A Quick Reminder…
… that if you’re at Burning Man, head over to Prism tonight at 1am to see some of my Machine Elf fractals running behind the DJ on a massive, super cool triangular screen!
… that if you’re at Burning Man, head over to Prism tonight at 1am to see some of my Machine Elf fractals running behind the DJ on a massive, super cool triangular screen!
If you’re at Burning Man, be sure to head over to the Prism art car at 1am on Friday night (so really Saturday morning to catch the awesome DJ/musician/artist Alex Cruz, backed by my Machine Elf creations on a massive custom screen… a 40’W x 20’H triangular video wall!
One of the more hilarious places at Burning Man is the uninteresting-sounding “trash fence.” It runs around the perimeter of the entire scene and is used to catch trash blowing in the wind. There’s almost NO trash there because everyone is quite fastidious (which is entirely unique for festivals), but they put up the trash fence anyway to minimise any chance of impacting the wider ecosystem.
When you head out to the deep playa and this fence, it can easily be several miles from your camp. So, it’s quite the trek even on your bike! I try to go along the perimeter every year to check out what is out there as you never know what you’ll find… this one gave me a good chuckle.
This reminds me that some of the coolest art at Burning Man has some of the simplest concepts. One of my previous favorites was just a tree that lit up in the middle of the desert that was green in the day and multi-colored at night. This one, I wish I had also taken photos of it on the first day before it got all dusty, The reflection was perfect, and I did not expect it to get so dusty. That said, it still came out pretty cool and probably more reflective of the reality of the experience in the end. 🙂
One of the craziest things about Burning Man was when, during the burn, huge gas bombs explode suddenly and send shockwaves through your body. It gets me every time. It’s both scary and awe-inspiring and results in huge black boiling clouds that tear up into the sky being illuminated by the fireworks and lasers of the event.
Wow, the last year has flown. I think things being back to a bit more of normality after Covid has really thrown my concept of time passing. It feels like only a couple of months ago I was back in the desert for the first BM in a few years. This was a particular highlight from that trip… can’t wait to see what Michael Benisty does this time round!
In the middle of the day, the playa is full of people rolling around on their art cars. It’s such a fun sight to see people dancing and laughing, just having a good time as they go by. Of course, Burning Man can also be a stressful experience. It’s a lot to take in, and it can be easy to get overwhelmed. That’s why it’s important to take some time for yourself to relax and recharge. One way to do that is to find a quiet spot and just sit back and watch the people go by. It’s amazing how much you can learn about people just by watching them. I find that life is full of people who are constantly posing as their natural state of being and so while it may look like I direct people, really, I’m just capturing little moments of their normal state.
Before we get into today’s blog post, here’s a recent podcast I did with a fellow burner…
Burning Man is not just a festival. It’s a way of living, a philosophy, a community, and a source of inspiration. I’ve been going to Burning Man for over a decade, and every year I come back with new insights, new friends, and new perspectives. In this blog post, I want to share with you some of the most profound lessons I learned from Burning Man, and how they have shaped my life for the better.
Lesson 1: Be yourself. Burning Man is a place where you can express yourself freely, without fear of judgment or rejection. You can wear whatever you want, do whatever you want, and be whoever you want. You can explore your creativity, your sexuality, your spirituality, and your identity. You can discover new aspects of yourself that you never knew existed. You can also accept yourself as you are, with all your flaws and imperfections. You can learn to love yourself unconditionally, and to appreciate the diversity and beauty of others.
Lesson 2: Be generous. Burning Man is based on the principle of gifting, which means that everything is free and nothing is expected in return. You can give and receive gifts of all kinds, from food and drinks to hugs and compliments. You can also offer your skills, your talents, your time, and your attention to others. You can help someone in need, or make someone smile. You can learn to be more compassionate, more altruistic, and more grateful. You can also experience the joy and fulfillment that comes from giving without expecting anything back.
Lesson 3: Be adventurous. Burning Man is a place where you can try new things, challenge yourself, and push your boundaries. You can explore the vast and varied landscape of the playa, where you can find art installations, theme camps, music stages, and interactive experiences. You can also participate in activities that you never thought you would do, such as fire dancing, skydiving, or naked yoga. You can learn to be more curious, more open-minded, and more courageous. You can also discover new passions, new hobbies, and new possibilities.
Lesson 4: Be connected. Burning Man is a place where you can meet people from all walks of life, from all over the world, and from all backgrounds and cultures. You can make friends with strangers, bond with neighbors, and join communities. You can also share stories, experiences, emotions, and visions with others. You can learn to be more social, more empathetic, and more respectful. You can also feel the sense of belonging, the sense of unity, and the sense of purpose that comes from being part of something bigger than yourself.
These are just some of the lessons I learned from Burning Man, but there are many more. Burning Man is not just a one-week event. It’s a lifelong journey of discovery and transformation. It’s a way of being that I carry with me every day. It’s a gift that I cherish and share with others.
If you want to see some of the amazing sights that I witnessed at Burning Man, check out this link
On Day 1 at Camp Walter, we all take a break to come together to discuss our plans for the week. During this meeting a few years ago, a brutal sandstorm blew in while we were handing out assignments. Luckily, I never have to do any real work since I am kinda the camp photographer. This is also lucky, because I tend to be incredibly lazy when it comes to actual hard labor. In the end though, everyone wins as my skills are limited so they’d all need to follow me around and re-do my work anyway. 🙂