The Exodus Begins
Posted 25-Aug-2007 to General, TravelHere it is, the last wee of August, the plunge towards September and fall, and for many San Franciscan’s that means a trip to the Nevada Desert for the unique music/art/survival festival called Burning Man. 
I too will be joining this exodus for many days of fun and frivolity in the desert. This is my 4th year to attend the burn and likely the last for a year or two, as I plan to take a break from the work my friends and I do to create a wonderful theme camp called Fairyland. This camp has become a true home on the playa and a place where some of my dearest and closest friends gather, in a larger village called Avalon, to spend time together, build a community, and just let our hair down.
The past couple weeks have been filled with preparations, shopping, dreaming and scheming. From a personal note, this year is my first year to take my own art to the playa – with the help of my good friend Scott, we have created a 25′ hexagon shaped installation on which I will hang 36 nine foot long by fifty-five inch wide 5mm silk panels that I have dyed. The panels will be set up to have an amazing amount of black light thrown on them at night and are reactive so they will glow with a fire yellow to orange blend then to red, magenta, purple and eventually to blew, with some drop out effect to simulate fire burning up into a sky with some light clouds. I am very proud of this installation because it represents to date the largest single silk project I have worked on. Many thanks go out to Scott B. for the silk, Leif W. for ironing, Scott S. and Dan V. for sewing with me, Phillip B. for being the inspiration to my project, and to John for being supportive and allowing me to discover, draw, and pursue my inner artist. If you are out on the playa over the next week, stop by Fairyland on Desert, between 7:00 and 7:30 streets to see the installation.
So, here it is Saturday morning. The sun is rising, I have taken the last full pressure shower I will take for a number of days, and I find myself getting chills, the excitement rising, and the expectations growing. The man and the desert are calling me. Watch for photos in the gallery of the burn this year, but in case you are curious about previous year, check out those photos too.
