Images of Burning Man

Temple of Promise~Burning Man 2015

Burning Man in the Black Rock Desert outside of Gerlach Nevada by: Dreamers Guild from: San Francisco Bay Area, CA year: 2015 A Temple’s purpose is to provide a safe space where the diverse and essential needs of the soul can take root and grow or surrender and find solace. This year, the Temple of Promise welcomes participants through an archway soaring 97 feet overhead. Once inside, the structure curves in on itself, tapering in width and height down to just 7 feet tall. Along the way, alcoves formed by the supporting arches, as well as wooden sculptures reminiscent of stones in a stream, create altars and semi-private spaces for individuals and smaller gatherings. The lines of the curved wooden walls draw the eye inward and create a canvas for written messages and mementos. As the path continues to curve, it opens into the contemplative altar and the heart of the Temple: a grove of three sculpted trees. The branches are initially bare. Participants will write messages on long strips of cloth and attach them to the trees, creating the gentle shade of Weeping Willows, increasing as the week progresses.

The Temple of Remembrance~Burning Man 2015

Burning Man in the Black Rock Desert outside of Gerlach Nevada.

R-Evolution with The Man ~Burning Man 2015

Burning Man in the Black Rock Desert outside of Gerlach Nevada. by: Marco Cochrane from: San Francisco, CA year: 2015 Constructed of steel rod and balls and covered in stainless steel mesh, with LED lighting effects, R-Evolution is a 48 foot tall sculpture of a woman, Deja Solis, standing firmly with both feet on the ground, eyes closed, arms open at her sides, palms forward, a peaceful expression- present. The culmination of The Bliss Project, a series of three monumental sculptures of a woman, Deja Solis, expressing her humanity, R-Evolution like Bliss Dance and Truth is Beauty, is intended to demand a change in perspective… to be a catalyst for social change. She is intended to challenge the viewer to see past the sexual charge that has developed around the female body which has been used for power and control, to the human being. We hope to inspire men and women to take action to end violence against women, making room for women’s voices, thus allowing both women and men to live fully and thrive.

R-Evolution~Burning Man 2015

Burning Man in the Black Rock Desert outside of Gerlach Nevada. by: Marco Cochrane from: San Francisco, CA year: 2015 Constructed of steel rod and balls and covered in stainless steel mesh, with LED lighting effects, R-Evolution is a 48 foot tall sculpture of a woman, Deja Solis, standing firmly with both feet on the ground, eyes closed, arms open at her sides, palms forward, a peaceful expression- present. The culmination of The Bliss Project, a series of three monumental sculptures of a woman, Deja Solis, expressing her humanity, R-Evolution like Bliss Dance and Truth is Beauty, is intended to demand a change in perspective… to be a catalyst for social change. She is intended to challenge the viewer to see past the sexual charge that has developed around the female body which has been used for power and control, to the human being. We hope to inspire men and women to take action to end violence against women, making room for women’s voices, thus allowing both women and men to live fully and thrive.

Carnival Of Mirrors~Burning Man 2015

Burning Man in the Black Rock Desert outside of Gerlach Nevada.

Mark Hammon and Sally Hanrahan~Burning Man 2015

Burning Man in the Black Rock Desert outside of Gerlach Nevada.

Scissor Jacks ~ Burning Man 2015

Burning Man in the Black Rock Desert outside of Gerlach Nevada.

Totem of Confessions~Burning Man 2015

Burning Man in the Black Rock Desert outside of Gerlach Nevada. by: Michael Garlington from: Petaluma, CA year: 2015 Come one, come all to the mystical Totem of Confessions, Michael Garlington’s newest Chapel! Experience cathartic release as you liberate your secrets, unearth the hidden lives of those around you, and test your fortune and powers for uncovering concealed nooks and hidden compartments holding relics and gifts from the artists’ own hands. Upon approaching the 50′ edifice, whose design recalls ancient Khmer and Vedic architecture, revelers bask in the beauty and chaos of black and white photography in assemblage with salvaged and re-purposed mixed media. In the middle of the great room, a golden confessional stands as a portal to revelation and interaction with the art and other participants. Mysteries and discoveries will reveal themselves in the installation’s details and will, in turn, inspire visitors to explore their own hidden meanings and inner worlds.

