Ever Heard of the Wild ‘Burning Man’ Festival in the Middle of the Nev. Desert? Here’s Your Primer
- Posted on August 31, 2012 at 2:42pm by
Liz Klimas
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What started in the mid-1980s as a group of friends in San Francisco celebrating the summer solstice has morphed into a week-long art festival in Nevada’s Black Rock Desert attended by nearly 60,000 people.
The Chino News-Review describes “Burning Man,” an annual festival named after the inaugural group set fire to an 8-foot wooden man, as an “unstoppable kaleidoscope of creative visions that manifest as art installations, theme camps, performances, decorated bicycles, elaborate costumes, ‘mutant’ vehicles and a strong sense of community.”
One of these “mutant” vehicles was caught by Gizmodo’s Brent Rose, who is reporting from the festival running from Aug. 27 through Sept. 3. It is a 3,000-pound robot scorpion that “breathes fire”:
When I encountered it, I had a choice: Either run away screaming, or climb up its butt and go for a ride. So I got on board and met its makers.
The scorpion, which can move all of its limbs independently with controls and has a flexible tale, took 7 months to build. The creation was conceived by “longtime-burner” Ken Murdoch and made by Kirk Jellum, a former aerospace engineer.
(Photo: Gizmodo)
(Photo: Gizmodo)
Check out Gizmodo’s post for video footage that shows fire shooting out of the robotic-insect’s tail here.
Rose also reported on a bizarre game called “Super Street Fire.“ He describes it as an ”incredible marriage of computer game design, engineering, carpentry, and pyrotechnics.” In short, players are given gloves with program that recognizes gestures and these gestures control 32 flame effects:
There are two parallel rails between the two players—one for right-handed moves, and one for left. When you throw a punch, a small flame starts at your platform and travels in a series toward your opponent. Depending on how you move, you either produce a fireball or a sustained column of flame. Special moves send bigger blasts of fire and do more damage. Best two out of three rounds wins.
The Huffington Post interviewed lighting artist Bentley Meeker, who has done displays for Chelsea Clinton‘s wedding and is responsible for illuminating Burning Man’s annual installation — the Temple — as well. Naturally, the biggest challenge for lighting in a non-populated area of the desert is energy. Meeker told the Huffington Post a generator powers the festival. Meeker said setting up the lighting last year took about a month, whereas this year it only took four to five days.
Here are some photographs from the festival thus far — notice the smoke from wildfires in northern California:
To catch some of the scale and transitory nature of this festival, this time-lapse video can give you an idea of what is erected and then removed from the deserted, dry lake bed in Nevada every year:
The Chino News-Review reports tickets for this year’s Burning Man, which saw record sales, range from $240 to $390.
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Comments (73)
asybot12
Posted on September 1, 2012 at 6:26amOK what started as a “kaleidoscope of visions, art, expressions etc. etc now costs $300 bucks to get into???? Hey you free loaders, welcome to the free world of capitalism!! what a laugh.
Report Post »Gumbercules
Posted on September 2, 2012 at 3:19amI can’t so much stand having dirt under my fingernails. How could anyone stand being in a dessert for a week without taking a shower and suffering constant sand storms?! Don’t even get me started on the crazy things that occur there. . .
Report Post »Pomona
Posted on September 2, 2012 at 1:55pmAs someone who spent many years in the San Francisco Bay area, I can tell you that what this festival has turned into has little to do with how/why it started. Lots of things change, and that is OK. For those that say “conservatives” don’t have a “party”, they do….the Bohemian Club has a little party at the Bohemian Grove in Monte Rio, about 50 miles north of San Francisco. This event is attended by some of the most powerful folks in the nation.
Report Post »Stoic one
Posted on September 2, 2012 at 8:55pmGumbercules
Some would say sex is a good dessert in the desert……………
Report Post »Quandary
Posted on September 1, 2012 at 1:15amHaving attended a local Burning man-lite event on the east coast I appreciate it far better than any new article could articulate. It is about freedom and self expression. If you want to do a bunch of drugs and have wild sex .. then go do a bunch of drugs and have wild sex. If you want to consume nothing but water, food and chat with your neighbor, you can do that too. The experience is what you make of it.
I found that while the average person leaned left no one disparaged me for my center-right leanings and had many great debates.
Report Post »asybot12
Posted on September 1, 2012 at 6:20amyour name says it all.
Report Post »Kaoscontrol
Posted on September 2, 2012 at 1:57amPretty much Woodstock in a dry lake bed for hippy types who have nothing better to do.
Report Post »RIDEMODELS
Posted on September 3, 2012 at 2:44amBurning man…the free concert that is not free anymore….cause fuel prices are on the rise, and other commie countries dont want another commie country to compete with.
