Burning Man 2008© Henrik Morsing

Burning Man 2008

August 25 - September 149.000 participantshttp://www.burningman.com/

Sensory Overload: Just attending Burning Man. This is generally a blissful state, however, there is some sadness in the realization that a human can only witness a tiny fraction of the vast, non-stop, brilliant activities occurring during the week-long festival.

The mission statement

Our mission is to produce the annual event known as "Burning Man" and to guide, nurture and protect the more permanent community created by its culture.

Our intention is to generate society that connects each individual to his or her creative powers, to participation in community, to the larger realm of civic life, and to the even greater world of nature that exists beyond society.

We believe that the experience of Burning Man can produce positive spiritual change in the world. To this end, it is equally important that we communicate with one another, with the citizens of Black Rock City and with the community of Burning Man wherever it may arise.

Burning Man is radically inclusive, and its meaning is potentially accessible to anyone.

The touchstone of value in our culture will always be immediacy: experience before theory, moral relationships before politics, survival before services, roles before jobs, embodied ritual before symbolism, work before vested interest, participant support before sponsorship.

Finally, in order to accomplish these ends, Burning Man must endure as a self-supporting enterprise that is capable of sustaining the lives of those who dedicate themselves to its work. From this devotion spring those duties that we owe to one another.

We will always burn the Man.

(www.burningman.com)

$50 for a (re)useable bike at "Reno Bike Project".

A short stop at Empire in the middle of Nowhere.

A NOTE OF THANKS FROM THE OWNER OF THE BURNED OUT MOTOR HOME

We received this nice note from Tiki John, and thought it worth sharing with the community. Thanks to you all for ... well ... !embodying the Burning Man spirit. John writes:

"I'm Tiki John. My friend Mark and I were driving the motor home that burned to the ground near the entrance to Burning Man. We just drove 5 hrs to go to the Burning Man festival, and as we were driving I started to smell smoke. !We pulled over, but by then we were already on fire. We tried to put it out, but it grew so fast with those 40 mph winds. So many people pulled over to help us put it out but it was out of our control. We lost everything.

This was my 11th year and Mark's first. We had to go home, because it was just too much to handle. After two days of depression and heartache, Mark called and said "It hurts too much ... we have to go back." I said, "But we have nothing." He said, "After everything you told me about Burning Man, we should be ok."!He was so right.

We returned on Wednesday night, and it was like the whole city knew what had happen to us. They came to us with jackets, water, food, beer, and we had many offers of shelter. It just goes to show how much love there is at Burning Man. We could only stay for 3 days and 2 nights, but it was the best time i had in 11 years.

I want to thank everyone for their love and help. We want to thank Bruno's in Gerlach for staying open late until our ride got there, and all the people that came in to see if we needed any help.

I also want to thank Burning Man for all the help, sending us 13 (aka Erin) ... she was an angel and a hero to us. She gave us a ride to town and stayed with us until she knew we were ok. I love you girl.

A huge thanks to Burning Man for cleaning up the remains of what was our mess, not yours ... we felt most upset about leaving such a burned up mess on the side of the road, we owe you guys BIG TIME.

A big thanks to Larry Harvey, Maid Marian, Ladybee, Danger Ranger, etc. for bringing Burning Man to my world.

With much love, John Steele (Tiki John) and Mark Dwitt (MR magic)."

Burning Man Update: The Jack Rabbit Speaks

Volume 13, Issue #4

October 9, 2008

They say the dust here is the finest in the world. I believe them!

Suddenly a wall of dust arrives and there is nothing you can do about it.

The Black Rock Desert is a dry lake bed and the surrounding endorheic basin in northwestern Nevada in the United States. The flat expanse of dry lake, or playa, is a remnant of the prehistoric Lake Lahontan, which existed between 18,000 and 7,000 BC during the last ice age.

At the outer edge of the city, a fence marks the limits of the "real" world.

Allante - Bonneville - Corvair - Dart - Edsel - Fairlane - Gremlin - Hummer - Impala - Jeep - K-Car

The night is like a dream.

"I call it the Beast because of it's size". (www.moltensteelman.mechanicalspider.com)

Elevation by Michael Christian, Auriah Milanes, Scottie Chapman and David Andres, Berkeley, CA. Elevation is a fully climbable mountain constructed of winding tube steel ladders that elevate to a seated perch for one on its peak, at 54 feet / 16,5 meters. (xianspace.com/bm2008)

Babylon Tower by Philip Raiser, Arthur Rodriguez and Mik Hilldebrand is a 100-foot / 30 meters tall tower of dreams. (www.babylonartproject.com)

Basura Sagrada is a temple constructed mainly from burnable trash, recycled materials, and the tossed-off detritus of American society. Meticulously detailed, the temple is a precious space created from non-precious materials, a receptacle for the hopes, dreams, memories, and elegies of the citizens of Black Rock City. (www.basurasagrada.org)

View from the Temple towards the Man and the City witch is 3 kilometers across.

Get married at Burning Man: Before Burning Man, go to the Pershing County Clerk’s office to get a marriage license. The County Clerk will issue your license on the spot, so you can stop there on the way to Burning Man.

Bat Country by Gwen Fisher and Paul Brown. Bat Country is 21’ tall four-sided tetrahedron built with 384 aluminum baseball bats, 130 twelve-inch softballs and 2000 pounds of steel. Each edge of the structure measures 26’ in distance. (batcountry.liquid.net)

Fleeble Flobbler by Charlie Smith and Jaime Ladet, Atlanta, GA (www.howhowhow.com/fleebleflobble.html)

Being at the top of this 80 feet / 24 meter free-standing, wobbleling ladder was scary, but the view was breathtaking. The fire truck is owned by Greg Glover.

Primordial Fish Project by Bobby Bacon

Ever wonder how something as huge and magnificent as the Center Camp Café becomes a reality? Is it the caffeine? Well, yes, but the true answer lies in the teamwork of nearly 500 dedicated volunteers.

A man with 2 meter legs is watching a tree of bones. I turn and someone falls out of the sky.

Hi Henrik! How are you doing? Where are you now? Remember me from the slow parade at burning man? I hope this finds you well and having fun. I am back in

toronto now, starting a new contract and getting ready to move to a smaller city for a winter contract. Life is full and good. So any chance you could pass on

the pictures from the slow parade, or direct me to where i could find them? I shall look at your website now. Hope you enjoyed burning man to the max. See you

next year, Amira (www.amiraworks.com)

Kære Henrik. Det var hyggeligt at møde dig til Burning Man. Håber du nød også de sidste dage, selvom at støvstormene var mere voldsomme end sjældent set før. Hvordan var din Burning Man oplevelse – i forhold til dine forventninger? Fik du taget nogen gode fotos? Jeg er vældig interesseret i dem, du tog af mig i det duale jakkesæt. De bedste hilsner fra New York. Frank

© Brad Templeton. "We stayed up to sunrise after the burn, and I climbed the tower of Babel in the outer playa to shoot the entire curve of the city with the sun behind me."

© Brad Templeton. The city at night, viewed from the top of the Ziggurat at 2:30. (pic.templetons.com/brad/pano/bman08.html).

When you come through Gerlach be sure to turn left in the middle of town and have your car washed. The car wash is the annual fundraiser for the Gerlach Middle/High School. Please stop and support the local community that supports us so much. Cars: $6.00, Pickup Trucks $8.00, SUV $10-15, Small Motor Home $25.

Burning Man 2008

© Henrik Morsing