in your own head. It is an opportunity.

It can not be fully described to the curious. It can not be comprehensively explained via film clips or interviews. It is a wonderful topic to use as a barometer of others attitudes.

It can be experienced if you are willing.

I wish they would stop broadcasting this stuff to the public...it's changing. (Knowing that change is inevitable and also not necessarily bad...)

[false_Aest]

My co-worker's good friend made this for Burning Man.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BG0unlVMTFw&feature=email

http://anti-aesthetic.net/bm1.jpg
http://anti-aesthetic.net/bm2.jpg
http://anti-aesthetic.net/bm3.jpg
http://anti-aesthetic.net/bm4.jpg
http://anti-aesthetic.net/bm5.jpg
http://anti-aesthetic.net/bm6.jpg
http://anti-aesthetic.net/bm7.jpg
http://anti-aesthetic.net/bm8.jpg


Yeah, it is totally juvenile but its also hand made and totally fun.

[old_fat_and_slow]

That is totally effing awesome. I would have luved to have been there when they fired that MoFo up! ! ! !

But more importantly, where's all the reported nudity? The closest thing to nudity I see in the attached photos is some dude with no shirt.

Throw us a bone man. Links to the more interesting photies? ? ?

[sc53]

Our good friend Al Fink attends every year. He's about 69 now but has been a Burner since the opening salvo. He used to drive there from his home in Denver in a Pinzgauer (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pinzgauer_High_Mobility_All-Terrain_Vehicle) tank. These days he travels in a cork suit (http://www.denverpost.com/lifestyles/ci_18750622?source=rss) that he totally made by hand, complete with hat, shoes and walking stick. He's a retired German professor and quite a mad hatter.

[yngpunk]

This was on the iBOB list...

[Stan Lee]

I just found this:

http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2011/09/burning_man_at_25_years.html?camp=obinsite

[chuckred]

Our good friend Al Fink attends every year. He's about 69 now but has been a Burner since the opening salvo. He used to drive there from his home in Denver in a Pinzgauer (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pinzgauer_High_Mobility_All-Terrain_Vehicle) tank. These days he travels in a cork suit (http://www.denverpost.com/lifestyles/ci_18750622?source=rss) that he totally made by hand, complete with hat, shoes and walking stick. He's a retired German professor and quite a mad hatter.

Glad there are some mad hatters around to keep things interesting. My brother in law went this year and is now trying to convince everyone he knows to go next year.