Burning Man – One of the Top 2011 Festival Destinations
When I was working on my distance learning degree, I was always looking for a way to relax and totally let loose. My friends told me about Burning Man and I was instantly intrigued. Joining me on my stress busting adventure would be a friend of mine who was just about to head off to college for the first time thanks to the financial aid for military spouses in college. We booked our trips out to Nevada and packed our bags, ready for the adventure and experience of a lifetime. After the first time we went, I was hooked and it has become a yearly tradition for me. It is the one time of the year I can go be totally creative and free to express myself in any way I desire. As an artist, this is one of the most incredible opportunities to create that I have ever come across.
Burning Man was started in 1986 by Larry Harvey and Jerry James. The Burning Man is “an annual experiment in temporary community dedicated to radical self-expression and radical self-reliance,” the official website states. It is a week-long festival that encourages community living, artistic expression in all of its forms, and the freedom to express yourself in any way you see fit. I had no idea what to expect from my first experience there, but I was enthralled by the participants’ lack of self-consciousness and increased radical self-expression. There were so many volunteers as well that contributed to the event.
Held in the Black Rock Desert, 120 miles north of Reno, Nevada, Burning Man attracts many people from around the world with its famous burning man ceremony in which a large, constructed man is set ablaze. The festival is held annually during the week leading up to Labor Day Weekend, and the 2011 dates are Monday, August 29th to Monday, September 5th. One of the main beliefs of the event is to “leave no trace”, and with no trashcans around, participants are required to not leave a single element behind. Participants live and commune with each other, and can form different themed camps based on their own individual preferences and interests.
Clothing is optional at Burning Man, and people reside in tents and are encouraged to participate in as much of the activities as they’d like. From body painting to sculptures to decorating cars and bikes, art is a major component and the heartbeat of this week-long sensory fest. One of the main forms of art that is produced at the event are the “mutant vehicles”, which are purpose-built or creatively altered cars and trucks. Another aspect of the festival is the radical self-reliance that is strictly enforced. Participants are expected to bring their own food, supplies and enough water to get them through the heat of the Nevada desert. Learning to be completely self-reliant as you live in community and participate in the various activities is one of the core foundations of the event.
Every year that I attend the festival, I gain a deeper appreciation for human uniqueness, creativity and our need to belong to a community. There are so many volunteers that make the week possible, and I am anxious to someday give back and maybe volunteer myself. If you are looking for a radical escape, Burning Man is without a doubt one of the top festival destinations.