Soul Refuge~Burning Man 2015

by: THEY COLLECTIVE year: 2015 Soul Refuge is a desert mirage. It appears to be a lone standing wall of an abandoned house that has fallen after a disaster. The house is in rubble. The house up close, is comprised of human souls that make up the mortar and stone. As the house crumbles, these spirits are set free. The piece conveys escape, release and regrowth. It’s a visual essay on the theme of entrapment and freedom. As we travel through human life, we are broken down and destroyed. This loss enables us to re-create ourselves so we can transform into different type of being. The wall is a bright green, patinaed by desert sun, and the figures will blossom out of the firmament to tell their own haunted stories. The house is a place of security which is now lost. It’s haunted by the lives that have resided there. As the dwelling crumbles, the freed souls flee into the new haven of the desert which is its own trap. This cycle of human life is our constant quest for that one ‘Soul Refuge’. (sole refuge)

Becoming Human~Burning Man 2015

Burning Man in the Black Rock Desert outside of Gerlach Nevada by: Christian Ristow from: El Prado, NM year: 2015 Becoming Human is a 30-foot tall sculpture of a robot, which occasionally smells the flower in its right hand. The sculpture hopes to inspire viewers to ask questions about technology and nature, and the value of slowing down.

The Casba Car~Burning Man 2015

Burning Man in the Black Rock Desert outside of Gerlach Nevada.

The Lamp Lighters~Burning Man 2015

Burning Man in the Black Rock Desert outside of Gerlach Nevada. The Lamplighters began in 1993, with a small group of participants placing a dozen or so kerosene lanterns on the ground each evening, illuminating a pathway towards The Man. In the intervening years, Black Rock City has grown, and while many things have changed, the Lamplighters remain, though few at the time could have imagined how the Lamplighters would develop, and rise to the challenge of an expanding city. The Lamplighters are more than a handful of volunteers; they are a team of well over 100 participants every evening of the festival. And the dozen or so lanterns from 1993 have grown to nearly 1000. To accomplish this considerable task, we ask for your help, and we invite you to be a part of this community, this event, and our tradition. Before the event closes, after The Man burns, more than 1000 people will have helped the Lamplighters accomplish their important work. The Lamplighters begin EVERY EVENING of the event in their center camp workspace at around 5pm. The ceremony begins around 6, and soon the work is done. No experience is required. We welcome virgin and seasoned burners alike. One thing is certain though. We can’t do it without YOU.

Penny the Goose~Burning Man 2015

Burning Man in the Black Rock Desert outside of Gerlach Nevada. by: Mr and Mrs Ferguson from: Alameda, CA year: 2015 Landing on the Black Rock Desert is a 12 foot tall Canada Goose. Her feathers reflect the sun by day and ground illumination at night. Feathers that are made up from shades of both Canadian and American pennies. The attraction is in being drawn in by the illusion of pennies being feathers.Landing on the Black Rock Desert is a 12 foot tall Canada Goose. Her feathers reflect the sun by day and ground illumination at night. Feathers that are made up from shades of both Canadian and American pennies. The attraction is in being drawn in by the illusion of pennies being feathers. The year marks the return of this sculpture which made it’s debut in 2013 at Burning Man with only Canadian pennies on it’s back. This year, Penny has been redesigned and will have American pennies on it’s front side. A brighter and more effective light scheme will also be used this year.

Sun Tower~Burning Man 2015

Burning Man in the Black Rock Desert outside of Gerlach Nevada. by: Robert Marzewski year: 2015 2228 years after Archimedes is said to have destroyed an attacking Roman naval fleet using mirrors, we will bring the Sun Tower to the playa and try to set it on fire the same way. This 30+ foot tall climbable tower will have a sun shaped mandala at the top. On friday around 1PM hundreds of particpants around the perimeter will be given mirrors to reflect sunlight at the center of the mandala where a target wad of cannon fuse will catch fire and set the rest of the tower alight.

