Burning Man has been a “family reunion” for my brothers (by blood, 3 of them) and I over the years …we share affinities with the event, admittedly different affinities but related, along with some of our adult children, with the art, the music and the communities that are so easily accessed in all of their color and variety. A blessing really. That said, in a first time volunteer crew assignment this year, one of my brothers was involved in laying out the grid that would become Black Rock City.
This from him a few weeks ago, “Been here since July 27 helping to flag/survey the Playa. Hot and dusty as usual and lots of janky jackassery brought out nonstop and placed on a stunning conservation area. A bit strange to watch…”
This is not unfamiliar to those who arrive early to install art projects or who come to help build the city.
But that “janky jackassery” gave me pause…because he was seeing it so early.
This may indeed be those Carnies you refer to …
This said, there are seeds that have been sown by BM that have scattered across the globe and they have taken root, and are growing in the jungles, the valleys and at the end of dirt roads all over the planet.
Bad fruit like Carnies, happen with any kind of growth but so do blossoms and blooms that inspire and remind us of artistry’s capabilities…including yours Jamie.
Looking forward to hearing more about what is at the end of your “dirt road” at the moment - appreciation prevails !
Yep. And meanwhile there’s another bot brewing (especially here in Austin) .. the tantric shamanic circles of all kinds of “facilitated” magic. Everyone is a healer, or some kind of erotic coach.
Right? I think we've reached critical healer mass here in parts of Oregon, too. Speaking of Austin, I will never forget watching Aubrey Marcus' video on YT telling us all why he was not attending Burning Man 2023 because of too much commercialism. Classic Carnie move! It was so unbelievably tone deaf, "pot calling kettle black" ironic, and effing ridiculous that I honestly thought the whole cringe-worthy video was a hilarious parody at first! Nope. It's excellent news for Burning Man, though. The private planes, walled-off plug-n-play camps, glam-bot GF's, VIP parties, etc. were easy enough to avoid (and even culture-jam and fuck with) at first, but also helped me decide to call it a day in 2018.
I, too, felt like going to Burning Man after reading Stealing Fire in 2018. My Past Lives Regression therapist highly recommended the book. I would have been either a Maven or a Tourist; who knows? All I know is that I am a real-life Green House Flower, oops, I mean Human, and not in a million years would I survive those desert conditions even if I had the ultimate RV. Stealing Fire was a book that fired me up; it was just enough to be more aware of things, but not much to go wild for an ideal! Burning Man will always be a Festival I’ll appreciate by photos from the comfort of my home.
Burning Man has been a “family reunion” for my brothers (by blood, 3 of them) and I over the years …we share affinities with the event, admittedly different affinities but related, along with some of our adult children, with the art, the music and the communities that are so easily accessed in all of their color and variety. A blessing really. That said, in a first time volunteer crew assignment this year, one of my brothers was involved in laying out the grid that would become Black Rock City.
This from him a few weeks ago, “Been here since July 27 helping to flag/survey the Playa. Hot and dusty as usual and lots of janky jackassery brought out nonstop and placed on a stunning conservation area. A bit strange to watch…”
This is not unfamiliar to those who arrive early to install art projects or who come to help build the city.
But that “janky jackassery” gave me pause…because he was seeing it so early.
This may indeed be those Carnies you refer to …
This said, there are seeds that have been sown by BM that have scattered across the globe and they have taken root, and are growing in the jungles, the valleys and at the end of dirt roads all over the planet.
Bad fruit like Carnies, happen with any kind of growth but so do blossoms and blooms that inspire and remind us of artistry’s capabilities…including yours Jamie.
Looking forward to hearing more about what is at the end of your “dirt road” at the moment - appreciation prevails !
Yep. And meanwhile there’s another bot brewing (especially here in Austin) .. the tantric shamanic circles of all kinds of “facilitated” magic. Everyone is a healer, or some kind of erotic coach.
Right? I think we've reached critical healer mass here in parts of Oregon, too. Speaking of Austin, I will never forget watching Aubrey Marcus' video on YT telling us all why he was not attending Burning Man 2023 because of too much commercialism. Classic Carnie move! It was so unbelievably tone deaf, "pot calling kettle black" ironic, and effing ridiculous that I honestly thought the whole cringe-worthy video was a hilarious parody at first! Nope. It's excellent news for Burning Man, though. The private planes, walled-off plug-n-play camps, glam-bot GF's, VIP parties, etc. were easy enough to avoid (and even culture-jam and fuck with) at first, but also helped me decide to call it a day in 2018.
Another great read for freaks on the other side of the Bigpond. Thanks for sharing...
I, too, felt like going to Burning Man after reading Stealing Fire in 2018. My Past Lives Regression therapist highly recommended the book. I would have been either a Maven or a Tourist; who knows? All I know is that I am a real-life Green House Flower, oops, I mean Human, and not in a million years would I survive those desert conditions even if I had the ultimate RV. Stealing Fire was a book that fired me up; it was just enough to be more aware of things, but not much to go wild for an ideal! Burning Man will always be a Festival I’ll appreciate by photos from the comfort of my home.
My estimation of Henley just went up. That quote is spot on!