The Burning Alchemist

JOURNEY TO THE FLAMES

A documentary covering 10 Years of Burning Man. We are trying to post as much video as we can up on our facebook page.

For one week every year, 50,000 people gather in the Black Rock desert to build a temporary city of art.

Founded as an experiment in radical self-expression, Burning Man is like no other place on earth. The ground rules are simple: no commerce, leave no trace, no spectators - participants only. You bring what you need to survive and you bring your gift of participation and art.

Black Rock City, as it is called, has everything you would expect in a real city: a post office, airport, radio stations, newspapers, police, fire and medical.

JOURNEY TO THE FLAMES was directed by Doug Jacobson, who follows a group of friends as they head off to the desert. Experience 10 years of amazing Burning Man art. Take a ride into the madness and discover a world of art, sexuality, music and fire... lots of fire.

"Are you a hippie, a swinger, or just a dirty shirtc**ker?" Simpsons Burning Man, en Français.

Simpsons Family Burning Man from Aung T on Vimeo.

Holy F**king Shit!!! What a total Blast!!

OK, I better explain this.

This weekend I went to an event called Xara Dulzura ( www.xaraproject.org). Unofficially it's the San Diego Burningman communities' regional event. Officialy it's a wonderful community event, and one HELL of a party.

Two performance groups out of the many that were there, that made it so phenomenal for me were Soul in the Machine and Mutaytor. If you don't know them check out their sites to get a feel for what they are because it would take way too long to try and explain them here, ESPECIALLY Mutaytor. Soul in the Machine was flat out rockin' the house, and Mutayor got to roll out a brand new performance in cooperation with the Xara Project. A whole new format for them. A multi-media, audience participatory, interactive storytelling performance. They were so rockin' that it didn't matter how tired and sore I was from walking around all day (I don't get much exercise as a desk jockey) I just had get get up and dance through the entire performance. I'm payin' for it the next day, and I'll still be payin' for it for a day or two, but Hot Damn it was worth it.

[UPDATE: 8/12/2009 website no longer exists as the event is no longer
being held]

A few of you who know me personally are aware that I am a "burner", a member of the community of folks who attend the Burning Man festival in the Black Rock Desert of northern Nevada (a Google Maps location of the festival).  Last year was my third year attending the "burn" and it keeps getting more interesting every year. 

My first year at the burn I came up with a description of what the city looked like at night that nearly every burner that I've told it to agrees is pretty accurate.

Imagine the Las Vegas Strip

as drawn by Dr. Seuss

on acid.

With a population of 40,000 people Black Rock City becomes the fifth largest city in Nevada for one week. And in that week you can find artworks and performances that will blow your mind and redefine what you consider "possible".  You'll find nearly anything you ever wanted to find, many things you NEVER WANTED to find, and a lot of things that you really needed to find but never realized that you did. 

The city holds many things for those who come: family, community, in-your-face artworks, forgiveness, romance, compassion, hate, pain, challenges, love, lust, altered states of consciousness, and much much more.  Last year it held solace, comfort, peace, and compassion for me.  Two days before I left for the event I lost my oldest brother to a massive stroke.  Being at Burning Man gave me seven days of uninterrupted peace and reflection that allowed me the time to grieve for his passing and let him go before I had to return to the "default" world with all of its demands and needs.  I'm not sure how well I would have been able to hold myself together afterwards if I hadn't had that time alone, and with a group of friends and people before whom I could express myself openly and freely.  And that is one of the core beliefs behind the Burning Man community, Radical Self-Expression, the ability to express yourself in any manner you choose.  It is a right and a challenge, for if you take up the right to express yourself you are also challenged with the requirement to accept the radical expressions of those around you.

Burning Man can be a delightful paradise to explore with its artworks and community, or it can be an absolute terror to some since you are living and partying in a harsh alkali desert that is actively trying to kill you.  What you find there is more of a reflection of what you bring in with you in your head and soul than anything else.

If you choose to make the journey, remember one thing, leave your expectations and inhibitions outside the gate, and open yourself up to the nearly limitless possibilities.

Now for what actually inspired this post.  Two videos shot during last year's Burning Man Festival.

Enjoy

For those of us who've been to Burning Man and have seen this wonderful ship gracefully "sailing" across the playa dust, or even more poignantly, have been aboard her, it came as a serious shock when we first heard of her destruction a few months ago.  And now to read this story of La Contessa ( http://www.newsreview.com/reno/Content?oid=281971 ) just tears at our hearts.  All I can say is that I ask all who can hear my words to let the whole truth be out, and let justice and closure be done.

Bless the soul of a ship who will live long in our hearts and memories.  Farewell bright beacon of a dream.