Report Post »purecolorartist
Posted on August 31, 2012 at 11:47pmMy cousin in-law is a conservative ex Air Force Pilot and commercial Large Jet Pilot. He has Rush, Michael S., and Sarah P. Books mounted in his workshop. He has attended Burning Man for 2 years in a row. This year not, because of ticket price issues. He appreciates the creativity of the event. Check out youtube for some innovations and creative projects. It is American exceptional-ism on display. You should go there if you don’t believe it.
Report Post »Val_Dragon
Posted on September 1, 2012 at 7:19amObamas biological father is Frank Marshal Davis.
Report Post »OperationNorthwoods
Posted on August 31, 2012 at 7:57pmSeems like the hippies are doing pretty well for themselves if they can afford to build giant fire breathing scorpion cars.
Report Post »Wango
Posted on August 31, 2012 at 9:25pmThey ACTUALLY built that.
Report Post »Puddle Duck
Posted on August 31, 2012 at 10:04pm“Almighty, this is PBR Street Gang, how do you copy ? ” ………
Report Post »Puddle Duck
Posted on August 31, 2012 at 10:07pmNo one seems all that concerned about carbon footprint……talk about a waste of resources and time. I suppose the lost need something to look forward to. Looks like a remake of The Road Warrior.
Report Post »v15
Posted on August 31, 2012 at 6:30pmThings just haven’t been the same since I dropped all of those hits of acid in the past. it’s been a never ending trip for over a decade.
Report Post »Ralleo
Posted on August 31, 2012 at 4:39pmEh… I think a better use of my time would be a weekend camping in north michigan and getting in some good lake fishing. Or taking a road trip on my shadow with the g/f maybe to the northeast (haven’t been up that way in over 15 years).
Just not interested in the drug/drinking/partying thing… I see little fun in being filthy and acting like an animal… but if people want to go for it, go right ahead.
Report Post »LuvsYeshua
Posted on August 31, 2012 at 4:55pmI can’t believe the Blaze leaves out what really goes on here. This is a completely pagan festival that is an orgy by nature where everyone is high on ecstasy, acid, marijuana, liquor and several other things. It’s exactly the types of things you read about in the Old Testament. My old, unsaved self knows.
Report Post »FREEDOMoverFEAR
Posted on August 31, 2012 at 7:22pmA lot of people who attend this event abstain from any drug use what so ever. Besides this is land of the free isn’t it? Why criticize people for embracing their freedom who aren‘t encroaching on anyone else’s rights.
Report Post »Lesbian Packing Hollow Points
Posted on August 31, 2012 at 7:50pmYeah. Innit great?
I watched the whole video. Watching the spot in the desert go from blank to revelry and back to blank is hypnotic.
Report Post »RobbieTLHughie
Posted on September 1, 2012 at 9:55amLuvsyeshua is just sad cause she couldn’t go this year. It can’t be pagan if no one believes in god, bless your heart.
Report Post »sweetieboat
Posted on August 31, 2012 at 4:36pmI am a mother of a son who went to burning man and build a creation for it. I regretted the burning of all those beautiful creations. It would be nice to make a museum of the things that are build. I would go to see all that wonderful creativity.
Report Post »From what I heard there are groups that are quite immoral and mess up, and there are groups that are friends and enjoy the creative event with their families. There are places that the family cannot go because of the language, nudity and drugs. I would go if it cleaned up.
jcldwl
Posted on August 31, 2012 at 4:35pmLooks filthy not fun. But hey if that is how they like to spend their time then have fun. At least they are out in the middle of nowhere not bothering anyone.
Report Post »asybot12
Posted on September 1, 2012 at 6:32amSorry they destroy the environment that will decades to recover, if not longer.
Report Post »They should be charged for littering!
red_white_blue2
Posted on August 31, 2012 at 4:25pmYes, the liberals that are out of their 20′s need a Woodstock of their own.
Report Post »WillG
Posted on August 31, 2012 at 4:11pmTo each their own I guess. Not exactly my idea of a good time. Knock yourselves out!
Report Post »The-Monk
Posted on August 31, 2012 at 4:01pmWatching the video…. is that dust storms or pot smoke?
Report Post »stumpy68
Posted on August 31, 2012 at 7:24pmYes +
Report Post »@SoquelCreek
Posted on August 31, 2012 at 3:52pmThe Blaze should visit one of the various Maker Faires. It fits right in with “I Built That” and “Yes I Can.” It’s a great family-friendly event with amazingly creative and smart people.