Praire Wind Chapel~Burning Man 2015

by: Robert Hoehn, Wind Tribe from: Venice, CA year: 2015 Excavated from a dust bowl near the border of Oklahoma and Saskatchewan, the Prairie Wind Chapel was once the heart of the roving town of Aeolia until a tornado wiped it all from the map. As the sole remaining structure of this ghost town, the chapel captures the pilgrims’ peculiar affinity for worshiping the wind and the beautiful mysteries this silent force creates on the open plain. Twin copper wind harps flank the canvas chapel, enticing lost travelers with a dreamy siren song. Towering over the altar is a 40 ft. steel windmill which pumps a Victorian reed organ and two wood and metal pipe organs. Evoking the melancholic demise of the wind worshiping Aeolians, modern pilgrims can play three wind-powered keyboards, filling the restored chapel with the ephemeral sounds of yesterday. The Prairie Wind Chapel welcomes all wayfarers with its songs!

Caravansary~Burning Man 2015

Burning Man in the Black Rock Desert outside of Gerlach Nevada.

Medusa~Burning Man 2015

Burning Man in the Black Rock Desert outside of Gerlach Nevada. by: Kevin Clark from: Petaluma, CA year: 2015 Medusa Madness. Dare to stare lest you be turned to stone.

Medusa~Burning Man 2015

Burning Man in the Black Rock Desert outside of Gerlach Nevada. by: Kevin Clark from: Petaluma, CA year: 2015 Medusa Madness. Dare to stare lest you be turned to stone.

El Pulpo Mechanica~Burning Man 2015

El Pulpo Mecanico was built in Arcata California, Humboldt County. Designed and built by Duane Flatmo along with his friend Jerry Kunkel who masterminded the electrical systems and flame effects. The "El Pulpo" is a combination of art and technology melded together. We built this knowing that it would be fun to watch as the giant cam spun up through the center moving the tentacles and eyes in and out while fire spewed from the tentacles and head. No hydraulics or computers were used in this contraption. We built the sculpture primarily out of recycled and used junk found at our local scrap yard. A special thanks to Bonnie Connor who worked out a trade with us to have full access to her wonderful place... Arcata Scrap and Salvage. The truck we started with, was a 1973 Ford 250 4x4 donated by Jack Freeman of Eureka. The project took three and a half months to complete with the help of many friends. Bob Thompson, Greg Ester, Brian Slayton, Carl Mueller and Lucas Thornton all helped on the project and we thank them! The crowds at Burning Man blessed us with many kind words and frightened faces as we fired her up each night. The sculpture uses 200 gallons of propane per night and lights up the playa as far as the eye can see...

Brickhead Earth~Burning Man 2015

Burning Man in the Black Rock Desert outside of Gerlach Nevada by: James Tyler from: Haverstraw, NY year: 2015 Colossal ceramic brick human head reminiscent of the temple carvings of Angkor Wat or the great Olmec heads of Central America, a contemporary relic of a civilization not yet past. Site specific sound and light elements will be incorporated into the artwork.

Writing Notes on the Temple of Promise~Burning Man 2015

Burning Man in the Black Rock Desert outside of Gerlach Nevada.

Temple of Promise~Burning Man 2015

Burning Man in the Black Rock Desert outside of Gerlach Nevada. by: Dreamers Guild from: San Francisco Bay Area, CA year: 2015 A Temple’s purpose is to provide a safe space where the diverse and essential needs of the soul can take root and grow or surrender and find solace. This year, the Temple of Promise welcomes participants through an archway soaring 97 feet overhead. Once inside, the structure curves in on itself, tapering in width and height down to just 7 feet tall. Along the way, alcoves formed by the supporting arches, as well as wooden sculptures reminiscent of stones in a stream, create altars and semi-private spaces for individuals and smaller gatherings. The lines of the curved wooden walls draw the eye inward and create a canvas for written messages and mementos. As the path continues to curve, it opens into the contemplative altar and the heart of the Temple: a grove of three sculpted trees. The branches are initially bare. Participants will write messages on long strips of cloth and attach them to the trees, creating the gentle shade of Weeping Willows, increasing as the week progresses.

Love~Burning Man 2015

Burning Man in the Black Rock Desert outside of Gerlach Nevada by: Alexandr Milov from: Odessa, Ukraine year: 2015 LOVE is a sculpture by Alexandr Milov. It demonstrates a conflict between a man and a woman as well as the outer and inner expression of human nature. The figures of the protagonists are made in the form of big metal cages, where their inner selves are captivated. Their inner selves are executed in the form of transparent children , who are holding out their hands through the grating. As it’s getting dark (night falls) the children chart to shine. This shining is a symbol of purity and sincerity that brings people together and gives a chance of making up when the dark time arrives.

