Burning Man Approaches

On behalf of my first ever visit to the one and only Burning Man music and arts festival, I wanted to dedicate a post to what I’m most excited about for this experience. Before I get into it, I wanted to let some of you first timers know a little more about what the arts and music festival is all about.

Participation is key for the community – selfless giving of one’s unique talents for others. Some of these generous outpourings of creativity include experimental and interactive sculpture, building, performance, and art cars among others, often inspired by the yearly theme, which is chosen by the organizers.

Sculpture at Burning Man — The community at Burning Man explores various forms of artistic self-expression, created in celebration for the pleasure of all participants.

Burning Man Heads — The giant 26 foot sculpture of a man and woman titled “Embrace” gets ceremoniously burned to the ground at the end of the festival. This well-known sculpture is meant to be a “celebration of all our relationships.” As part of Burning Man’s “Leave No Trace Policy,” all remnants of the burn must be cleaned up and removed from the land at the end of the festival.

Burning Man is not a festival. It is a community. A temporary city. A global cultural movement based on the 10 practical principles listed above. You don’t leave a trace of anything behind after leaving and you only gain from it amazing experiences and friendships you’ve made in the playa. Even though I haven’t been before, I have heard so much about this dream-like place that I just feel it will be a one time experience that I will never forget. And the best way to end the summer.

What I’m most excited about:
– the outfits (have to wear goggles for the dust storms)
– the people
– the music
– biking on the desert
– glow in the dark lights

What happens at Burning Man is up to you. It is a “decommodified” space that values who you are, not what you have. You are expected to collaborate, be inclusive, creative, connective and clean up after yourself.