Maker Faire
Report Post »http://makerfaire.com/newyork/2012/index.html
Detroit paperboy
Posted on August 31, 2012 at 3:35pm390 $$$ per ticket ? I‘m glad they’ve embraced capitalism and I hope they ALL GET RICH !!!!!!!!
Report Post »Eric_The_Red_State
Posted on August 31, 2012 at 3:15pmEvery “Ex-Hippie” (Like myself) has this on their Bucket List.
I have wanted to go for years – but I don’t drink – do drugs – smoke – or have wild naked monkey sex anymore….. so …….
I guess I could go like “Chauncy Gardiner” and “watch” —-
MOST of us want to go just so we can say we did.
(What they don’t mention is – tickets are hard to get)
Report Post »rpp
Posted on August 31, 2012 at 3:13pmFor one brief week a year, a small desert area of Nevada becomes the meth, rape and STD capital of the world.
Report Post »Gonzo
Posted on August 31, 2012 at 5:35pmObama’s supporters have to rally somewhere.
Report Post »Wango
Posted on August 31, 2012 at 9:24pmAnd the other 51 weeks the meth rape and disease return to their home in rural America.
Report Post »Hydra
Posted on August 31, 2012 at 3:12pmNone of the retards here on the Blaze would understand this festival, It is not politically motivated and all kinds of people attend.
Report Post »Socco
Posted on August 31, 2012 at 3:18pmNobody but you eh? Lol.
Report Post »THX-1138
Posted on August 31, 2012 at 3:18pmThat broad brush very heavy?
Report Post »caddmax
Posted on August 31, 2012 at 3:23pmI’m actually a big fan of Burning Man and the Blaze. I think it’s all about freedom. But I do imagine a lot of the people going to Burning Man are Obama supporters.
Report Post »RLTW
Posted on August 31, 2012 at 3:29pmYour statement just made it political, may Eric Cartman lock you in his basement.
Report Post »RIGHTHOOK
Posted on August 31, 2012 at 3:36pmVery familiar although never attended and will not. Have long-time childhood friends that have attended for years. They won‘t miss it as the won’t miss The Oregon Country Fair. It is all about anarchy and that is all…..oh yeah, and many get wasted while attending. Excellent use of ones time…..yeah right!
Report Post »Puddle Duck
Posted on September 1, 2012 at 1:28amIt’s an OWS convention for the terminal misfits of society. Isn’t interesting that this festival which initially rewards creation ends with the culmination of the event centered around pointless destruction. Kinda says it all doesn’t it. I don‘t begrudge them the right to act like loons for a few days just don’t expect the rest of us who see this celebration as a collosal waste of money, time, and resources to give it any respect. Pagan rituals, dopey mysticism and so called Earth worship all fueled by hallucinagenics, copious amounts of liquor and anything else they can lay there hands on is sure fire way to impress the masses….except the message is what exactly ?
Report Post »asybot12
Posted on September 1, 2012 at 6:19amPuddleduck, thanks, these are the same jerks standing at the front of a line at OWS screaming at the same people that started the whole thing HaHa. The fact they are destroying the desert is enough said, the excuse well it is only for a day or two. The damage they do in two days takes decades if not longer to repair! THAT says it all what a bunch of braindeaths but then (got to check my spelling here) what else can I add to that.
Report Post »stloocardsfan
Posted on August 31, 2012 at 3:09pmIs it cruel to suggest a new nuke test site?
Report Post »asybot12
Posted on September 1, 2012 at 6:28amNope
Report Post »JohnLarson
Posted on August 31, 2012 at 3:01pmConservatives never have this much fun.
Report Post »THX-1138
Posted on August 31, 2012 at 3:15pmSome of us do. Just don’t tell the hippies….
Report Post »trolltrainer
Posted on August 31, 2012 at 3:20pmWhat is fun? Getting wasted in a desert and acting like an idiot? Getting drunk at a bar on a beach in the Caribbean? Being the one in the sailboat out on the ocean? For me fun is the ride down from Clingman’s Dome into Sugarlands on my Peugeot PNF10. It is standing on Richland Balsam overlook. I used to drink and do drugs. I used to act like an idiot. I have come to realize that what I used to think was fun was only a plea to belong to…something…Now I take pleasure in life.
I think conservatives are just as capable of having fun as these hippie artists. Maybe just in a different way.
Report Post »CALL ME SNAKE
Posted on August 31, 2012 at 3:44pmActually you are under the misconception that conservatives don’t have that much fun….
Report Post »We do and some actually attend Burning Man. We conservatives have just as much fun as anyone else. Conservatism does not preclude having fun. Sorry to rock your preconceived perceptions.
