BURNINGMAN 2009 REPORT PART V: ARTS

The Painting below sums it all up pretty good.

The Art ranged in scale and subject this year.

Here are a few things we saw biking around the playa.

a big metal female reproductive system with a steel butterfly on top.

Our ART CAR, complete with observation deck.

This was key on BURN NIGHT.

An enormous goddess made of chains,

holding a white-hot fire in her hands.



art survey to be continued...

BURNINGMAN REPORT PART IV: BARBARIANS

One of the camps I insisted on visiting was

BARBARIAN CAMP,

who offered a

BARBARIC OBSTACLE COURSE

for brave souls to attempt.

It was a hearty challenge to my

Warrior Spirit.

I swung, crawled, climbed, lifted, and crossed a massive chasm to earn the respect of these savage folk.

THE MAN BURNS IN 22 DAYS!

We are on the launch pad and madly preparing for takeoff. We depart for the desert in 2 weeks. It is now a scramble to locate and assemble various EL wire projects, blinkies, doodads, and gizmos. Hmmm where is my metallic spraypaint?

DAY SIX- BURN NIGHT!

Saturday started with whiteouts, dust storms, and the growing panic that the pinnacle of our experience there- the actual burning of the man, would have to be cancelled or postponed!

The storms lasted until literally the last minute- about 8 or 9 pm. Just when we had come to terms with a cancelled burn, it was announced that the sky was clearing and that the burn would go on!

We scrambled into our costumes and set out for the show.

DAY FIVE: THE IVORY ARMOUR of ANGELS

It was finally Friday, and the hours and hours of work on our Ivory-colored armor was complete. Matching suits of white scales, topped with massive fantasy shoulders and finished with fully-articulated arms & legs.

Later in the night we found that we could attach the legs and arms of our suits to our shoulder harness- giving the appearance of jet packs or other sci-fi gear.

Hard to say which looked best.

DAY FOUR: EXPLORING

On Thursday, after we had closed the Art Gallery, we went out to further explore our fair city. I went out as Black Rock Lobster and Angel took her bike, so she could scout out the best parties, bars, and art.

DAY THREE: THE ART GALLERY

On Wednesday we awoke to a bright and clear day. No dust storms in sight. We had advertised our Art Opening for the late afternoon, so we began to hang paintings and prepare the gallery space.

By 5pm we were ready- the wine was chilled, the cheese was sliced, and our art was up!

Lisa crafted hundreds of magical burningman amulets and I had about 60 paintings on display.

It was a night to remember, and due to overwhelming response we did it again on Thursday!

DAY TWO: WE CAN BE HEROES

Day Two in Black Rock City. It was time for us to reveal our newest Superhero personas, Members 9 and 10 of the Trinity Twelve!

"Justice" and "Lady Liberty"!

We drew much attention while performing heroic antics. No one dared attempt any crimes while we were near.

DAY ONE: WHITEOUT

As we neared the Black Rock Desert, we could see a massive dust storm- at least a mile high.

We went from sunny day to dark, lightless storm.

Once we were in line with other cars, a mere mile or so from the campsites, the dust storm reduced visibility to ZERO and what would normally have been a 10-minute drive turned into a 5-hour ordeal!

I've been in dust storms before, total white-outs, but nothing like this- and I was trying to drive!

Everyone but us became immediately lost, driving this way & that. One car would zoom past and disappear just as another sped past at a different angle. We could not see anything until we passed by an entry storage shack and parked there.

I hoped that the added size of the structure would prevent the other drivers from smashing headlong into us.

That was DAY ONE: WHITEOUT.

We finally made it to our campsite, where we made ourselves comfortable and slept through the remaining storm.

BACK FROM BURNING MAN 08

I have just returned from BURNINGMAN '08.

Love that place.

However, two week-long events, back-to-back that transport you to an alternate reality can be taxing on the body.

I am exhausted.

After 6 months of steady preparation, creating several new costumes, two suits of white armor, building a playa-proof Art Gallery, and making artistic trinkets for gifting, I almost lacked the energy to attend the event itself!

I made final repairs to the Lobster Suit, finished off my first Black Rock Lobster comic book, and loaded it all into a big white van.

The drive across Nevada was uneventful.

I will be adding accounts of each day We spent and a picture or two. Stay tuned.

GRUB TRIBE WEEKEND

Last weekend was spent in the redrock wonderland called Arches National Park. We went there to meet two fellow members of the GrubTribe- Christy and Brenna Grub!

Christy lives in Colorado and Brenna is from the southern states- currently Mississippi.

We took the training required to adventure into the Firey Furnace- probably the coolest terrain on Earth. (and the most fragile)

We spent a great weekend in the company of our sisters.

RETURN FROM PENNSIC XXXVII

I have just returned from Pennsic XXXVII. This is the world's largest full-contact medieval war. It's now time to get back to work. I have much to do to prepare for BurningMan this year, and I only have a couple weeks to get it all done!