Love and Desert Dust Storm~Burning Man 2015

Burning Man in the Black Rock Desert outside of Gerlach Nevada by: Alexandr Milov from: Odessa, Ukraine year: 2015 LOVE is a sculpture by Alexandr Milov. It demonstrates a conflict between a man and a woman as well as the outer and inner expression of human nature. The figures of the protagonists are made in the form of big metal cages, where their inner selves are captivated. Their inner selves are executed in the form of transparent children , who are holding out their hands through the grating. As it’s getting dark (night falls) the children chart to shine. This shining is a symbol of purity and sincerity that brings people together and gives a chance of making up when the dark time arrives.

R-Evolution~Burning Man 2015

Burning Man in the Black Rock Desert outside of Gerlach Nevada by: Marco Cochrane from: San Francisco, CA year: 2015 Constructed of steel rod and balls and covered in stainless steel mesh, with LED lighting effects, R-Evolution is a 48 foot tall sculpture of a woman, Deja Solis, standing firmly with both feet on the ground, eyes closed, arms open at her sides, palms forward, a peaceful expression- present. The culmination of The Bliss Project, a series of three monumental sculptures of a woman, Deja Solis, expressing her humanity, R-Evolution like Bliss Dance and Truth is Beauty, is intended to demand a change in perspective… to be a catalyst for social change. She is intended to challenge the viewer to see past the sexual charge that has developed around the female body which has been used for power and control, to the human being. We hope to inspire men and women to take action to end violence against women, making room for women’s voices, thus allowing both women and men to live fully and thrive.

Mazu Goddess of the Empty Sea~Burning Man 2015

Burning Man in the Black Rock Desert outside of Gerlach Nevada. by: The Department of Public Arts from: New Xishi City, Taiwan year: 2015 You walk through the dust and heat of day, beyond the heart of the city, and from the haze before you emerges a shape that is both plant and place, flower and temple, both open and contained. No fence keeps you out, but one hundred and eight lanterns mark out the space, like a fairy ring in the forest, like the hundred and eight beads of the Buddhist rosary. Through the archway you walk. Up the long, low steps, the muffled sound of your tread meets the familiar clunk of wood; the music of a seaside pier rises from the dust, invoking the sense of some long lost place where water once stretched out to kiss the horizon. Below, the improbable sounds of water and the briefest hints of ocean blue tickle the imagination. From above, eight dragons of fire and steel peer down, watching you, or look out into the distance, waiting. And again, the thing that is neither quite plant nor place seems to hover at the edge of defining, the green rooftop like a lily pad, the great lotus rising up out of the dried mud and the memory of water, each petal big enough to sleep in, open out from this improbable tree, this pillar of memories. Inside, past and present blend and dance together. Old rites and new technologies bring fresh form to venerable, ancient practices. There is hidden circuitry here: casting the moon blocks reveals the will of the gods in a panoply of color and light. The breath of dragons explodes outward in answer to prayer. The goddess herself has been known to appear, if the moment is right. You leave the temple, clutching message and map, and the sound of music finds your ears. Drums, gongs and shouting voices emerge from fantastical shapes, finned and spiny, nautilus-headed dancers and demons with a thousand eyes walk out of the dust, beckoning you to join them. You wonder, for a moment, if you are in fact in a desert, or in the memories of an ancient ocean, seeing the dreams of the sea floor dancing past.

Totem of Confessions~Burning Man 2015

Burning Man in the Black Rock Desert outside of Gerlach Nevada by: Michael Garlington from: Petaluma, CA year: 2015 Come one, come all to the mystical Totem of Confessions, Michael Garlington’s newest Chapel! Experience cathartic release as you liberate your secrets, unearth the hidden lives of those around you, and test your fortune and powers for uncovering concealed nooks and hidden compartments holding relics and gifts from the artists’ own hands. Upon approaching the 50′ edifice, whose design recalls ancient Khmer and Vedic architecture, revelers bask in the beauty and chaos of black and white photography in assemblage with salvaged and re-purposed mixed media. In the middle of the great room, a golden confessional stands as a portal to revelation and interaction with the art and other participants. Mysteries and discoveries will reveal themselves in the installation’s details and will, in turn, inspire visitors to explore their own hidden meanings and inner worlds.