Tickdog
Posted on August 31, 2012 at 4:06pmThat is not my idea of fun… looks miserable to me…
Report Post »Wango
Posted on August 31, 2012 at 9:21pmTROLLTRAINER . . .”What is fun? Getting wasted in a desert and acting like an idiot? Getting drunk at a bar on a beach in the Caribbean? Being the one in the sailboat out on the ocean?”
Absolutely.
Report Post »RIDEMODELS
Posted on September 3, 2012 at 2:49amI would rather go up to the mountains in Tennessee, or Alabama…..good country and drugs are not everything……..I use to drink and hung out with all the drug people, I also believed in abortion and that a woman has the right to choose…….But then I realized that the liberal media and hollywood is just a joke, you cannot move to hollywood and become a movie star…..You can however become a porn star or prostitute, and that pretty much sums up the Scientologists…..Hollywood is just one big Union and those poor girls with stars in their eyes are not a part of it, no matter how much they pay…..sad but true…
Report Post »kennyg933
Posted on August 31, 2012 at 2:56pmBurn your illusion of your man-made identity. Be who you really are, without the business cards and baubles. Burning man is a cool place to put the product of you aside.
Report Post »huey6367
Posted on August 31, 2012 at 3:00pmStill hippies. If you want to be completely f’d up for a week, good place to go.
Report Post »Ralleo
Posted on August 31, 2012 at 4:32pmI would be more inclined to actually believe that if Burning Man was free to attend. From what I see it is just another “hip” club to pay a door fee and feed someone else’s pocket all for the right to hang out in the desert.
Report Post »Taquoshi
Posted on August 31, 2012 at 5:55pmRalleo –
Free would be nice, wouldn’t it?
Unfortunately, there’s a bit more than just a random gathering of people at a spot in the desert. Things like water, power, gas, ice and medical services have to be brought in. They have to have some kind of plan in case the Burning Man fire spreads or as has happened in the past, someone torches it early. Somebody has to pay for that. As has been said many times before, there’s no such thing as a free lunch.
Report Post »FREEDOMoverFEAR
Posted on August 31, 2012 at 7:26pmRalleo it used to be free then it got too big. Who cares it‘s still a fun event sorry if some can’t afford to go maybe they should spend less time drinking, smoking, and socializing.
Report Post »MODEL82A1
Posted on August 31, 2012 at 2:55pmBurning Man and other Hippy gatherings have really expanded since the Grateful Dead thankfully died.
Report Post »thegreatcarnac
Posted on August 31, 2012 at 2:55pmFreaks!
Report Post »chrinortay
Posted on September 1, 2012 at 10:40amJust lost.
Report Post »Wango
Posted on August 31, 2012 at 2:54pmEver heard of Burning Man?
Wow, how contemporary. Take heart, though, it’s been co-opted by corporations and their middle manager wannabe free spirits. A lot like you people playing cowboys or dressing up like Paul Revere. Nothing authentic about it anymore. Sorry, you missed your chance.
Report Post »Tractorboy
Posted on August 31, 2012 at 8:46pmWango, So since your not attending any-more does that mean there isn’t any bed-wetting, arsonist, psycopaths going to this thing? just the run of the mill OWS types dressed in their clown suits..
Report Post »Wango
Posted on August 31, 2012 at 9:17pmYep, and those clown suits look oddly like a Jefferson Davis uniform.
Report Post »nick e l
Posted on August 31, 2012 at 2:52pmWhat does it look like… a bunch of Obama voters who wished they could have been at Woodstock. Yuk!
Report Post »huey6367
Posted on August 31, 2012 at 2:51pmHippies. Go to the desert. Smoke a fatty. Drop a tab or two or more. Try not to dehydrate and die. No water for a shower. Sounds like hippies.
Report Post »nick e l
Posted on August 31, 2012 at 2:54pmJust the creme of society. Obama’s that is.
Report Post »huey6367
Posted on August 31, 2012 at 3:02pmYa want creepy? My dad, who is approaching 72, wants to go to that becase “it looks like fun”. He is more moderate than anything but apparently doesn’t realize he is approaching 72. Maybe some kind of senility is setting in.
Report Post »WEBWITHDEB
Posted on August 31, 2012 at 4:47pmHuey, my parents are in their eighties and are vendors there. Age is not a barrier to the young at heart.
Report Post »Locked
Posted on August 31, 2012 at 2:50pmBunch of weirdos and not my thing, but they aren‘t hurting any one and they’re enjoying themselves. Hope they have fun and don’t dance to death.
Report Post »trolltrainer
Posted on August 31, 2012 at 3:04pmMy sentiments exactly.
Different strokes…
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